Faculty Factory

The path toward finding a deeper meaning in providing patient care within academic medicine and the intangibles that make us human, such as vulnerability, passion, and post-traumatic growth, is explored in this week’s edition of the Faculty Factory episode with our guest, Nicole Piemonte, PhD. Dr. Piemonte serves as the Associate Dean for Faculty Leadership and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medical Humanities at Creighton University School of Medicine-Phoenix in Arizona. She is also an author and a Certified Healthcare Leadership Coach. Through her own experiences with end-of-life care, coupled with her background in medical humanities, Dr. Piemonte shares her perspective on the ongoing challenges of how clinicians can engage authentically with vulnerability. Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/nicole-piemonte 

The Faculty Factory Podcast invites first-time guest, Adam Wolfe, MD, PhD, to our show this week. He is the co-author of the article, “Put Yourself out There! A Strategy for Effective Self-Promotion in Academic Medicine,” which we examine in detail during this interview. “When it comes to non-clinical teaching, I really gravitate toward things like communication skills, breaking bad news, conflict resolution and self-promotion because those are things that I think are absent in a lot of formative curricula.” he said. Dr. Wolfe is the Interim Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at CHRISTUS Children’s, affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine in San Antonio, and is also the Associate Professor of Pediatrics and the Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Program. Additionally, he serves as the Assistant Dean of Medical Education and holds the Jann L. Harrison Endowed Chair in Pediatric Graduate Medical Education. More about his article: “Put Yourself out There! A Strategy for Effective Self-Promotion in Academic Medicine”:  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11219085/  For feedback, questions, or comments, you can also visit the Faculty Factory website: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

According to our guest on this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, John Heymann, MD, every academic medicine professional can bet big on two things: compassion and understanding. Dr. Heymann is a neuroradiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where he serves as an Associate Professor in Radiology, as well as the Director of Residency Programs and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations. “Being angry all the time is not conducive to longevity, and I think a lot of that comes from misunderstanding other people and their mind states. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful and practice compassion,” Dr. Heymann said. It truly might be time to double down on compassion. Understanding is at the core of compassion, as we learn in this discussion, and both elements are necessary for compassion to manifest. The bottom line is that how we interact with one another and recognize each other's challenges is an essential part of our mental health and well-being. Visit the Faculty Factory website for more resources:  https://facultyfactory.org/

The journey to attain and hold on to wellness and joy, as it pertains to the rich opportunities and sacrifices of a career in academic medicine, is brought to the forefront in this week’s edition of the Faculty Factory Podcast with our guest, Michelle Moore, PsyD, ABPP. Dr. Moore is an Associate Professor with a dual appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, where she also serves as Chief of Psychology and Director of Faculty Development for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Her personal experiences in striving for sustainable wellness and overcoming obstacles are outlined in her recently published memoir, "Sustainable Wellness: A Memoir of Loss, Perseverance, and Resilience," which you can learn more about on Amazon. You can also reach her directly at mbacon@lsuhsc.edu.

Join us for today’s engaging episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, featuring our returning guest, Brian Clyne, MD, MHL. In this episode, we explore key guidance for early-career physicians and faculty in academic medicine through the lens of a coach. Dr. Clyne is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University where he also serves as Vice Chair for Education. It is often a complex journey we face when transitioning from medical training to clinical practice, with some of those unique challenges explored throughout this conversation. Coaching, Self-Awareness, Values, and Goals                                                                                                 Dr. Clyne highlighted a significant trend in the opening moments of the interview: an increasing number of early-career physicians are turning to coaching to navigate feelings of uncertainty and redefine their professional identities outside the structured milestones of medical education. This reflects the confusion many feel as they shift from a system with clear guidance to one where they must carve their own paths and establish internal definitions of success. Self-awareness and understanding one's personal values are essential throughout your career, but this is increasingly true during times of transition or uncertainty. Coaching facilitates critical thought and assists individuals in exploring their goals and underlying values, leading to a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. Keep the Conversation Going You can listen to Dr. Clyne's previous visit with us here at the Faculty Factory Podcast, as he joined us for episode no. 191, entitled 'Finding Focus, Collaborators, and Mentors for Accelerating Scholarly Productivity': https://facultyfactory.org/brian-clyne/.  You can contact Dr. Clyne here: brian.clyne@brownphysicians.org and the Faculty Factory website is here: https://facultyfactory.org/

Brian Downer, PhD, an Associate Professor and Director at UTMB, shares insights on finding fulfillment in academic medicine. He emphasizes the need to redefine success beyond achievements, advocating for a mindset that values the journey. The conversation explores how personal satisfaction can elude those who chase milestones, urging listeners to appreciate their contributions. Dr. Downer highlights the balance between ambition and self-compassion, reminding us that true fulfillment stems from mentorship and supporting others.

