Mentoring Program

The Department of Pediatrics at Saint Louis University implemented a formal faculty mentoring program in 2005.

The program is developed and implemented by a committee of junior and senior faculty in consultation with a facilitator. The purpose of the program is to:

create an environment whereby experienced faculty provide ongoing support and development to junior faculty;
assist junior faculty with the identification and realization of goals in: Clinical Practice, Research, Teaching, Administrative Service, & Personal Growth; and
nurture the mentoring skills of experienced faculty and facilitate mentors’ development

This program is an opportunity to support junior faculty who are desirous of career growth and professional development in their areas of interest including research, teaching, clinical care, leadership/administrative development, promotion preparation, among other areas. Furthermore, it will promote unique and mutually beneficial collaborations between junior and experienced faculty.

Participation Expectations

In order for mentors and protégés to reap the full benefits of the program, it is expected that participants will make a true commitment to the program and the mentoring partnership. This commitment includes training sessions and a kickoff session designed to provide mentors and protégés with knowledge and skills in effective mentoring relationships. In addition, it will provide protégés with the opportunity to articulate professional development goals that can then be used as part of the mentoring process.

Monthly meetings of protégé and mentor
Mentor will provide protégé with feedback for positive learning and change
Mentor will assist protégé in setting goals and carrying out plans for professional and personal development

(This is an opportunity for mentor/mentee growth and is not a job requirement. Mentoring pairs can opt to continue their partnerships for as long or short as they see fit.)

Forms and Resources

Promotion Information

School of Medicine Guidelines for Appointments and Promotions

Checklists for categories of faculty members are as follows:

Promotion FAQs

Who ultimately grants or denies promotion?
The only individual who can grant/deny promotion is the Provost of the University. All other levels of the process - the internal department review committee, the department Chair, the SOM Credentials Committee, the SOM Executive Committee, the SOM Dean, and the University Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure - only vote whether to recommend or not recommend the awarding of promotion to the Provost.

To be clear, this means that a faculty member can be "not recommended" by each level and still have their promotion packet moved forward in the process. Only the applicant - not any committee or other individual - has the right to decide whether an applicant's dossier continues forward at any stage of the process.

In the past, the Provost has approved promotion for individuals who were not recommended by previous committees. On the flip side, the Provost has also denied promotion for individuals who were recommended by previous committees.

What are the most recent (2018) clarifications/changes to the promotion process?

On a School of Medicine level:
All promotion dossiers/academic portfolios/publications will be submitted in electronic format only.

On a University level:
Collegiality is no longer a separate, distinct, category of evaluation. If relevant, discussion of collegiality should be made in the context of teaching, research, service, or health care - never personal.

Emeritus/a applications will pass directly from the Dean to the Provost, who makes the decision. Previously, Emeritus/a applications were reviewed by UCART before being sent to the Provost, who made the decision.

When am I eligible for promotion?
Non Tenure Track and Tenure Track: In most cases, after rank has been held for at least five years.

Note: The Faculty Manual states, "Early applications for promotion and/or tenure must demonstrate they have met the applicable standards - not that they have exceeded them."

When will my promotion be made effective?
For the coming cycle, all promotions are effective July 1, 2019.

If my request for promotion and/or tenure is denied, can I try again next year?
Yes.

How do I appeal the Provost's decision?
If the Provost denies the request for promotion and/or tenure, the applicant may ask for the grounds of the denial and may appeal the Provost's decision to the President of the University, whose decision is final and not subject to further appeal.

If appealing to the President of the University, after receiving and reviewing the Provost's explanation of the denial, the applicant can electronically send a formal letter to the President of the University requesting an official review of their promotion and/or tenure request. When emailing this letter, the faculty member will copy their department chair and Andy Griesenauer (andy.griesenauer@health.slu.edu). When the President has made a final determination, a letter will be sent to the faculty member.

Faculty Development

2019 Faculty Development Sessions

07/10/2019 Marya Strand, MD, Kayla Heller, MD, Justin Josephsen, M.D.
Hot Debriefing: Diffusing Intense Medical Events with Learners in Real Time
07/17/2019 Matt Broom, M.D.
Demystifying Peer Review: Making It Work for You
07/10/2019 Marya Strand, MD, Kayla Heller, MD, Justin Josephsen, M.D.
Determining Goals of Care with Families
07/24/2019 Robert Brooke, M.D.
What Do Learners Really Want? Giving Timely and Effective Feedback
08/07/2019 Lisa Israel, Ed.D
Professionalism vs. Sexual Harassment
08/14/2019 Marya Strand, M.D., Rebecca Petersen, M.D.
The Flipped Classroom: Effective Responsibility Sharing with Learners
08/21/2019 Peggy Dersch, Ph.D.
Making the Microphone Your Friend: Public Speaking for Medical Professionals
08/28/2019 Ken Haller, M.D.
Speaking as a Doctor: Effectively Crafting Your Message for Colleagues, Learners, and the Public

2018 Faculty Development Sessions

06/20/2018 Shermini Saini, M.D., Erica Salter, Ph.D.
Determining Goals of Care with Families
06/27/2018 Christopher Grabau, Ph.D.
The Flipped Classroom
07/11/2018 Amy J. Wagner, M.D.
Current Evidence for Timing of Delivery in Gastroschisis
07/18/2018 David A. Wathen, D.O.
Bedside Teaching
07/25/2018 Heidi M. Sallee, M.D.
Academic Half Day: Lessons Learned
08/01/2018 Stephen J. Barenkamp, M.D.
How to Get Promoted at Saint Louis University
08/08/2018 Christopher J. Sallee, M.D.
Making Epic Work for You
08/15/2018 Jill Kilkelly, M.D.
Complex Coordination of Care
8/22/2018 Aline Tanios, M.D., Kayla Heller, M.D.
Tips for Providing Effective Reedback to Residents