Promotions on the Physician
Scientist/Basic Science Investigator Track
Larry L. Swift, Ph.D.
Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs
Department of Pathology, Microbiology
& Immunology
Topics
 Academic Tracks
 Basic Scientist/Physician Scientist
Investigator Track
 Procedures for Promotion
 Criteria for Promotion
 Q&A Discussion
Faculty Tracks at VU
 Basic Science Educator/Clinician Educator
 Basic Scientist Investigator/Physician
Scientist Investigator (tenure track)
 Clinical Practice
 Research
 Assistant/Associate
Basic Scientist/Physician Scientist
Investigator Track
 Faculty with major efforts in research or scholarship and
teaching and dedicated to creation and dissemination of
knowledge based upon original research
 Research can be basic investigations of normal biologic
processes or diseases, or translational or clinical
research
 Engaged in graduate biomedical or medical education
Overall Procedure
 Promotion is initiated within the department by
Chair
 Meet with Vice Chair to go over the procedures
 Dossier is reviewed by departmental A&P
committee
 Forwarded to Dean’s office
 Reviewed by School of Medicine A&P
committee
Overall Procedure
 Recommendation is forwarded by Dean to
Executive faculty
 Forwarded to Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
and then to Medical Center Promotion and
Tenure Review Committee
 Vice Chancellor then forwards the
recommendation to the Chancellor, who
requests endorsement by the Board of Trust
Supporting Documentation (1)
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Chair’s letter
Standardized curriculum vitae
Documentation of teaching effectiveness
Critical references
 Up to 5 publications representing your most
significant work
 Form describing significance and your
contribution
Supporting Documentation (2)
 Letters of Evaluation
– Minimum of 6-8 letters from individuals who are
not mentors or close colleagues and who can
assess contributions from a national perspective
– Unspecified number of letters from previous
trainees, to document impact as an educator
– All letters received must be submitted
– If necessary Chair’s letter can be used to address
any issues raised
Departmental A&P Committee
 Consists of all tenured full-time faculty within
the department
 Agnes Fogo serves as chair
 Reviews all appointments, reappointments,
promotions and mentoring committee reports
 Serves in an advisory role to the Chair
School of Medicine A&P Committee
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10 committee members (Professor) plus chair
Diverse disciplines
Both tenure and non-tenured faculty
Ex officio: John Penn, Ph.D., Associate Dean for
Faculty Affairs
 Meets bimonthly
Probationary Period to Tenure
 Assistant Professors – evaluated and approved for
tenure within 9 years of initial appointment
 Awarding of tenure usually accompanies promotion
to Associate Professor
 Appointment renewals for Assistant Professors must
include departmental statement affirming faculty
member’s progress toward promotion and tenure
Criteria for Appointment to Tenured Rank
of Associate Professor
1) Excellence in independent research, scholarship,
or creative expression in one’s discipline
2) A high level of effectiveness in teaching
3) Satisfactory performance in the area of service to
the institution
1) Research, Scholarship or Creative
Expression
 Conduct of meritorious, independent and original
research in a sustained fashion
 Recognition by peers of quality of research as
indicated by extramural funding
 Attraction and training of graduate students and
postdoctoral fellows
1) Research, Scholarship or Creative
Expression, cont.
 Membership on scientific and professional advisory
committees at the national and international levels
 Editorial activities and peer review for learned or
scientific journal
 Performance of patient care related activities in a
manner that extends beyond routine management,
characteristic of scholarly, creative clinician
2) Effectiveness in Teaching
 Teaching takes many form
o
o
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Lectures, small discussion groups, seminars
Supervision of students and postdoctoral trainees
In the laboratory research setting
In the clinical care setting
 To meet tenure standards, candidates must
demonstrate high level of effectiveness in at
least one of these areas
Guidelines for Evaluation of Teaching
 Record of courses taught over the past several
years
 Documentation of extent of non-classroom
teaching, e.g., supervising trainees
 Description of contributions made toward
teaching goals of department/medical school
 Role in developing and planning current and
new courses or new approaches
Guidelines for Evaluation of Teaching
 Evaluations of effectiveness as a teacher as
assessed by students, graduates, house staff and
peers
 Invited participation in extramural teaching
activities at regional, national and international
levels (e.g., workshops, symposia, honorary
lectures)
 Awards and honors specifically recognizing
teaching skills
3) Service
 Faculty members have obligations in such areas
as internal governance, university outreach, and
other services to the department, School,
University and community
 Contributions to professional and learned
societies
 Affiliations and contributions to non-profits (e.g.
AHA, ADA, ACS, etc.)
?QUESTIONS?
For More Information
https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/faculty/
https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/faculty/basic-science-investigatorphysician-scientist-investigator-track