This week’s Faculty Factory Podcast episode is dedicated to exploring interprofessional collaboration and team science with our distinguished return guest, Wendy Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA. Dr. Ward is a pediatric psychologist and serves as Associate Provost and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. Additionally, she is the Director of Interprofessional Faculty Development at UAMS. As mentioned in the opening moments of today’s interview, Dr. Ward joined us for a podcast interview in 2020 regarding Interprofessional Education (IPE), which provides a complementary resource to today’s discussion. You can access that interview here: https://facultyfactory.org/interprofessional-faculty-development-with-wendy-ward-phd-abpp-fapa/. Team building in our field is essential because different perspectives tend to solve difficult problems more effectively. In the world of academic medicine, we face massive hurdles coming in many different forms that need to be surmounted on a daily basis. It really is that simple. Not only will this interprofessional approach set us on the path toward stronger healthcare outcomes, but it also helps secure better research funding opportunities, as pointed out by Dr. Ward. “We want to connect effective team-based practice with healthcare outcomes or, in the research arena, with securing larger grants,” Dr. Ward said. Learn More We applaud Dr. Ward for her continuous and robust contributions to the Faculty Factory over the years. If you would like to get in touch with her to learn more, you can email her directly at WWard@uams.edu. In case you missed it, Dr. Ward also joined us last week for an episode covering leadership skills in academic health centers, which you can find here: https://facultyfactory.org/leadership-skills/.

A frequent contributor to the Faculty Factory Podcast is back this week for another one of her trademark episodes that will leave you wanting more. Wendy Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA, returns as we discuss many aspects of developing leadership skills in academic health centers. Even if you never entered the profession intending to take on a formal leadership position, Dr. Ward’s tutelage will help you adopt the right mindset should that opportunity unexpectedly arise, as it often does in academic medicine settings. Dr. Ward is a pediatric psychologist and serves as Associate Provost and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. At UAMS, she also serves as the Director of Interprofessional Faculty Development. As mentioned in this interview, Dr. Ward is a significant contributor to our book, The Academic Medicine Starter Kit, which you can read and download for free here: https://facultyfactory.org/ebook/#starterkit. Visit FacultyFactory.org for more resources: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Michael A. Barone, MD, MPH, President and CEO of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), is our guest for this week’s memorable edition of the Faculty Factory Podcast. His background in academic medicine and passion for all three pillars of its tripartite mission (clinical care, education, and research) have equipped him for success in many environments, including his time with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). He settled into his role as ABP CEO in early 2024. Curiosity and a Love of the Tripartite Mission Curiosity and his love of education helped set the stage for him to leave a more traditional faculty career path in pursuit of broader opportunities. Dr. Barone discusses the importance of curiosity in his professional growth throughout this interview. “I gravitated to academic medicine just because it fed something a little bit different in me,” he told us. As a board-certified pediatrician and associate professor with Johns Hopkins Medicine, he immersed himself in a culture of inquiry and innovation, laying a strong foundation for his career. With the NBME, he helped oversee the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) program and other vital initiatives. “That was a great honor and a great responsibility to oversee the US Medical Licensing Examination program,” he said. Transitions: Building Trust in New Environments Throughout this podcast, Dr. Barone discussed the interplay of curiosity and trust, as well as the occasional feelings of imposter syndrome that accompany new roles. He strongly recommends finding time to read The Thin Book of Trust, which you can learn more about here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/770101/the-thin-book-of-trust-third-edition-by-charles-feltman/.

This week, the Faculty Factory Podcast sits down with David J. Skorton, MD, to explore his remarkable journey, filled with insights on leadership, mentorship, and the value of a continuous learning mindset—themes that resonate throughout the interview. Dr. Skorton is the current President and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), serving professionals throughout the world. Alongside these values, Dr. Skorton’s rich background in science, music, and education has aided him throughout his journey in navigating the complexities of academic medicine and leadership. Initially aspiring to be a session musician, his father's insistence on pursuing a college education set him on a trajectory that eventually led him to medical school. He emphasized the importance of learning from all individuals, regardless of their formal titles, telling us, "Mentors come in all shapes and sizes."  A core theme that emerged from the podcast was the concept of embracing a "beginner's mind." Drawing from Zen philosophy, Dr. Skorton reminded listeners that, "In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind, there are few." In the interview's closing moments, Dr. Skorton reflects on handling difficult decisions as a leader. He advises us all to remain open and adaptable, recognizing that no one leader can possess all the answers. By valuing collective wisdom and carrying an open mind to learn from everything and anyone, you may just wind up achieving goals that are otherwise unimaginable. Learn More Faculty Factory Website. The AAMC - Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA) Website. As mentioned in this episode, Darrell G. Kirch, MD, President and CEO of the Association of AAMC from 2006 to 2019, joined our show in 2024, and you can listen to that interview here: https://facultyfactory.org/darrell-kirch/.