Pharmacy Faculty Workplace Issues: Findings From the 2009-2010 COD-COF Joint Task Force on Faculty Workforce

Abstract

Many factors contribute to the vitality of an individual faculty member, a department, and an entire academic organization. Some of the relationships among these factors are well understood, but many questions remain unanswered. The Joint Task Force on Faculty Workforce examined the literature on faculty workforce issues, including the work of previous task forces charged by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). We identified and focused on 4 unique but interrelated concepts: organizational culture/climate, role of the department chair, faculty recruitment and retention, and mentoring. Among all 4 resides the need to consider issues of intergenerational, intercultural, and gender dynamics. This paper reports the findings of the task force and proffers specific recommendations to AACP and to colleges and schools of pharmacy.

A Graduate Student Mentoring Program to Develop Interest in Research

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] However, much of this literature stresses the need to foster research skills and student pharmacist interest in research. [7][8][9][10] Mentoring is believed to be 1 method of increasing research interest among student pharmacists.…”

The Influence of Faculty Mentors on Junior Pharmacy Faculty Members’ Career Decisions

“…While hypothetical in nature, this finding does suggest mentoring relationships influence faculty recruitment, a topic that has been of considerable interest to the academy in recent years. [16][17][18][19] US pharmacists, in particular, indicated an increased influence from mentoring on their decisions to pursue academic careers as compared to foreign pharmacists and faculty members without pharmacy degrees. This finding serves to reinforce the importance of and influence of mentoring in US colleges and schools of pharmacy from the perspective of recruiting US-trained pharmacists to become faculty members.…”

Reframing Our Pursuit of Life Balance

“…Technology and connectedness intersect with setting healthy boundaries because interruptions, whether in person or via e-mail, can be equally distracting. 14,15,17 Developing rules about general availability, in terms of responding to e-mail requests, accepting calendar invitations to events, or even being accessible in personal and professional settings can help crystallize expectations, minimize interruptions, and use technology to simplify life, rather than complicate it.…”

“…In professional relationships, for example, the mentor has more knowledge or experience than the mentee. 7,17,30 As these relationships develop and the mentee is exposed to additional perspectives, the mentee can then help the mentor in various areas or, in fact, reverse roles completely.…”