All faculty in the tenure, in-residence, and affiliated tracks must select a professional category.
Investigator
For appointment or promotion to Associate Professor based on performance as an investigator, the following requirements must be met:
a. Active and effective participation in at least one of the following levels of education: undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate (which includes other health professionals).
and either b. or c.
b. A record of sustained publication in refereed journals of results from original and independent investigations that are recognized as important. The applicant for appointment or promotion should be a contributor of major ideas and innovations and should have an established reputation as an original investigator outside UConn Health. Examples of reputation are the importance, originality, independence and sustainability of one’s scientific contributions.
c. A record of sustained publication in refereed journals of important work resulting from collaborations with more than one principal investigator on multiple projects to which the candidate has contributed his/her unique skills. The applicant must have made significant, essential and unique contributions to this published work. One indicator of these contributions is for the candidate to be listed as key personnel or investigator with collaborators. The candidate must also periodically be the corresponding author of refereed articles in journals that are devoted largely to the individual’s area(s) of professional expertise.
Appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor will require:
a. A national reputation within his/her field as evidenced by memberships in study sections, advisory groups, prestigious professional societies, etc., or by awards, prizes, or other notable academic achievements.
b. Active and effective participation in at least one of the following levels of education: undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate (which includes other health professionals).
c. An established reputation as an original or essential investigator outside UConn Health.
and either d. or e.
d. A record of sustained publication of original and independent research findings that have had a demonstrable impact on the field. Examples of recognition are the importance, originality, independence and sustainability of one’s scientific contributions.
e. A record of sustained publication in refereed journals of important work resulting from collaborations with more than one principal investigator on multiple projects to which the candidate has contributed his/her unique skills. The applicant must have made significant, essential and unique contributions to this published work. An example of these contributions is continued recognition as key personnel or investigator with collaborators. The candidate should also periodically be the corresponding author of refereed articles in journals that are devoted largely to the individual’s area(s) of professional expertise.
Clinician-Investigator
For appointment or promotion to Associate Professor based on performance as a clinician-investigator, the candidate must demonstrate:
a. Active and effective participation in at least one of the following levels of education: undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate (which includes other health professionals).
b. Recognition as an authority in a clinical specialty both inside and outside the immediate medical community, or a demonstrably effective leadership role in a department or hospital.
c. An established reputation as an original and important investigator or contributor outside UConn Health and the immediate medical community.
and either d. or e.
d. A record of sustained publication in refereed journals of results from original and independent investigations that are recognized as important. The applicant for appointment or promotion should be a contributor of major ideas and innovations. Examples of reputation are the importance, originality, independence and sustainability of one’s scientific contributions.
e. A record of sustained publication in refereed journals of important work resulting from collaborations with more than one principal investigator on multiple projects to which the candidate has contributed his/her unique skills. The candidate must have made significant, essential and unique contributions to this published work. One indicator of these contributions is for the candidate to be listed as key personnel or investigator with collaborators. The candidate should also be the occasional corresponding author of refereed articles in journals that are devoted largely to the individual’s area(s) of professional expertise.
Appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor will require:
a. Active and effective participation in at least one of the following levels of education: undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate (which includes other health professionals).
b. A national reputation within his/her field as evidenced by memberships in study sections, advisory groups, prestigious professional societies, or by awards, prizes, or other notable academic achievements.
c. Superior accomplishment in a clinical specialty or effective departmental, hospital, or institutional leadership.
d. An established reputation as an original and important investigator or contributor outside UConn Health and the immediate medical community.
and either e. or f.
e. A record of sustained publication of original and independent research findings that are important. Examples of recognition are the importance, originality, independence and sustainability of one’s scientific contributions.
f. A record of sustained publication in refereed journals of important work resulting from collaborations with more than one principal investigator on multiple projects to which the candidate has contributed his/her unique skills. The candidate must have made significant, essential and unique contributions to this published work. An example of these contributions is continued recognition as key personnel or investigator with collaborators. The candidate should also be the occasional corresponding author of refereed articles in journals that are devoted largely to the individual’s area(s) of professional expertise.
Clinician-Scholar
For appointment or promotion to Associate Professor based on performance as a clinician-scholar, the following requirements must be met:
a. Development of original teaching materials or major improvements over those used elsewhere (such as new curriculum or educational programs, textbooks or chapters, syllabi, computer programs, videotapes, evaluation mechanisms, etc.), or continuing publication of clinical observations, reviews, or analytic studies in peer-reviewed journals. Should be contributor of major ideas and innovations.
b. Effective participation in clinical training and service. Teaching may include medical students, residents, specialty fellows, or postgraduate students.Recognition of high quality teaching by formal evaluations or teaching awards. Impact of teaching should extend beyond home hospital as evidenced by invitations to teach in other institutions or in the programs of professional societies and continuing medical education (CME) courses.
c. Established reputation inside and outside the immediate area as an authority in a clinical specialty as evidenced by outside referrals, visiting lectureships, or participation in the teaching programs of professional societies.
Appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor will require:
a. A record of continuing publication in peer-reviewed journals of (1) analytic clinical studies or observations or (2) widely recognized comprehensive clinical reviews. Alternatively, development of original materials or major improvements over those used elsewhere (such as new curricula, textbooks or materials, or computer programs, evaluation mechanisms, etc.) which have reached a national audience.
b. Performance as a key individual in clinical training and service; active and continuing participation in medical student teaching with recognition of extraordinary effectiveness. Evidence of a wide impact from teaching, e.g., in specialty societies, in CME courses, or in visiting professorships.
c. A national reputation for superior accomplishments within a clinical specialty as evidenced by invitation to membership or fellowship in prestigious professional societies or by other academic recognition or awards, or play leadership role in department or hospital.
MEDICAL EDUCATOR
To be eligible for appointment or promotion to senior rank in the medical educator professional category, candidates must have both (a) and (b):
a. A high level of professional competence, as well as significant achievement, in one of the following:
1. Clinical achievement: Clinical achievement is measured through development and/or improvement of clinical protocols and guidelines, or clinical programs, or quality initiatives that demonstrate objective positive impact in the quality of patient care. There must be objective evidence of the candidate’s personal contributions to the development or improvement.
2. Research: Achievement is demonstrated through sustained publication in peer reviewed professional journals of observations, analytical studies, or topic reviews. Emphasis will be given to first or corresponding authorships*.
3. Education: Achievement in education is measured through the development of one of the following and objective demonstration of its positive outcomes. There must be objective evidence of the candidate’s personal contributions to the development or improvement.
a. New and/or innovative educational program
b. New and/or innovative curriculum
c. Leadership of new and/or innovative educational programs
d. New and/or innovative assessment tools
e. A recognized leader in the skills of mentoring/advising
Significant contributions in one of the educational areas above must be substantiated by documented improvements to education. Examples include, but are not limited to, outstanding achievement in accreditation; educational material such as syllabi, curricula, web-based modules and courses that demonstrate improvement in the quality of a course; newly developed assessment tools that helps measure achievement of course objectives; dissemination of achievements at regional or national conferences; or results of a mentoring relationship such as the success of an advisee that can be linked to the mentor’s role.
4. Health Service Management: Achievement in health service management is measured through the development of clinical programs or clinical support programs which objectively improve the effectiveness, efficiency, safety, timeliness, patient-centeredness, or equity of health care delivery; development of effective physician leadership programs; and/or scholarly evaluation of health care delivery. There must be objective evidence of the candidate’s personal contributions to the development or improvement.
b. A record of excellence in at least one of the following levels of education: undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate (which includes other health professionals).
Local and regional recognition is most consistent with appointment or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor, whereas significant institutional influence, regional, and national recognition is most consistent with appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor.
*When research and/or scholarship is pursued in a collaborative manner and results in multi-authored publications, the specific contributions of the candidate must be clear and significant. Unique contributions must be clear both in the Chair’s nomination and candidate’s personal statement.
MEDICAL RESEARCHER
For appointment or promotion to Associate Professor based on performance as a Medical Researcher, the following requirements must be met:
a. Active and effective participation in at least one of the following levels of education: undergraduate education, undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, graduate school, postgraduate (which includes other health professionals) and/or continuing medical education.
b. A record of sustained publication in refereed journals of important work resulting from collaborations to which the candidate has contributed his/her unique skills. The candidate must have documented evidence of significant and essential contributions to this published work.
c. A record of occasional publications in refereed journals in which the candidate is a corresponding author.
d. An established reputation for research within his/her field outside the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor will require:
a. A national reputation for research within his/her field. One such indicator, among others, of the recognition of the importance and originality of one’s scientific contributions and its sustainability is grant support either as a principal investigator or as key personnel on grants and collaborations.
b. Active and effective participation in at least one of the following levels of education: undergraduate education, undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, graduate school, postgraduate (which includes other health professionals) and/or continuing medical education.
c. A record of sustained publication in refereed journals of important work resulting from collaborations to which the candidate has contributed his/her unique skills. The candidate must have documented evidence of significant and essential contributions to this published work.
d. A record of periodic publication in refereed journals in which the candidate is a corresponding author.
Clinical Xology*
For promotion to Associate Professor of Clinical Xology, the following requirements must be met:
a. Local or regional recognition by peers and students for excellence in clinical teaching of residents, fellows, or medical students.
b. Local or regional recognition by peers of a high level of competence in a clinical specialty.
c. The candidate also must either:
- play an effective and significant leadership role in the University, one of its components, or an affiliated hospital, or
- develop clinical services new to the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, or
- publish clinical observations, reviews, or analytic studies in peer-reviewed journals, or
- develop new curriculum offerings, educational programs, or teaching materials not previously available at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
Promotion to Professor of Clinical Xology will additionally require regional or national recognition for any of the achievements required for promotion to Associate Professor.
*[1] The Clinical Xology professional category was eliminated as an option for newly appointed faculty in 2001, but those already in that professional category were allowed to remain. Faculty members who have been in the Clinical Xology professional category and who change to another professional category are not eligible to transfer back into the Clinical Xology professional category.