Faculty Ranks & Tracks

Faculty Track appointments at the School of Medicine are made in the following Tracks:

Non-track faculty appointments may be made at the rank of Assistant Professor and in the Adjunct, Voluntary, Research, and Other Instructional Ranks.

IIndividuals usually enter the faculty at the rank of assistant professor without assignment to a track. In this way, entry-level faculty have flexibility to test their strengths and to define their interests. Click here for a diagram of Faculty Tracks and Ranks.

Assistant Professor

Appointments to this rank are conferred without a track designation, except for appointments as assistant professor in the Clinician-Educator Track. Appointment as assistant professor may be considered for individuals who have achieved an M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent degree and who have completed appropriate postdoctoral training. Qualifications for initial appointment include promise as a teacher and scholar. Published papers of high quality are desirable. Individuals who will contribute to graduate education and who hold a primary appointment in a basic science department are automatically appointed to the Graduate School. Those who will contribute to graduate education and hold a primary or secondary appointment in a bridge department are eligible for appointment to the Graduate School, as are those with a secondary appointment in a basic science department.

The initial appointment is usually for, but cannot exceed, three years; there may be reappointment for one additional term of up to three years. Reappointment requires evidence of success as a teacher and scholar. Any further appointment or promotion requires assignment to a faculty track. In order to be appointed to the Traditional Track, Investigator Track, or Clinician-Scholar Track, the candidate must achieve promotion to the rank of associate professor. In the Clinician-Educator Track the candidate may either continue as assistant professor or be promoted to associate professor.