Letter from the Chair

Dear Colleagues:

On behalf of the members of the Medical Faculty Senate Steering Committee, I would like to welcome you to a new academic year. As members of the MFSSC, we are privileged to represent you and to share your concerns and recommendations with the Dean and other members of the Medical Center and University administration. The Medical Faculty Senate has a long and distinguished history of influencing change and we welcome your thoughts. Here are a few of the highlights from recent initiatives that the MFSSC has been involved in:

• The Faculty-2000 Project was a broad-based faculty initiative that resulted in the development of the Academic Clinician track, extension of the probationary period for the research track, implementation of the faculty professional development program, the formation of the Association of Senior and Emeritus faculty

• The Career Development Program, implemented in FY09, has become an integral part of the on-going career development for faculty at all stages. The program requires that each full-time faculty receive annual feedback regarding their performance.

• The “Program to Enhance Teaching Skills”, also implemented in 2009, is designed to provide teaching faculty with the tools and experience to maintain the high teaching standards of Penn Medicine’s educational and training programs.

During the current academic year, the members of the Medical Faculty Senate Steering Committee will be reaching out to obtain your input on academic issues and concerns.  We are particularly interested in how the changes to the academic tracks have affected you and your career advancement, your views about mentoring and your thoughts about the current academic and clinical climates. In addition to soliciting your opinions, we welcome your suggestions, and can be reached by email at mfs@mail.med.upenn.edu. You can also contact me directly at emily.conant@uphs.upenn.edu.

Academic medicine is facing complex and exciting challenges in the next several years.  My colleagues on the MFSSC and I look forward to working with you to enhance the faculty experience so that together we can further the work and missions of Penn Medicine.

Regards,

Emily F. Conant, M.D.

Chair, Medical Faculty Senate