Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Baron, D. A. Search for Related Content Articles by Baron, D. A. Education, Psychiatrists

Handbook of Career Development in Academic Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

David A. Baron, M.S.Ed., D.O.

In over 25 years of reviewing manuscripts, I have never recommended a book to so many colleagues, residents, and medical students before the review is (belatedly) published. Drs. Roberts and Hilty are to be congratulated on putting together such a practical, easy-to-read road-map for those interested in a career in academic psychiatry. It covers all of the essential aspects of beginning an academic career and offers very useful templates for important tasks such as creating a CV. The text is divided into six sections: Getting Started, Getting There, Once You’re There, Becoming an Educator, Developing Your Academic Skills, and Continuing to Grow Professionally. The flow is logical, and, despite its numerous contributing authors (all of them research and educational experts), the writing styles are consistent.

The book begins with some sage advice for medical students considering an academic psychiatric career: namely "is this your calling?" The opening chapter drives home its point through the use of relevant quotes. My three favorite ones were from Steve Sears: "It’s not work if you love what you’re doing;" Disraeli: "The secret of success is constancy of purpose;" and Bob Hope: "I’ve always been in the right place at the right time. Of course, I steered myself there." The quotes range from philosophical to humorous, but all drive home the message and make for an enjoyable read. The chapter ends with seven bulleted Smart Strategies and five thoughtful Questions to Discuss with a Mentor. Each one of the suggestions is a career "pearl." The other chapters in Part I include Strategies of Academically-Oriented Residents in Psychiatry; Strategies for Women, Minorities, and Underrepresented Faculty; and Strategies for Psychologists and The Health Professionals. I have not seen these topics addressed in any other book. The advice offered is sound.

Part II: Getting There, includes chapters on preparing a CV, interviewing for an academic position, and evaluating your contract/Letter of Offer. The CV chapter provides a very useful template. The "Interviewing" chapter had a number of clinical pearls, including advice on questions to ask and a "smart strategy" to follow.

Parts III and IV: Once You’re There, and Becoming an Educator, deal more with process issues and highlight their importance in nurturing an academic career. A small critique I had regards Chapter 12, Negotiating with the Department Chair. It is well written by Jerald Belitz, Ph.D., but is more appropriate for a tenure-track junior faculty member. The vast majority of new clinical faculty, those just out of residency or fellowship, are hired into a clinical-educator track, with fewer options for negotiating research support. The overarching points are valid, but the specifics are more in line with a tenure-track position. This chapter would benefit from a greater focus on issues such as protected time, meeting time, and availability of formal senior faculty mentorship.

Part V: Developing Your Academic Skills, contains information relevant for junior faculty, fellows, residents, and sub-interns (advanced medical students). Chapter 21, Publishing a Manuscript, is particularly helpful, with important content and process advice. A description of the journals’ impact factor, and what this means regarding promotion, would have been helpful. No mention of this is made in the chapter.

The concluding section, Continuing to Grow Professionally, is geared more toward the junior faculty member and is more process-focused. The chapter on Taking Care of Yourself is an important topic, rarely covered. I like the placement of this, near the end of the text, as it leaves readers with important interpersonal issues to consider as they begin their career quest.

Needless to say, I very much enjoyed reviewing this book. I believe it should be required reading for all residents and fellows considering a career in academic psychiatry, and highly recommended to medical students interested in pursuing an academic career in any specialty. Congratulations to Drs. Roberts and Hilty.

FOOTNOTES

 
Dr. Baron is Professor and Chair, Dept. of Psychiatry, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.

Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Baron, D. A. Search for Related Content Articles by Baron, D. A. Education, Psychiatrists

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2008 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us