The Path to Independence Program, an initiative recently announced by the School of Medicine, had its foundation in a proposal produced a few years ago by a group of junior faculty members for the Chancellor’s Clinical Leadership in Academic Medicine Program (CCHAMP), a six-and-a-half-day program delivered over six months to provide education and training that strengthens the pipeline for Duke Medicine’s next round of leaders and supports the institution and its culture through engagement and innovation.
That group included Cathleen Colon-Emeric, MD, associate professor of medicine (Geriatrics) and Eugene Oddone, MD, MHS, professor of medicine (General Internal Medicine). They were joined by Mark Onaitis, MD (Surgery), David Steffens, MD (Psychiatry), Maria Selim, MD (Pathology) and Steven Hill, MD (Anesthesiology).
They produced a proposal titled “Does Duke Have the Right K Award Mentoring Structure.”
"I am pleased to say that the seeds that you planted have sprouted and are taking root," wrote Ann Brown, MD, MHS associate professor of medicine (Endocrinology) and vice dean for faculty, in a message to the group.
Dr. Brown explained that the School has established a Faculty Mentoring Program, led by the newly appointed Associate Dean for Faculty Mentoring, Mark Dewhirst, DVM PhD. The mentoring program is part of the existing Faculty Development Program, which Brown has run since 2006.
Dewhirst has initiated the Path to Independence Program for first time R01 applicants (which will help with the priority of supporting the K to R transition), as identified by the CCHAMP. He'll roll out a Mock Study Section and K-Club next.
"I am grateful for the work you did to initiate this very important program and I hope you will feel pride in the work you did as leaders in getting this off the ground," wrote Brown.