Activities

The Emory Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences under the leadership of the Faculty Development Leadership Team (Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Community and Belonging; Assistant Vice Chair for Faculty Development – Promotions; Assistant Vice Chair for Faculty Development – Community and Belonging; Assistant Vice Chair for Faculty Development – New Initiatives) and through several departmental committees (Faculty Development Committee, Appointment and Promotions Committee, Clinical Distinctions Committee) provides various offerings and programs related to general faculty development, promotions and clinical distinctions.

Faculty Development Committee: This committee meets monthly and appointments are for a three-year term, renewable once. The committee aims to empower faculty at every career stage - junior, mid-career and senior - to achieve excellence in teaching, service and scholarship. The committee is committed to fostering career fulfillment; advancing work-life integration and faculty well-being; and cultivating an inclusive, collaborative and engaged faculty community across the department. The Faculty Development Committee sponsors the department’s orientation, monthly kudos, awards program, ambassador and mentorship programs and faculty development seminars.

Orientation: Orientation for new faculty is held once per year. This is a chance for new faculty members who are hired to meet with the Chair, Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Assistant Vice Chairs for Faculty Development and members of the Faculty Development Committee to learn about the department structure and culture, as well as the diverse faculty opportunities and faculty development activities.

Kudos: Our monthly Kudos program highlights faculty members’ leadership, scholarship, teaching and service accomplishments; celebrates the arrival of new faculty to the department; and welcomes new members of our extended departmental family (e.g., birth of children).

Awards Program: The department acknowledges the outstanding contributions of individual faculty annually through an awards program. There are awards for excellence in mentoring, clinical practice, service, science, community engagement and quiet excellence. There also are awards for adjunct faculty and staff who support faculty.

Ambassador Program: This program assists new faculty with their transition to the department and university and helps them feel welcome and empowered to thrive. The Assistant Vice Chair for Faculty Development – New Initiatives pairs experienced faculty with new faculty based at the same site and/or with similar interests to promote people’s development and wellbeing from the outset of their tenure on the faculty.

Mentorship Program: The department has a robust mentoring program, which is offered across several modalities (e.g., 1:1 mentoring, peer mentoring groups, mentor families, senior clinician consultation). We also provide guidance for mentoring relationships and offer relevant resources.

Faculty Development Seminars: Seminars are provided quarterly on a variety of topics (e.g., teaching and technology, crucial conversations, feedback, mentoring, leadership) from relevant experts. Input is requested from faculty members to ensure seminars are timely, relevant, and useful.

Promotion Workshops: On an annual basis the Faculty Development Committee sponsors a workshop through the Faculty Development Seminars program focused on one aspect of the promotions process (e.g., CV, Personal Statement, Service Portfolio, Teaching Portfolio, Clinical Distinctions). This is followed by small group sessions in which hands-on feedback and guidance are provided. These workshops also offer handouts, that are made available on the faculty development section of the departmental website.

Promotion Readiness Sessions: The Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Community and Belonging and Assistant Vice Chair for Faculty Development – Promotions hold 30-60 minute one-on-one meetings to provide individualized advice on progress toward and readiness for promotion.

Promotion Consultation: Either the Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Community and Belonging or the Assistant Vice Chair for Faculty Development – Promotions meets 4-8 times with each faculty member preparing an appointment or promotion package to provide concrete guidance and feedback.