The HMS Working Group on Clinical Faculty Roles, Responsibilities, and Commitments was formed to take a closer look at the roles of clinical faculty across Harvard Medical School and its affiliated institutions, and how those roles have changed over time.
The group is focused on whether current faculty titles, expectations, and pathways for advancement still reflect the many ways clinical faculty contribute to HMS. This includes not only clinical care and research, but also teaching, mentoring, leadership, scholarship, and service.
A key part of the discussion has been protected academic time, how it is defined, supported, and balanced with clinical responsibilities. The group is also looking at how academic contributions can be measured in a meaningful and practical way, recognizing that faculty contribute differently depending on their role, department, and institution.
Other areas of discussion include faculty titles and promotion pathways, how educational contributions are recognized, and whether there are opportunities to bring greater clarity and consistency to expectations across HMS and its affiliates.
The overall goal is to develop a framework that is clear, fair, and flexible, one that recognizes the different ways clinical faculty contribute to the HMS academic mission while providing clearer expectations around roles, responsibilities, and advancement.
Working Group Members
HMS Working Group on Clinical Faculty Roles, Responsibilities, and Commitments
| Boston Children’s Hospital | Richard G. Bachur, MD, Senior Physician in Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine; Michael W. Shannon, MD Professor of Pediatrics in the Field of Emergency Medicine Steven J. Fishman, MD, Head of the Department of Surgery; Robert E. Gross Professor of Surgery in the Field of Pediatric Surgery Gary R. Fleisher, MD, Physician-in-Chief at Boston Children's Hospital; Egan Family Foundation Professor of Pediatrics |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | Jeffrey E. Saffitz, MD, PhD, Mallinckrodt Professor of Pathology Daniel S. Talmor, MD, Head of the Department of Anesthesia, Pain Medicine and Critical Care; Edward Lowenstein Professor of Anesthesia Richard E. Wolfe, MD, Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine; Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Craig A. Bunnell, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director for Adult Ambulatory Oncology, Associate Professor of Medicine Joel Katz, MD, Senior Vice President for Education; Associate Professor of Medicine Ann Partridge, MD, Interim Chair of the Department of Medical Oncology; Professor of Medicine |
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Massachusetts General Hospital
McLean Hospital
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital | Jonathan F. Bean, MD, MPH, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital James A. Brink, MD, Juan M. Taveras Professor of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital Shelly F. Greenfield, MD, MPH, Chief Academic Officer; Professor of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital Mitchel B. Harris, MD; Head of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital; William H. and Johanna A. Harris Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital David N. Louis, MD, Head of the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital; Benjamin Castleman Professor of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Joan W. Miller, MD, David Glendenning Cogan Professor of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Kathryn M. Rexrode, MD, Chief Academic Officer; Paula A. Johnson, MD Professor of Medicine in the Field of Women’s Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital |
| Harvard Medical School | Anne E. Becker, MD, PhD, Dean for Clinical and Academic Affairs; Maude and Lillian Presley Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine Bernard S. Chang, MD, Dean for Medical Education; Daniel D. Federman, M.D. Professor of Neurology and Medical Education Jules L. Dienstag, MD, Special Advisor to the Dean, Carl W. Walter Professor of Medicine Grace C. Huang, MD, Dean for Faculty Affairs; Professor of Medicine |
| Harvard University Office of the Provost | Elizabeth Knoll, PhD, Assistant Provost for Faculty Appointments M. William Lensch, PhD, Associate Provost for Research |
Listening Sessions and FAQs
The HMS Working Group on Clinical Faculty, Roles, Responsibilities, and Commitments will be hosting listening sessions with HMS leadership for interested clinical faculty to discuss the development of an additional promotion pathway to recognize excellence across the breadth of contributions made by HMS clinical faculty.
This listening session is designed to solicit feedback and further ideas on options being explored for a clinical-educator faculty promotion track.
Frequently Asked Questions (link to OFA site)
Affiliate Host | Date | Time | Location | Contact | Hybrid option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Children's Hospital | Wednesday October 28, 2026 | 6:00-7:00 PM | Folkman Auditorium, Boston Children's Hospital | Richard Bachur | Yes |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Monday November 9, 2026 | 5:00-6:00 PM | Smith Family Conference Room, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Lisa Firicano-Cogbill, Alyssa Sacco, Courtney Barbeau | Yes |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | Tuesday November 17, 2026 | 5:30-6:30 PM | Sherman Auditorium, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | Jill Susarrey | Yes |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | Wednesday November 18, 2026 | 7:00-8:00 AM | Carrie Hall | Patricia McHugh | TBD |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Tuesday December 8, 2026 | 5:00-6:00 PM | 3.110 in the Simches Research Building, Massachusetts General Hospital | Stephen Ring | TBD |
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