Perceptions of division directors in general internal medicine about the importance of and support for scholarly work done by clinician-educators.
OBJECTIVE
To determine perceptions of general internal medicine (GIM) division directors of the importance of and support for clinician-educators' (CEs') scholarship.


METHODS
In 2010, the authors identified 127 accredited U.S. MD-granting medical schools with a GIM division, identified 144 GIM directors, and were able to survey 129 of them. Directors were asked to rate the importance of specific CE scholarly accomplishments for promotion from assistant to associate professor, to describe current research support for CEs, and to state how they would support the scholarly work of CEs if they had funding.


RESULTS
Fifty-five directors (42.6%) from 52 institutions responded; there were no significant differences between responding and nonresponding schools. Curriculum development, presentations at national meetings and other institutions, review articles, and book chapters were rated as "most/very important" or "important/somewhat important" by over 90%. Approximately half rated published original peer-reviewed articles as "most/very important"; slightly less than half rated these "not important," a difference associated with having a specific CE track. If $100,000 per year were available to enhance the scholarly productivity of CEs, directors suggested spending it on faculty development, project coordination, protected time for CEs, and methodological and statistical support.


CONCLUSIONS
This nationwide survey of GIM division directors confirms that academic CEs in GIM are judged on a wide variety of scholarly activities, many of which are consistent across institutions. However, academic GIM CEs need to understand their institutions' specific criteria, especially regarding the value placed on original, peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Yeh is associate professor of medicine and epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Bertram is senior research program coordinator, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Brancati (deceased) was distinguished service professor of medicine and epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Cofrancesco is associate professor of medicine and Johns Hopkins Institute for Excellence in Education Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Hsin-Chieh
HC
Yeh
Amanda
A
Bertram
Frederick L
FL
Brancati
Joseph
J
Cofrancesco
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D008486:Physician Executives; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States