Outcomes of a 2-year, 5 cohort faculty development program.

Abstract

A grant-funded faculty development program, From Practice to Preceptor (FP2P), sought to recruit and train diverse general and pediatric dentists to become dental faculty from 2012-2018. This study is an evaluation of this completed initiative and offers an initial review of long-term outcomes of the program. Over 5 entering cohorts, 133 practitioners applied to the program and 45 were accepted. A 2-year training program used classroom and hands-on training to prepare practitioners for the occupational demands of academia. Program participants were offered pre- and post-surveys to evaluate their perceived preparedness in faculty competencies identified by the program. Participants were also sent an alumni survey, and employment was tracked by the host institution. Most (43 of 45) participants completed the program. Pre- and post-survey results were received from 24 of 30 (80%) participants in Cohorts 2, 3, and 5, and used for this analysis. The results suggest the program participants' perception of their ability to work effectively as faculty members in administrative, teaching, and clinical arenas increased. Over half of the program completers obtained employment as dental faculty. A majority of (19/26, 73%) program completers who responded to the alumni survey indicated the skills and knowledge gained in the program were useful to their current employment. The FP2P program evaluation results indicate a long-term faculty training program may be a useful methodology for recruiting and training current dentists to work in academic dentistry.