Academy Endowed Chair Program

• AME member in good standing.

• Uphold the Academy’s Principles of Professionalism in Health Professions Education.

• Commitment to the UCSF PRIDE values .

• UCSF faculty appointment.

  • For matched endowed chairs, faculty appointment in that department.

• Chair holders for whom a second term Is available must re-compete with other eligible AME members and have a successful stewardship review of the first term to be eligible.

• Academy endowed the chair holders may not concurrently hold more than one chair.

• Academic leadership positions such as department chair, or administrative positions such as associate dean or health systems leader.

• Stewarding chair to meet endowed chair program goals.
• the Academy member of good standing.
• Uphold the Academy’s Principles of Professionalism in Health Professions Education.
• Collaboration/mentoring of junior faculty.
• Departmental liaison between the department and the Academy.

Mid-term review

• Occurs in the third year of the chair holder’s term.

• The chair holder provides a written mid-term report.

• Input from AME director, SOM Vice Dean for Education and department chair (MEC).

• Mid-term review goals:

  • Endowed chair holder to share their growth as an educator and accomplishments to date, any challenges, and focus for the remainder of the term.

  • Leaders to provide feedback and support for successful tenure of the chair and confer about sustainability of the work after the chair.

• Oversight to ensure funds are being spent.

Stewardship review

• A fifth-year stewardship review is required at the end of the chair holder’s term.

• The chair holder provides a written stewardship report.

• The stewardship of the chair is formally reviewed by a stewardship/search committee with a recommendation to the SOM Dean.

Chin-Hong P, Loeser H, Peterson A, Ramachandran R, O'Sullivan PS. Impact of an Innovative Endowed Chair Program on Medical Educator Recipients. Acad Med. 2022 Nov 1;97(11):1650-1655. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000004599. Epub 2022 Jan 18. PMID: 35044975.

This study aimed to assess the impact on faculty members who received an endowed chair for education. The authors conducted qualitative interviews with chairholders from the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine who had completed at least one 5-year term. The results showed that receiving an endowed chair had significant symbolic value, indicating quality and increasing visibility and status within the institution and externally. Chairholders reported that the resources provided by the endowed chair allowed them flexibility to pursue valuable activities for themselves, their mentees, and the organization. Holding the chair also facilitated professional development for both the chairholder and others. The impact of receiving an endowed chair extended beyond the term and led to increased visibility and opportunities in education. This study highlights the importance of endowed chairs for career development in education and institutional enhancement.

Poncelet A, Collins S, Fiore D, Rosenbluth G, Loeser H, Sawaya GF, Teherani A, Chang A. Identifying Value Factors in Institutional Leaders' Perspectives on Investing in Health Professions Educators. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Feb 1;6(2):e2256193. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.56193. PMID: 36795413; PMCID: PMC9936339.

This qualitative study aimed to explore the value factors that health professions leaders placed on educator investment programs, including intramural grants and endowed chairs. The study used semi-structured interviews with 29 leaders from UCSF and its affiliated systems. The results identified value factors across five domains: individual, financial, operational, social or societal, and strategic or political. Individual factors emphasized the impact on faculty career and development, while financial factors highlighted the importance of these investments as inputs rather than outputs. Operational factors focused on educational programs and faculty recruitment, while social and societal factors emphasized scholarship and dissemination benefits. Strategic and political factors highlighted the impact on culture, innovation, and organizational success. These findings suggest that health sciences and health system leaders find value in funding educator investment programs beyond direct financial return on investment and can inform program design and evaluation for future investments.