Clinical Distinctions Designation

The purpose of the Clinical Distinctions (CD) designation is to provide a mechanism to recognize the faculty who devote a significant amount of their time and career to providing excellence in clinical care. While the CD is not intended to compete with or replace the standard academic promotions mechanism for faculty advancement, it emphasizes the importance of clinically focused faculty in the School of Medicine (SOM). Regular faculty and Emory Specialty Associate providers who have a minimum 0.5 FTE and devote at least half their time to clinical efforts (patient care and clinical administration) are eligible for these distinctions. For faculty with less clinical effort, the Chair may request an exception.

The primary criterion for advancement to higher levels of clinical distinction is excellence in clinical services, including direct patient care and clinical administration, which must be evident at each level of advancement. In addition, participation in major institutional committees that are critical to the mission of Emory SOM and Woodruff Health Sciences Center, outstanding service in a clinical administrative role (such as Service Chief) and innovation in clinical care or processes will be considered. As faculty advance through the levels of clinical distinctions, they are expected to maintain clinical excellence and demonstrate increasing service and leadership in clinical administration and policy making at clinical sites within Emory University and their broader professional communities. Faculty at each level of distinction must maintain professional standards; failure to do so may result in re-evaluation of the awarded title.

Clinical Distinctions:

• Senior Physician or Senior Psychologist – Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences requires > 6 years
• Distinguished Physician or Distinguished Psychologist – Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences requires > 10 years
• Eminent Physician or Eminent Psychologist – Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences requires > 16 years

For more detailed information about the program, see the SOM Website.

• Physician or Psychologist
• Senior Physician or Senior Psychologist
• Distinguished Physician or Distinguished Psychologist
• Eminent Physician or Eminent Psychologist