Examining the Relevancy of Tenure in Academic Medicine with William T. Mallon, EdD

In this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, William T. Mallon, EdD, discusses the ongoing debate surrounding the importance of tenure in medical schools in the United States.

The primary discussion points highlighted in today’s interview originate from a recent study titled Promotion and Tenure Policies and Practices at U.S. Medical Schools: Is Tenure Irrelevant or More Relevant Than Ever?, published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Academic Medicine in March 2024.

Dr. Mallon, a seasoned expert in this field and a returning guest on the Faculty Factory, shares insights on the significance of tenure and its evolving relevance, particularly for clinical faculty concentrating on patient care.

Dr. Mallon serves as the Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation Development at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Previously, Dr. Mallon featured in an episode in April 2023 discussing Climate Action in Academic Medicine, which can be revisited here: https://facultyfactory.org/climate-action/

The discussion also explores newer medical schools adopting nontraditional faculty employment models, shedding light the on reasons behind limited or no tenure systems.

Ultimately, the episode prompts reflection on the role of tenure in academic medicine and its impact on faculty members' career paths, academic freedom and job security.

More Resources

Here is a link to the Academic Medicine article discussed in today’s episode: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/abstract/9900/promotion_and_tenure_policies_and_practices_at.795.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

If you would like to contact Dr. Mallon, you can email him at wmallon@aamc.org.