A Practitioner’s Guide to a Successful Academic Career in

Teaching, Service, and Scholarship

Maureen Knell, Pharm.D., BCPSAssociate Clinical Professor

Division of Pharmacy Practice and AdministrationUniversity of Missouri – Kansas City

Saint Luke’s Multi-specialty ClinicASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting 2008

Objectives

1. Discuss strategies for creating teamwork in the health care environment that enhance academic productivity

2. Describe the challenges associated with meeting obligations to both a school of pharmacy and a health care institution

3. Identify ways to incorporate patient care and institutional projects into a plan for personal academic success.

Confessions from an Confessions from an “accidental “accidental

academician” on academician” on surviving and surviving and enjoying the enjoying the “adventure”“adventure”

Adventure: daring and exciting experience calling

for enterprise and enthusiasm

--- Oxford American Dictionary

“Mentor: someone whose hindsight can become your

foresight” ---unknown

How did I get here?

• Never thought I’d be a professor of pharmacy• “Clinical” track position• Developed new practice site in ambulatory care– Internal Medicine– Anticoagulation Clinic– Chronic Pain Clinic

Clinical Faculty

• Definition varies from institution• UMKC Workload Guidelines – Pharmacy

Practice Division– 50% teaching– 20% research/scholarly activity– Service 10-15%– Pharmacy practice (direct patient care) – 10-15%– Areas overlap/flexibility!

Academia - The “Adventure” (First steps to launching into a

practice/education-based academic career)

• Approach as a long-term commitment• Make sure it’s the right “fit”

Getting the lay of the land

• Do you have what it takes?• Do you know what it takes?• Is it the “right” environment? – Practice/institution– School of Pharmacy

Do you have Do you have

what it takes?what it takes?

Characteristics of the Academic Adventurer

• Desire and attitude• Strong work ethic– Pay your dues, but don’t be abused

• Continually looking for good ideas (can be simple!)

• Interest in self improvement/continual learning• Developing practice expertise

Characteristics of the Academic Adventurer

• Good organization/ time management skills • Goal oriented– professional goals– personal goals

• Commitment to involvement– Students– School– Institution– Professional organizations

Characteristics of the Academic Adventurer

• Adaptability• Ambassador• Diplomat• Visionary• Negotiator

Do you know Do you know

what it takes?what it takes?

What is “success”

• Professional• Advancement (promotion/tenure)– Clearly defined

• Altruistic/humanitarian– Patient – Students– Service

• Personal

All good adventures All good adventures follow a plan follow a plan

(framework) for (framework) for successsuccess

• Teaching/educationTeaching/education• PracticePractice• Scholarly ActivityScholarly Activity• ServiceService

Is it the “right” environment? •Does the practice/institution provide and support the foundation for your academic success?•Does the school of pharmacy provide and support the foundation for your academic success?

Teaching, Practice, Scholarly Activity, Service…

• Cohesive understanding between institution and the school of pharmacy– Day to day responsibilities/roles – Short-term and long term professional goals– Agreed upon outcomes

• Flexibility to meet changing needs/interests

LUGGAGE, SUPPLIES and NECESSITIES

• Logistics– Orientation, policies, procedures, personnel,

resources• Mentor(s)• Faculty mentoring program• Team members (collaborators)

LUGGAGE, SUPPLIES and NECESSITIES

• Support the development of expertise– Certifications (practice)– Education (workshops)– Networking (institution, school, profession)

• Support engagement and involvement– Students– Profession– Institution– Service

Keys to a Keys to a successful successful adventureadventure

Keys to success• Find all kinds of mentors in all areas– Try to identify them in advance– Look beyond your division/school– Be proactive– Observe (what balance works for them?)– Collaborate

• Find and/or help develop good “team members”– Support academic pursuits– Learn together– Collaborate

Keys to success

• Teaching/Education– Dedicate time to improving– Innovate to enhance learning– Apply to didactic and experiential teaching– Measure changes/outcomes

Keys to success

• Practice – Find your “champion(s)”–Work to develop an integrated team– Plan your services based on:• Student learning opportunities• Your interest/expertise• Reality of time• Needs of the institution/practice• Quality of the service

Key to success

• Practice– Clearly define your role– Start small and build– Collect “baseline” data/information of the

practice before you start– Provide value and show others your value–Measure changes/outcomes

Keys to success

• Scholarly activity– Analyze outcomes of what you do

(teaching/practice/service)• (find a mentor to help with analysis)

– Present results --- posters, publications• Work “ahead” of results

Keys to success

• Scholarly activity– Target “priorities” for publication– Let some of your ideas “go”• Collaborate / pass them on to others• Shelve for future

– Document your work• Use promotion portfolio as a record (master copy)• Update annually (or more frequently)• Ideally, thin out for promotion

Keys to success

• Service– Make it meaningful, when possible– Networking opportunities– Opportunities for student and professional

organization engagement– Hone leadership and organizational skills

Keys to success• “Work Smarter, Not Harder”• Integrate teaching and practice (even service) and

scholarly activity– Teach what you practice– Document/measure/analyze what you do through

scholarly activity– Have a “scholarship” plan before you begin a project

• Use students/residents!– Takes extra time, but provides more manpower– Makes student work meaningful– Opportunities for you to be the mentor

Keys to success

• Professional balance– Say “no” or negotiate– How does an opportunity fit with your professional

goals/objectives and life?– Once at “critical mass” trade, don’t add

jobs/responsibilities– Re-evaluate if “on track” with promotion, other

measures of success annually– Seek annual feedback from the institution/team

Keys to success

• Work-life balance

Biggest Challenges!

• Serving two “masters”• Promotion (tenure)• You’re the “bad” guy/gal (student perspective)• Job never ends! (time management)• Work-life balance

It’s not just a job…It’s not just a job…Find your rewards!Find your rewards!

My Top 10 Reasons

10. I have a Chair and Dean, but I’m my own boss9. There is never a dull moment8. Students keep work challenging7. I enjoy being a mentor6. We have developed a quality, collaborative,

direct patient care practice

My Top 10 Reasons

5. I have developed strong and respectful relationships with our healthcare team

4. Overall, I have time management flexibility3. I love hearing “ You changed my life”2. It fits my work-life balance1. It’s a challenging and fulfilling combination!

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”

---Winston Churchill

Regardless of the pharmacy Regardless of the pharmacy career path you chose be sure career path you chose be sure

you…you…enjoy the adventure and the enjoy the adventure and the

rewards!rewards!

Resources and Acknowledgements

1.Draugalis JR, Dipiro JT, Zeolla MM, Schwinghammer TL. A carerr in academic pharmacy: opportunities, challenges and rewards. Am J Pharm Ed 2006; 70 (1). Article 17.

2.Acknowledgements: Stephanie Schauner, Tatum Mead, John Knell (graphics).