In June, 25 junior faculty and their mentors celebrated completion of the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP), sponsored by the Office of Professional Development at Penn State College of Medicine.
The junior faculty members received certificates of achievement, recognizing their participation in the yearlong program that included an individual project conducted under the guidance of a senior faculty mentor. Mentors were inducted into the Mentoring Academy of the College of Medicine, a society created to recognize senior faculty who have contributed to the development of others through mentoring in the JFDP.
Harold L. Paz, CEO of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State’s senior vice president for health affairs, and dean of the Penn State College of Medicine, congratulated the graduates on their achievement and highlighted the institution’s commitment to the development of junior faculty. Blannie Bowen, vice provost for academic affairs for Penn State, provided a stimulating reflection on being “mentorable” and the role that both mentoring and being mentored has played in his career. Bowen also encouraged the graduates to utilize all of the many resources and opportunities that Penn State offers to support academic careers of excellence. Ann Ouyang, associate dean for faculty and professional development, Mary Leone, JFDP coordinator, and Sarah Bronson and Milind Kothari co-directors of the JFDP presented the certificates to the graduates and faculty mentors.
During the eight years of the JFDP, 193 junior faculty members have completed the program with the guidance of more than 100 senior faculty mentors. Projects have included new research proposals and research infrastructure resources, development of curricula for graduate, medical and postgraduate students, and establishment of new clinical services. Each project represents a substantial step along the academic career path of the junior faculty member, as well as a unique contribution to the missions of the College and Medical Center.