2025/10/30 by Samir S. Shah, Jennifer Baird, Gregory W. Ruhnke · 1 voice
Medicine · Psychology · #Hospital Admissions and Outcomes #Mentoring and Academic Development #Innovations in Medical Education
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/jhm.70227
openalex created_date 2025/10/30 · openalex publication_date 2025/10/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/03/10
Promotion is a key milestone in faculty career progression at academic institutions. While hospitalists are increasingly stepping into operational leadership roles, they are often clustered at the junior faculty ranks (i.e., Instructor, Assistant Professor) at academic medical centers. Among the reasons frequently cited are the relatively young age of the field, dearth of research-focused fellowships, and the initial development of hospital medicine as a clinical discipline; the latter in response to increasing inpatient volumes, greater emphasis on safety, quality, and outcomes, and changing residency work requirements. A survey of academic medical centers highlighted the disproportionate clinical focus of the field, finding that only ~50% of hospital medicine programs at these centers had at least one clinician-investigator. Many of those instrumental in establishing the field are approaching emeritus status, and the Society of Hospital Medicine, established in 1997 as the National Association of Inpatient Physicians, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. We may be younger than other specialties, but we've matured, and it is now critical to address the disparities in academic stature of hospital medicine compared with other disciplines. To help address this challenge, we are pleased to introduce a special Journal of Hospital Medicine series titled “Pathways to Promotion.” The goal of this series is to help junior faculty plan for academic advancement. The four articles provide practical, actionable guidance: Understand the potential role of promotion in career progression1; Keep your curriculum vitae up to date; Determine the most appropriate faculty promotion track and familiarize yourself with its promotion requirements2; Recognize that subject matter expertise developed in the course of clinical work can be leveraged for scholarly productivity3; Begin networking early in your career to create a robust community around shared scholarly interests; Identify, rely on, and value your mentorship team; and Remember to “pay it forward” by mentoring others.4 Two additional strategies warrant further emphasis. First, hospitalists must leverage mentorship from those in other divisions, departments, and professions more often. Other specialties and disciplines, frequently partners in clinical care, can also be partners in scholarship. A helpful approach is to identify your “cream cheese,” the academic passion that motivates you, and then seek out the “bagel,” the vehicle (often a mentor in another specialty, department, or profession) that can help you pursue it.5 Expanding your mentorship lens beyond your immediate group increases opportunities for skill-building, scholarly collaboration, and ultimately, career advancement. Second, every junior faculty member should have a career development committee. Distinct from mentorship teams, these committees are intended to offer early- and mid-career faculty structured, high-level guidance on long-term goals, professional growth, and career decision-making. By bringing together diverse faculty perspectives, career development committees foster reflection and help the mentee align their activities with their aspirations. These relationships can also open doors to sponsorship, connecting mentees with people and resources beyond their immediate circle. Regular, mentee-led meetings ensure progress remains aligned with evolving aspirations and career achievements and prepare mentees for academic success. It is essential to include faculty members from other divisions and departments on career development committees. The proliferation of virtual meetings also provides ample opportunity to tap into expertise at other institutions.6 Academic promotion in hospital medicine must reflect the field's maturation and the growing contributions of its faculty, while capitalizing on unique opportunities to turn everyday responsibilities into scholarly products. By embracing cross-disciplinary mentorship and career development committees, we can better support hospitalists in achieving their academic goals. It's time to invest in structures that not only guide individual growth but also advance the whole field. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.