Dean's Teaching Fellowship

Call for Applications: 2025 - 2027 is now open.
The Dean's Teaching Application Deadline is Friday, January 10, 2025.

Program Description

The Dean’s Teaching Fellowship (DTF) Program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry was initially created in the early 1990s by Jules Cohen, MD, former Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education. Initially designed to recognize faculty who made important contributions to medical education, the program was expanded in 2001 to provide a rigorous curriculum to further the development of 7-8 highly qualified faculty members per year based on their commitment to careers in medical education.

The purpose of the DTF Program is to:

• Further the development of a core group of master educators by enhancing their skills in educational research, curricular design, assessment and teaching methods
• Promote the careers of faculty in medical education
• Support educational innovations and research at the University of Rochester SMD

Eligibility: The DTF Program is open to junior and mid-career faculty members from all departments and centers at the School of Medicine and Dentistry who are committed to academic careers with a significant focus on medical education. Basic science and clinical faculty who have been in their faculty role at URSMD for at least 2 years are eligible to apply. Applicants must identify a mentor to assist with the design and implementation of the project, and also obtain a letter of support from the Chair of their department confirming that they will be released from other responsibilities to be able to fully participate in the program. If the Chair is also serving as the mentor, then an additional letter from a senior faculty member is required. A letter from a peer regarding the applicant’s teaching is also required.

Expectations of Fellows: Fellows are expected to spend 15% of their time on the program for 2 years. This includes a 3- hour seminar series twice monthly from September through June for a total of 20 sessions per year, and completion of an educational research project. Fellows are expected to have clinical coverage so that seminars are not disrupted with pages and clinical responsibilities. Fellows are expected to meet with their mentors regularly, and set clear goals and expectations which the mentor should be willing and able to help them to achieve. Continuation for a second year of the fellowship requires an interim progress report and a letter confirming continuing support from their department. Fellows are expected to present their projects as posters at the University of Rochester’s Faculty Development Colloquium each year in June, and to submit the projects for publication and/or presentation at national meetings.

Description of the Program: Fellows will work closely with one another and with local and national education experts to implement educational projects, and develop expertise in educational theory, teaching methods, educational research and curriculum innovation. They will also develop career planning and leadership skills.

A seminar series meets twice monthly during the academic year. Each seminar focuses on a different area of educational theory, research methods, teaching methods, educational technology, curriculum design, assessment of students and programs, faculty development, leadership, and career planning. Topics will repeat every two years. The DTF endowment has allowed us to invite several visiting professors per year. Generally, the sessions consist of a two- hour seminar on a medical education topic, with the final hour reserved for discussion of fellows’ projects or presentations from former Dean’s Teaching Fellows. These are required sessions, and fellows must arrange their schedules to be able to attend

Each fellow will undertake an educational research project expected to last the two years and to culminate in a publication or presentation at a national meeting. Preference is given to projects that are hypothesis-driven or hypothesis-generating; projects that involve educational innovations and implementation should have a strong assessment component and contribute to new knowledge. The project may involve an educational innovation, new methods of assessment and/or research using new or existing data. Projects should address medical or dental education, which would include learners who are medical students, residents, fellows, or faculty in the clinical or basic sciences.

Upon completion of the program Fellows will have conducted a scholarly educational project and acquired new skills in curriculum design, large and small group teaching, problem-based learning, case construction and tutoring, methods of student assessment, and educational outcomes research. They will be poised to take on greater responsibility and leadership at the local and national levels.

Stipend: The DTF program is supported by an endowment. Each fellow is offered a yearly stipend of $13,000 for salary support & benefits, and up to $3,000 yearly in support for research-related expenses and travel to educational conferences. It is recognized that each fellow’s department will contribute the difference between the stipend and the fellow’s salary. Funds for each fellow must be expended by June 1 of each academic year; they will not be carried over.

Selection: Four fellows are selected yearly. Criteria for selection include:

• The applicant’s commitment to medical education at the undergraduate, graduate or continuing medical education level as part of his/her anticipated career trajectory.
• The quality and potential impact of the proposed educational project. Preference is given to projects that include educational research and scholarship. Projects that involve implementation of new curricula, teaching methods or materials (including web-based programs) are expected to have a robust evaluation and/or research component. Projects should address medical or dental education, which would include medical students, residents, fellows, or faculty in the clinical or basic sciences.
• The applicant’s willingness to serve as a master teacher and mentor for future Fellows and other faculty.
• Identification of a suitable mentor for the project and documentation of mentorship plan and meetings.
• Support from the applicant’s Department Chair for 15% FTE to be devoted to the program.

How to Apply

Application information contains further details, and an outline guide.

Dean's Teaching Application 2025 - 2027 is now open.

Timeline

• November/December: Call for applications
• January 10, 2025: Applications due
• March: New fellows notified

Contact Information

Anne Nofziger, MD
Director, Deans Teaching Fellowship Program
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
(585) 275-4533

 

Rita Dadiz, DO
Co-director, Deans Teaching Fellowship Program
Professor of Pediatrics
(585) 275-2972

Administrative Coordinator

Theresa Banker
Phone: (585) 275-2738