Faculty Factory

Important news and notes for the academic medicine community about building safe artificial intelligence systems are discussed in depth on this week's Faculty Factory Podcast. We’re excited to be joined by first-time guest Eric Nalisnick, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University for this timely discussion. Alongside thoughts on the current state of incorporating the human element into these systems, one thing will remain abundantly clear after listening to today’s discussion: these A.I. systems, when left unchecked, are unreliable for work that allows no margin for error (i.e., medical practice, tax returns, etc.). Large language models, like ChatGPT, are effective for low-stakes tasks, brainstorming, and bouncing ideas off of in order to stimulate creativity or encourage alternative ways of thinking. With the ongoing and rapidly growing integration of artificial intelligence in the medical, research, and education fields, maintaining safety, ethical standards, and ensuring that the human touch is not lost are central themes in today’s interview. “Integration and efficiency are something I hope we will see from A.I. systems, as opposed to more erosion of the human aspect,” he optimistically mentioned in the closing moments of our podcast If you enjoyed today’s podcast or found it useful, consider listening to previous Faculty Factory interviews related to the topics Eric discussed with us: Episode 284 – Ethical Considerations of Artificial Intelligence in Academia with Anjalie Field, PhD Episode 219 – Artificial Intelligence and Rapidly Changing Technology with Daniel Khashabi, PhD

All things “micro” and “mini” are being discussed on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week. In the context of today’s discussion, “micro” is simply another way of saying expedited, streamlined, and not requiring a massive amount of time. Our guest is Alice Fornari, EdD, FAMEE, RDN, a friend of this podcast over the years, making her third appearance on the program. She serves as Vice President of Faculty Development with Northwell Health and Associate Dean with Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York. In terms of micro, we’re discussing micro learning, micro teaching, and micro mentoring, along with how to deliver and track the effectiveness of these resources. Learn More:  https://facultyfactory.org/micro-resources/

In this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory, we’re navigating the complexities of the academic writing and editing process, including dealing with severe time constraints, as we turn the spotlight back onto Richard Edden, PhD, MSc, for his triumphant return to our show. Dr. Edden is Professor of Radiology in the Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Within his department, he also holds the position of Director of Post-Doctoral Fellows. Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

When it comes to exploring the science of an optimized life, Mark Guadagnoli, PhD, is the ideal subject matter expert. Joining us for a special reunion appearance on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week is Dr. Guadagnoli, as we further examine the ways we can jumpstart change to optimize our lives while fully engaging with the sea of demands within academic medicine. At the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Dr. Guadagnoli serves as Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Director of Learning and Performance, and Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Neurology. Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/jumpstart-change 

As we approach our 300th Faculty Factory podcast episode, we’ve yet to have a conversation about the insightful strategies surrounding the often-overlooked skill of writing promotion letters. This technical yet crucial component of faculty advancement warrants attention, and we are honored to be joined by Mary Beth Phelan, MD, MBA, on this week’s show. Dr. Phelan makes her inaugural appearance on our podcast this week. At the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), she serves as Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Advancement, Chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine Ultrasound, and Director of the Advanced Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship. These roles also include her position as chair of the promotion and tenure committee. Important Resources from Today’s Podcast: Writing an External Letter of Review for Promotion [pdf] Promotion and Tenure Letters: A Guide for Faculty [pdf] The ADVICER Template for Faculty Reviewer Letters for Promotion and Appointment [pdf] Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/promotion-letters 

Making his Faculty Factory debut in a memorable way this week is Michael Gottlieb, MD, RDMS, FAAEM, FACEP.  Naturally, here at the Faculty Factory Podcast, our ears perk up when we hear about the intersection of podcasts, learning, research, and academic medicine. We are joined by Dr. Gottlieb this week to learn all about his research into how the way content is delivered within an educational podcast impacts the actual learning takeaways for the listener and how much of that information is retained. Dr. Gottlieb serves as Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vice Chair of Research, and Director of the Emergency Ultrasound Division in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. It’s a fascinating discussion, and we hope you buckle up for the journey that Dr. Gottlieb leads us on! As you will soon learn, the lion’s share of today’s conversation covers a lot of findings from his research for the recent study he co-authored, entitled “Educational Podcasts: Effect of Content Delivery Timing on Knowledge Acquisition and Retention,” which was published in Academic Medicine.  You can learn more about that here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38551950/ If you want more Faculty Factory resources, please visit our official website: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

