Faculty Subcommittee

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison began its institutional self-study in preparation for the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) reaccreditation process in fall 2008.

The following members make up the Faculty Subcommittee:

• Patricia Kokotailo, MD, MPH (Co-Chair)
• Robert Pearce, MD, PhD (Co-Chair)
• Elizabeth Bolt
• Emery Bresnick, PhD
• Mary (Molly) Carnes, MD, MS
• Sarah Esmond, MS
• Rosa Garner, JD
• Ned Kalin, MD
• Suzanne Selvaggi, MD
• Joseph Hansen, Med 3
• Rachel Uttech Loomis, Med 4

Questions Addressed by the Faculty Subcommittee

A. Number, Qualifications, and Functions

1. Is the current size and mix of faculty appropriate for the attainment of the medical school's mission and goals?

2. Describe and evaluate the availability of opportunities for both new and experienced faculty members (fulltime, part-time, and volunteer) to improve their skills in teaching and evaluation. Is institutional or departmental-level assistance, such as training sessions from education specialists, readily available? What is the level of faculty participation in such programs?

3. Do faculty receive appropriate support and mentorship related to scholarship? Are formal institutional programs available to support faculty research?

B. Personnel Policies

4. Evaluate the systems for the appointment, renewal of appointment, promotion, granting of tenure, and dismissal of faculty members. Are the policies clear, widely understood, and followed?

5. Assess the adequacy of institutional and departmental conflict of interest policies relating to faculty members' performance of their academic responsibilities.

6. Describe the extent of feedback provided to faculty members about their academic performance and progress toward promotion and/or retention. Are faculty members regularly informed about their job responsibilities and the expectations that they must meet for promotion and/or retention?

7. Discuss the extent to which education is valued in the institution. How are the degree and quality of participation in medical student education factored into decisions about faculty retention and promotion?

C. Governance

8. Evaluate the effectiveness of mechanisms for organizational decision-making. Are necessary decisions made in a timely and efficient manner with appropriate input from faculty and other concerned parties? Describe and assess the relative roles of committees of the faculty, department heads, and medical school administrators in decision-making.

9. Assess the effectiveness of the methods used to communicate with and among the faculty. Do faculty perceive themselves to be well informed about important issues at the institution? Do faculty believe that they have sufficient opportunities to make themselves heard?