SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Developing Academic Hospitalists: Protecting Time to Grow the Future

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Maine Medical Center’s Department of Medicine launched an Academic Pathway in January 2023 to support academic development among hospital medicine physicians and advanced practice professionals (APPs). The program was created in response to the slower growth of academic hospitalists compared with clinical expansion, and to help address burnout, sustainability, mentorship, and professional development needs.<br /><br />Participants apply for up to 20% protected time over three years to work on a scholarly project and submit an individual professional development plan. Accepted physicians are compensated at 80% clinical salary, with the academic portion benchmarked to AAMC standards. Projects must be hypothesis-driven and include measurable outcomes.<br /><br />The stated goal is that the pathway will improve professional development, strengthen the division through reinvestment, and promote wellness and career fulfillment. So far, 6 physicians and 2 APPs have been accepted, with 1 physician and 1 APP application still in process. Although no applications were formally rejected, most accepted projects required major revisions, highlighting the need for strong mentorship and guidance.<br /><br />Example projects include curricula in art and physiology, climate-conscious prescribing, clinical reasoning education, mentorship programs for APPs, point-of-care ultrasound training, and a registry for substance use disorder outcomes.<br /><br />Early results suggest positive effects: wellness and engagement scores in the division have improved, and the model has been adopted elsewhere in the organization. Further evaluation will assess participant surveys and professional development over the three-year period.

Asset Subtitle

Daniel A. Meyer

Meta Tag

Author List Arjang Djamali, Daniel A. Meyer, Elizabeth L. Herrle

Category Innovations

Concept Academic Pathway

Concept Protected Time

Concept Hospital Medicine Physician

Concept Advanced Practice Provider

Concept Mentorship

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Maine Medical Center

Presenting Author Daniel A. Meyer

Track Other

Keywords

Academic Pathway

Maine Medical Center

hospital medicine

physician development

advanced practice professionals

protected time

scholarly project

burnout prevention

mentorship

professional development

Academic Pathway

Protected Time

Hospital Medicine Physician

Advanced Practice Provider

Mentorship