Recruiting, Mentoring and Empowering the Next Generation of Academic Dentists

描述（由申请人提供）：牙科教育界普遍认为，由于目前和日益严重的学术牙医短缺，牙科教育的未来正处于危机之中。原因包括缺乏导师和榜样，缺乏在学术事业上取得成功的培训，以及对学术牙科事业的机会和满意度缺乏熟悉。本提案的总体目标是为下一代学院派牙医的招聘、指导和专业发展制定和实施一项全面的计划。具体目标是：1)通过针对目前正在攻读生物医学科学课程的研究生以及牙科学生和住院医生，招募未来学术牙医的学术跟踪参与者；2)为未来的学院派牙医创建一个学术轨道和学术轨道主任的职位，他将通过为每个参与者制定、监测和评估个性化的专业发展计划来协调轨道活动；3)扩大学术课程参与者现有的专业发展经验，以提高他们在学术生涯中取得成功所必需的研究、教学和领导技能的临床准备。创新项目活动包括扩大招聘工作，以瞄准尚未开发的申请人群体，创造一个支持每个学术跟踪参与者个人专业需求的环境，并设计专业发展机会，以促进过渡到成功的学术生涯。加州大学洛杉矶分校的优势，特别是强大的研究师资和探究文化，现有的研究培训项目，以及对指导未来牙科教育者的熟悉，为支持本提案的目标提供了坚实的基础。该教育项目将由一名主任、三名副主任、一名学术跟踪主任、一名住院医生联络员和一个由五名积极参与教育项目和健康科学临床研究的资深院士组成的咨询监督委员会管理。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There is general agreement in the dental education community that the future of dental education is in crisis due to the current and growing shortage of academic dentists. Causes include a shortage of mentors and role models, insufficient training for success in academic careers, and a lack of familiarity with the opportunities and satisfactions of careers in academic dentistry. The overall objective of this proposal is to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for the recruitment, mentoring, and professional development of the next generation of academic dentists. The specific aims are: 1) to recruit participants to an Academic Track for future academic dentists by targeting graduate students currently enrolled in biomedical science programs as well as dental students and residents; 2) to create an Academic Track for future academic dentists and the position of Academic Track Director who will coordinate the Track activities by developing, monitoring, and evaluating an individualized professional development program for each participant; and 3) to expand existing professional development experiences for Academic Track participants to enhance their clinical preparation with the research, teaching, and leadership skills necessary to be successful in an academic career. Innovative project activities include expanding recruitment efforts to target untapped applicant pools, creating an environment that supports the individual professional needs of each Academic Track participant, and designing professional development opportunities to facilitate transition into a successful academic career. Strengths at UCLA, particularly a strong research faculty and culture of inquiry, existing research training programs, and familiarity with mentoring future dental educators provide a firm foundation to support the aims of this proposal. The educational program will be administered by a Director, three Associate Directors, an Academic Track Director, a Resident Liaison, and an Advisory Oversight Board consisting of five senior academicians actively involved in educational programs and clinical research in the health sciences. Public Health Relevance: The future of dental education is in crisis due to the current and growing shortage of academic dentists. To address this shortage, we will develop and implement a comprehensive model for the recruitment, mentoring, and professional development of the next generation of academic dentists. This multifaceted approach includes broadening the pool of potential clinician scientists, developing the faculty/student mentor relationship, and enhancing professional development activities in the School of Dentistry. Our goal is to provide future academic dentists with the array of knowledge and skills needed to be successful in an academic career.