An innovative approach to supporting hospitalist physicians towards academic success.
BACKGROUND
Academic hospitalist physicians face significant challenges that may threaten their chances for successful and timely promotions, such as heavy clinical workloads, limited training in research, and relatively few experienced mentors in their field. The appreciable growth of hospital medicine groups in recent years, as has occurred at our institution, compounds the predicament by diluting the limited resources that are available to support these physicians.


METHODS
A needs assessment was followed by the development of specific objectives for the division and for individual members of the division related to academic success. The resulting 3-pronged strategy to support the academic success of our group was based on securing strong mentorship, investing requisite resources, and committing to recruit fellowship-trained new faculty.


RESULTS
To date, the initiative has resulted in an increased number of peer-reviewed publication and grants, as well as national leadership roles for division members.
Howell
Eric
E
Collaborative Inpatient Medical Service, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Kravet
Steven
S
Kisuule
Flora
F
Wright
Scott M
SM
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D020445:Hospitalists / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013192:Staff Development / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration