title: Faculty Development at One Midwestern Dental School: A Program Evaluation.
abstract: Most dental school faculty members arrive on campus with a wealth of clinical experience but little to no teacher training. For the past two decades, there has been a call for schools to educate their faculty on a wide variety of topics including educational methodology and cutting-edge educational techniques through faculty development programs. Drawing on theories of general program evaluation as well as evaluation specific to educational programming, the aim of this study was to investigate outcomes of the Faculty Development Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry between 2007 and 2014. A mixed-methods research design gathered quantitative data via email survey sent to all eligible teaching faculty members; it received an overall response rate of 54% (N=51). Qualitative data came from open-ended survey questions and a focus group with seven volunteer faculty participants. The survey data suggested that the stated outcomes of faculty development were being met for all stakeholder groups with varying degrees of success. Focus group results indicated a need for a more formal new faculty orientation and better communication with all about the specific charge of faculty development within the school. Evaluation of faculty development activities in academic dental institutions is a necessary component of the ongoing improvement of dental education. Suggestions for future evaluations include the idea of collaborating with other dental schools to increase sample sizes, which would increase participants' perception of the level of confidentiality and make statistical analyses more robust.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Gadbury-Amyot is Associate Dean and Professor of Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Dr. Overman is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; and Dr. Bunce is Director of Institutional Research, University of Missouri-Kansas City. amyotc@umkc.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gadbury-Amyot
authors.affiliation: Dr. Gadbury-Amyot is Associate Dean and Professor of Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Dr. Overman is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; and Dr. Bunce is Director of Institutional Research, University of Missouri-Kansas City.
authors.forename: Deborah B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Dr. Gadbury-Amyot is Associate Dean and Professor of Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Dr. Overman is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; and Dr. Bunce is Director of Institutional Research, University of Missouri-Kansas City.
authors.forename: Pamela R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Overman
authors.affiliation: Dr. Gadbury-Amyot is Associate Dean and Professor of Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; Dr. Smith is Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Dr. Overman is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry; and Dr. Bunce is Director of Institutional Research, University of Missouri-Kansas City.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bunce
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D003479:Curriculum; D018865:Dental Research; D004522:Educational Status; D018961:Educational Technology / Q000379:methods; D005006:Ethnicity; D005179:Faculty, Dental / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration; D013192:Staff Development / Q000592:standards; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods
keywords: dental education; dental faculty; program evaluation; staff development