Academy Endowed Chair Program

In 2001, the Academy launched the Education Endowed Chair Program, with funding committed by then-Dean Haile T. Debas, to address challenges in education within the School of Medicine (SOM). Dr. Debas’ vision was to transform UCSF into a leader in medical education. He supported the creation of the Academy of Medical Educators (AME) and committed resources towards it. As part of this initiative, he launched an education-matched endowed chair program with interested SOM departments. Seventeen departments provided funds to match the SOM funds, and over the next several years, a total of 20 matched endowed chairs were established (See Figure 1). The matched endowed chairs (MEC) are designed to be a shared resource between the departments and the Academy. Later, with support from SOM funds and philanthropy, the AME fully funded four additional Academy-based education endowed chairs (AME-EC), one of which supports the AME Director position (see Figure 2).

More than $10 million has been committed to this program to enhance medical student and resident education across the school. All matched and Academy-based chair holders are members of the Academy. Each chair has an established purpose (Appendix X). The chair holder plays a vital role in serving as a liaison between the Academy and their academic department and the School of Medicine.

The goals of the endowed chair program are:

To support teaching excellence, career development, and professional identity as an educator for the chair holder and expand their impact at UCSF and beyond.
For the chair holder to help develop the next generation of educators.
For the chair holder to serve as liaison between their department, the School of Medicine, and the Academy.
For the chair holder to use this discretionary income to pursue new “value-added” education work beyond specific roles in education (e.g., course or clerkship director).
To promote the AME values of community, diversity, advocacy, service, and innovation.

Matched Endowed Chairs

Program Description: Matched endowed chair holders are appointed for a five-year term. They may have a maximum of one or two terms, at the discretion of the department chair in consultation with the Academy Director, although departments are encouraged to support a single-term limit. All matched endowed chair holders are members of the Academy and are designed to be a shared resource between the departments and the Academy. Each chair has an established purpose. The chair holder plays a vital role in serving as a liaison between the Academy and their academic department and the School of Medicine.

Academy-Based Chairs

Program Description: In 2008, the School of Medicine Dean’s Office committed additional funding to establish a portfolio of endowed chairs based solely within the Academy, with the first chair of this kind established in 2010. Like the matched endowed chair program, the intent is to allow talented teachers to expand their impact as educators at UCSF and beyond by providing a source of discretionary funding for the educator’s use. Four additional Academy-based education endowed chairs (AME-EC) were established, one of which, the Irwin Chair, supports the role of the Academy Director; the other three are open to all eligible Academy members. Unlike matched endowed chairs, the funding does not include funds matched by the academic department; instead, it is fully funded by the AME with SOM funds and philanthropy.

Academy unmatched chairs are limited to a single five-year term, with the exception of the chair that supports the Academy director position. All Academy-based chair holders are members of the Academy. Each chair has an established purpose. The chair holder plays a vital role in serving as a liaison between the Academy and their academic department and the School of Medicine.

List of Endowed Chair Holders

If you have any questions or comments about the endowed chair program, please contact Raquel Rodriguez-Piscitello at [email protected] .