USUHS Faculty Development FAQs – updated June 2015
What is the USUHS Faculty Development Certificate?
In 2011, the Board of Regents created a Faculty Development Certificate program to recognize those members who had participated in 30 hours of continuing education in teaching and research skills. In 2014 the program was expanded, similar to other medical schools, into three certificates with a more structured curriculum.
What are the three faculty development certificate programs?
Teaching, Academic Leadership, and Scholarship and Research
How can a faculty member earn the certificates?
You accumulate 30 contact hours in seminars in a designated area of concentration. The designation can be found in the self-service login. Many will be listed on the certificate trifolds on the USUHS Faculty Development website. These hours can be accumulated at USUHS or other MHS MTFs with prior approval.
What if my hospital has Faculty Development? Can I claim seminars from another meeting?
If you attend an MHS run Faculty Development seminar aligned with the USUHS program, it will count toward the certificate program regardless of the location and teacher. Courses taken at other conferences sponsored by other organizations (ACGME for example), will not count toward this certificate program.
Who can accrue hours toward this program?
Any physician, nurse, or dentist with an active clinical practice in the MHS, military or civilian, can participate in accruing hours toward the program. Additionally, any scientist at USUHS can be in the program. Other paraprofessionals are welcome to attend and participate in the individual seminars, but may not have hours calculated.
Can I maintain my certificate hours even if I am moving?
As long as a faculty member works in the MHS, either in uniform or as a civilian, certificate hours will be calculated regardless of moving clinical practice location. All hours will be maintained in a database at USUHS. The individual faculty member can see their own hours on the self-service module.
Do hours expire?
As long as a faculty member has not allowed a three year lapse since the last seminar, all hours will be maintained. If the three years have passed, the member will begin again. Unusual circumstance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Is there an on-line or distance learning option?
Currently there are no on-line options. Starting in FY16 we will be attempting VTC with other MTF for those sessions held as USUHS, especially with visiting lecturers. There will be a liaison at the MTF to organize and facilitate the small group activities in order to gain credit.
How does this align with the MHPE at USUHS?
At this time these are two separate programs. In the future, the plan is to have some of the faculty development seminars align into certain requirements for the MHPE.