Weill Cornell establishes Office of Faculty Development

Weill Cornell Medical College has announced the establishment of the Office of Faculty Development dedicated to assisting its physicians, researchers and educators in achieving academic success at each stage of their careers, with targeted activities that focus on the needs of junior, mid-career and senior faculty.

Dr. Barbara L. Hempstead, the O. Wayne Isom Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, has been appointed the associate dean for faculty development. In this role, Dr. Hempstead will assist in organizing departmental mentorship and leadership programs that form the cornerstone of successful academic careers.

"I've found that many people can go further than they ever thought they could simply because someone else thought they could. This office will ensure that all our faculty receive the mentoring, guidance and support that will help them succeed," says Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College. "I am very pleased to have Dr. Hempstead lead this vital initiative."

A physician-scientist for more than two decades, Dr. Hempstead has dedicated her career to mentorship, working with more than 30 undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty working in her laboratory to ensure their success. The Office of Faculty Development will enable career development to permeate across the entire Weill Cornell Medical College community. Successful career development requires a clear understanding of the criteria for promotion, mentorship at all levels, provision of protected time for research and academic activities, and formal training in writing of grants, manuscripts and clinical trials.

"As medical discovery and its translation to improved clinical care involve multidisciplinary teams of investigators and clinicians," Dr. Hempstead says, "this office will help faculty to promote collaborative team building among clinical researchers and translational and basic scientists."