Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP, returns for his third Faculty Factory Podcast appearance this week. We dive into the art of succession planning, leadership continuity, and the blueprint of a “phased rewirement,” reflecting on what these have meant for him throughout his impactful career in academic medicine.

Dr. Smith is the Chief Faculty Affairs Officer and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. He also serves as a Professor of Family Medicine at UMMC.

The podcast kicks off with "The Story Leading Up to Phased Rewiring." It began when Dr. Smith, as Chief Faculty Affairs Officer, started contemplating how he could transition out of the role while continuing to enjoy life at different levels and engage in different activities than simply coming into the office every day.

It began with a succession plan and identifying who had demonstrated the skills and competencies needed for UMMC's next iteration of the Chief Faculty Affairs Officer.

Dr. Smith walks us through the entire process, including how the individual identified for succession was put on a coaching path to be ready to assume the new role when the time came. This included shadowing Dr. Smith as he hired new leadership, allowing the individual to observe that process from start to finish.

As we learn, it’s not just a phased rewirement; it’s a phased replenishment. You’ll discover in this conversation that Dr. Smith’s approach is thoughtful, purposeful, and strategic when it comes to succession planning.

He also discusses what goes into building a reputation for “Continuity of Leadership” at an institution and how to be more intentional about ensuring the stability of individuals in formal leadership positions.

“People planning is the key to a thriving and flourishing organization within your building—think about what you need to do differently to implement people planning successfully,” he said.

His previous two appearances on our podcast can be found here:

• Episode 13 – A Faculty Factory Interview with Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP
• Episode 195 – Reflections on Building Faculty Growth and Leadership in the Face of a Global Crisis with Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP

You can reach Dr. Smith at posmith@umc.edu | Any questions, comments or feedback for us? Reach out to the Faculty Factory here: https://facultyfactory.org/contact-us/ .

This week on the Faculty Factory Podcast, author Joshua Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA, is back on the show, and we’re taking a deep dive into feedback. We discuss how to give and receive feedback more effectively—a topic that we all should strive to improve in our professional lives.

With 25 years of experience in military medicine, Dr. Hartzell is a retired army colonel as well as a practicing internist and infectious diseases physician.

Feedback is meant to be a conversation, helping each other better understand where the other individual is coming from. After all, we’re never sure what is going on in someone’s life until we ask.

How do we get better at feedback? Yes, you can read books and consume podcasts like this on it, but explicitly asking someone to give you feedback about yourself may be an even stronger starting point. Dr. Hartzell also encourages getting feedback on your feedback, as it takes practice.

"When we give people feedback, it tells them whether their performance aligns with our expectations or not; it really clarifies our expectations. I think that's really important because, without that, it's sort of left up to people to decide: 'Am I doing a good job?'" he told us.

Another crucial element surrounding this interview is the critically important notion that a lack of feedback is still a form of feedback so there are no doubt consequences of choosing silence and inaction.

Explore Resources from this Podcast

Dr. Hartzell’s first appearance on our Faculty Factory Podcast, titled “A Comprehensive Look at Developing Excellent Leadership in Medicine” can be found here: https://facultyfactory.org/joshua-hartzell/

You can learn more about Dr. Hartzell’s book, “A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence”, here: https://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Caring-Healthcare-Leadership-Compassion/dp/B0DSQ4276K

Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the Department of War.

References:

Kim Scott, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2019).

Ende J. Feedback in clinical medical education. JAMA. 1983 Aug 12;250(6):777-81.

The Faculty Factory Podcast is back for its Year 7/Season 7 debut this week, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Lilly Marks, a respected voice and distinguished leader in our field, is our featured guest, with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD, MS, joining alongside to add insights and further questions that ultimately provide a deep-seated exploration of several leadership traits and styles that are essential for success and building a healthy culture.

Among the leadership topics we dive into:

• Communication
• Adapting to change and challenges
• Transparency

Lilly Marks is a frequently sought-after national speaker on topics regarding medical school economics, healthcare practices, clinical practice management, and leadership in academic medicine.

She was the longtime Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and has spent more than 25 years in academic medicine in various administrative and leadership positions.

Dr. Chubinskaya is the Senior Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She also serves as a Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation in the John Sealy School of Medicine. Her previous two appearances on our podcast can be found here:

• Episode 11 – A Faculty Factory Interview with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD
• Episode 160 – Pearls of Wisdom for Faculty to Build a Career with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD

"If you want faculty to trust and respect you, you have to trust and respect them. And that means sharing information, because black box decision-making doesn't work. I think it's critical to give faculty good data and information that is timely, accurate, relevant, and understandable," Lilly said.

We want to thank Dr. Chubinskaya for her unwavering support of the Faculty Factory, as our hearts are filled with gratitude to be entering Year 7 with such incredible momentum ushered in with this episode.