In the latest episode of the Faculty Factory podcast, Rachel Walden, MS, ELS, makes a highly informative return to discuss considerations for becoming a more effective writing coach in academic medicine. Rachel is the Director of Editorial Services and an Assistant Professor with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. She is a board-certified editor in the life sciences and provides education and training on scientific writing and publishing for residents and faculty. Rachel reminds us that countless faculty members do not naturally consider themselves writing coaches. Instead, they often feel pressured to revise manuscripts for less experienced authors, which ends up failing to equip trainees with the skills to become proficient scholarly writers. Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/coach-writing/  

When it comes to managing expectations and accepting the realistic limits of our professional and personal lives (no one can do everything), our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast has some strong words of encouragement. Join us for this week’s edition of our podcast as Sarah Andrews, MD, makes a return appearance to discuss prioritizing what matters most as an academic medicine professional facing seemingly endless competing demands on our time. For those that are new to our show, Dr. Andrews is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Did you catch her first appearance on the podcast with us? You can check out “Habits and Hacks with Sarah R. Andrews, MD,” here: https://facultyfactory.org/sarah-andrews/ This week’s discussion also includes wisdom on dealing with disappointment when you feel the pressure to please everyone in your life, both at home and at work. (Spoiler alert: it is impossible to please everyone, so you must be comfortable with saying no, and that takes practice.) In this interview, Dr. Andrews also touches on the importance of including our family and colleagues in the decision-making process of uncovering what’s most vital by simply asking them from time to time, “What’s most important to you?”

The message from our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast is resoundingly clear: despite all the headaches and stressors that come with it, medicine overall should be fun. When it is no longer fun, that should be the litmus test for taking a step back and reevaluating where you are and how you will shape the next phase of your career. We are honored to be joined by Carol Ziminski, MD, on the show this week. Specializing in rheumatology, she is a retired associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is also the co-chair of The Academy at Johns Hopkins. Reflecting on her own retirement journey, Dr. Ziminski candidly recounted the challenges of transitioning from full-time practice, a decision influenced by administrative changes within her division. She emphasized the importance of knowing when it’s the right time to step back and make a career-altering move, recognizing that such choices are profoundly personal and should be based on a variety of factors, including the question of whether you are still having fun. The interview highlights the need for more innovative programs like the Academy, which not only honor retirees' contributions but also ensure their continued engagement in the academic community. Dr. Ziminski and the Academy prove that retirement can be a new beginning, filled with purpose and connection. About “The Academy” According to its official website – which you can visit at www.hopkinsmedicine.org/the-academy – “The Academy at Johns Hopkins supports the continued research, teaching, and service of retired faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Honoring our retired faculty for their exceptional wisdom, intelligence, and experience, the Academy actively engages retired faculty in the Johns Hopkins community in ways that benefit our students, patients, disciplines, and institution, and that support their ongoing professional fulfillment.”

This week marks the formidable return of Ann Brown, MD, MHS, to the Faculty Factory as she joins us to discuss managing difficult behaviors and navigating awkward and challenging conversations, both professionally and personally. Dr. Brown often coaches faculty on overcoming these situations in her current role as an executive coach. With extensive leadership experience in academic medicine, she is the former Vice Dean for Faculty at Duke University School of Medicine, a position she held for more than 11 years. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing personal emotional triggers and stepping back to understand the context of difficult conversations in today’s podcast. According to Dr. Brown, the first step is awareness. By cultivating curiosity rather than judgment, we can “get to a better place” regarding healthier dialogue, collaborative workplace settings, and improved relationships moving forward. Contact, Dr. Brown via email: Annbrowncoaching@outlook.com Learn More:  https://facultyfactory.org/toxic-behavior/