Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs

The School of Medicine strongly supports faculty professional and career development. The Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs (PDFA) is a coordinated and centralized effort administered through the Executive Dean's Office, concerned with instructional strategies, career development and the administrative aspects of faculty membership. We align university resources around faculty recruitment, retention, diversity and development utilizing the web as our primary tool of communication and the efforts of three people in our office. The comprehensive program serves the professional and career development needs of faculty at all levels of the academician life cycle (new recruit, junior, mid-career, senior and emeritus).

OUR MISSION is to develop and retain faculty members who are successful and satisfied with their careers by offering a formal program filled with collegial opportunities which enables a community of patient care, research, teaching and life-long learning, scholarship, mentoring, and networking. It is our mission to ensure new faculty are prepared and ready to assume their new position and to enhance their success, the success of their colleagues and our institution.

Faculty Affairs

Faculty Affairs concerns administrative aspects of faculty membership, including academic promotion and application for tenure.

Faculty Affairs policies and procedures are governed by the regulations of the University and Medical School. Faculty members should be familiar with the University of Kansas Handbook for Faculty and Unclassified Staff, the system of Faculty Governance and the By Laws of the Faculty of the School of Medicine (PDF).

Professional Development

Projects administered via Professional Development assist faculty members in achieving professional goals in the rapidly changing health care and scientific environment.  Our goal is to help faculty achieve excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and leadership.  Special thanks to the PDFA Advisory Committee for their assistance with developing the PDFA Training Series of events.

Functions of PDFA

• Facilitate recruitment, appointment, promotion, and retention of faculty
• Review, revise, and maintain appointment, promotion, and tenure guidelines  
• Conduct an annual New Faculty Orientation Breakfast
• Maintain the New Faculty On-Boarding website to foster a smoother transition into a new position and institution
• Coordinate resources and opportunities to support the professional development of faculty members in the School of Medicine Assist with the implementation of a department based school-wide Faculty Mentoring Program
• Coordinate the PDFA Training Series for faculty members in the School of Medicine to foster career development, hone professional skills, and enhance the teaching and research environment
• Coordinate WIMS - Women in Medicine & Science Organization
• Coordinate numerous faculty Honors and Awards
• Conduct an annual Faculty Evaluation and Chair Reviews

Of course at any time you are welcome to contact me or the staff of the SOM Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs (PDFA).

Good luck in your new position and once again, welcome to our KUMC Community.

Robert M. Klein, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs (PDFA)
Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology
School of Medicine
University of Kansas Medical Center
rklein@kumc.edu
913.588.5071