Faculty Factory

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/.

When a leader in academic medicine reaches the pinnacle of their profession yet seeks new challenges, a world of opportunities awaits. This week on the Faculty Factory Podcast, our esteemed guest Paul Rothman, MD, shares his journey with us. Dr. Rothman previously served as Dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Before that, he was the Dean of the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. Like many in this field, Dr. Rothman's career path features recurring themes of serendipity, blended with a dedication to mentorship (both receiving it and paying it forward), along with his trademark curiosity. After fulfilling his term at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Rothman’s new chapter included a stimulating return to the bench on sabbatical, diving into genome editing and further strengthening his lifelong enthusiasm for research and discovery. This opportunity was not available to him while he was engulfed in years of strategic work while leading some of the world’s most prestigious medical institutions. Dr. Rothman now channels his energy into a mix of leisure activities at his home among the hills of Colorado, along with work in venture capital, mentoring, and board responsibilities. All of these activities have helped him ensure he strikes that always elusive work/life balance while continuing to make a significant impact on healthcare and society. Learn More You can visit more podcasts specific to retirement and late-career journeys in academic medicine: https://facultyfactory.org/podcast-topics/#retirement Make sure to revisit our interview entitled, Considerations for Starting a Research Career as a Physician with Myron Weisfeldt, MD, which was referenced in today's discussion on fundraising and relationship building:  https://facultyfactory.org/myron-weisfeldt/

As a faculty member and leader at your academic institution, decisiveness may not be a character trait you are known for. It is often not enjoyable to make a transition, or even start the process, but once you find yourself on the other side of that decision, you might just be forever grateful.  With all of this in mind, there is a strategic approach to making transitions that our guest, Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, walks us through this week as a first-time guest on our Faculty Factory Podcast. Since August 2023, Dr. Reiser has served as the President of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and CEO of the UTMB Health System. He is a professor in the John Sealy School of Medicine and is the John D. Stobo, MD Distinguished Chair. In today’s podcast, we discuss how 2025 marks a year of transition for both the show and our host, Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH, who has been with the Faculty Factory since day one.  She shares her journey moving to UTMB and reflects on the wonderful support she has received from Johns Hopkins Medicine and now UTMB for this podcast and our community. This watershed episode highlights a significant moment for our show, which has been thriving for six years and counting thanks to our wonderful guests and supportive institutions.  So much of this conversation about navigating a pending transition starts with recognizing your own “true north.” As stated in this podcast, we need to pause and determine this “true north” if we haven’t already made it an inflexible part of our values that guides our decisions.  “You need to ask yourself from time to time: look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Is this the place where I still want to be part of this mission?” Dr. Reiser said. He went on to remind us to be honest with ourselves. If the answer is “no” or if you are unsure, then it is time to take a serious look at what your options are for a significant transition.  Further advice shared in this week’s conversation includes taking advantage of the rich ecosystems that academic institutions offer, as they will help guide you in making tough choices about transitions. Visit our website: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

On this week's Faculty Factory Podcast, we're featuring clips and snippets from some of the best leadership conversations we've had over the six-year lifespan of this show.   This is the final part of a three-part best of the Faculty Factory series on leadership discussions. You can catch up on the first part here: https://facultyfactory.org/conversations-on-leadership/ And Part 2 of this leadership podcast series can be found here: https://facultyfactory.org/leadership-part-2/ As a friendly programming reminder, we will be back on January 3, 2025, with a brand-new episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast!  This week’s “Best of” show includes highlights, snippets and clips from the following episodes (appearing in order): Exploring Leadership Competencies in Academic Medicine with Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH Identifying Leadership Competencies at your Academic Institution with Kathy Forbush MBA and MS Emotional Intelligence (EQ) for Unlocking Leadership Potential with Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, FRCP About Our Speakers/Guests Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH Dr. Skarupski has hosted the Faculty Factory Podcast since its debut in 2019. She is a sociologist and gerontologist by training and has been practicing faculty development for nearly two decades. Kathy Forbush MBA and MS Kathy is the Executive Director for HR-Talent Management at Johns Hopkins University, and in this role is responsible for leading the talent acquisition, learning and organization development functions for the entire university. Kathy has spent over 20 years working in HR, Learning, and Organization Development roles with clients of various functional disciplines in diverse organizations and industries. Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, FRCP Dr. Hoque is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine and the Co-Director of the Medicine Acting Internship at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She also serves as the inaugural Medical Director of Bordley Tower at SSM Health, Saint Louis University Hospital, and she is President of the Society of Hospital Medicine’s St. Louis Chapter.