Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Voluntary Faculty Program

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery's Voluntary Faculty program. As a teaching hospital we are committed to providing an outstanding medical education for our residents, fellows, and medical students, as well as providing our patients with the highest caliber of care and the most current treatment options available. Our voluntary faculty are vital in maintaining these standards and are carefully reviewed.

Strategic Goals

The primary emphasis for physicians in the voluntary faculty program is to teach the application of basic science and/or clinical knowledge to Department residents; fellows and medical students to help diversify training and improve overall patient care. Advancement of clinical and/or scientific knowledge through published articles and/or presentations is also encouraged.

Definition

The term voluntary faculty refers to physicians affiliated with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery through their clinical academic appointments.

Physicians must have an Academic Appointment or be a member of a UCSD affiliate group* in order to obtain medical staff privileges at UCSD. It is not necessary, however, to apply for medical staff privileges in order to receive an appointment to the voluntary faculty.

*For a list of affiliate groups please contact the Department at (619) 543-5944.

Criteria for Appointment and Advancement

The two criteria for the clinical professorial series are:

Appointees must contribute substantially to the clinical teaching program in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and/or UCSD medical student education. Appointees are expected to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours per year. Attendance at meetings and other activities which are part of the appointee’s own continuing professional education is not normally counted as part of the minimum hours per year.

Reappointment to the voluntary faculty depends on ongoing educational, academic, or clinical involvement at UCSD and/or within the Department. Appointees are required to provide documentation of their 50 hours per year of educational participation in resident, fellow, or medical student education when their file is due for reappointment or advancement. Evaluation forms will be provided to voluntary faculty members but the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is not responsible for tracking participation of voluntary faculty.

Normally appointees should have a doctoral degree in a clinically relevant discipline and meet clinical licensure requirements in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Candidates without a doctoral degree may be considered as exceptions.

Voluntary Faculty Titles

Appointees must clearly indicate when requesting an appointment for medical staff purposes only. If appointees at the Clinical Instructor level show proof of meeting the minimum 50 hours per week teaching requirement, they may request a review in consideration of promotion to a higher clinical level.

Types of appointment

Requests for appointment must be made in writing. Physicians should submit a request to the Department Business Office with the following information: full name, office address and phone number, clinical specialty, board certification status (certified/eligible), and intentions for appointment, i.e. involvement with teaching program or for medical staff privileges only. The Department requires a $50.00 processing fee made payable to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCSD. Physicians should indicate when requesting medical staff privileges and include a $200.00 Medical Staff processing fee, made payable to UC Regents.

Upon receipt of written request, the Department Business Office will send the appropriate packets of information for completion. Completed packets received by the Voluntary Faculty Coordinator will be submitted at the next scheduled Voluntary Faculty Committee meeting. The Voluntary Faculty Committee will review all proposed appointments and make recommendations. Favorable recommendations will be processed through the School of Medicine Dean’s Office and Medical Staff Office.

Physicians currently in training (i.e., completing a fellowship) or not yet board certified, will be appointed at the Clinical Instructor level.

All other new appointments in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will be made at the Assistant Clinical Professor level, unless circumstances and/or qualifications merit placement at a more advanced level.

Reappointment, Review, and Termination

Review

Voluntary faculty will be reviewed prior to each reappointment to determine their involvement and performance in the Department.

Voluntary Faculty will be required to submit an Annual Supplement to the Biography form indicating interactions with our medical students, residents, fellows, and/or faculty, and to solicit evaluations from faculty, residents, fellows, and medical students with whom they interact (evaluation forms will be provided for this purpose).

Reappointment will be recommended only when the minimum educational criteria have been met. This is verified through the Annual Supplement to the Biography form and teaching evaluations. It is the faculty member’s responsibility to provide proof in support of their reappointment.

An appointment may be terminated at such time as the appointee is no longer participating in the teaching program at UCSD, as deemed appropriate based on established criteria. At the request of the faculty member, an appointment may be changed to the Courtesy Staff level in order to maintain medical staff privileges, provided clinical activity is maintained.

A voluntary faculty member may also request termination in writing.

Medical staff privileges may be maintained only concurrent to a voluntary faculty appointment or membership in a UCSD affiliate group.

Annual Dues

All voluntary faculty members are required to pay an annual assessment of $300* to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Failure to pay this assessment annually or secure a waiver from the Department Chair may result in termination of voluntary faculty appointment.

*These funds support upkeep of Voluntary Faculty files, Reappointments, Medical Staff Credentialing and the Residency Training Program.

Promotion

Clinical faculty will be reviewed and recommended for advancement based on voluntary faculty criteria. Physicians must provide evidence-justifying promotion.

Voluntary faculty may request in writing to have their file reviewed for possible advancement prior to a scheduled Departmental review. Physicians are responsible for supplying material in support of advancement. When complete, files will be submitted to the Voluntary Faculty Committee for consideration.

Physicians will be promoted according to regular rank advancement and years in service unless circumstances and/or qualifications merit placement at a more advanced level.

Criteria for Advancement

Assistant Clinical Professor

Reserved for individuals who have contributed a high quality of service to UCSD, other institutions or the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Individuals should be board certified physicians who meet the minimum educational and academic criteria for appointment to the voluntary faculty.

Associate Clinical Professor

Reserved for individuals who have contributed a high quality of service to UCSD, other institutions or the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Individuals should be accomplished teachers with unquestioned professional competence and should be held in high regard by their colleagues.

Clinical Professor

Reserved for individuals of exceptional stature who have a unique record of accomplishments in addition to teaching ability and professional competence. Accomplishments may be in the area of outstanding contribution to the School of Medicine or Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in teaching, research, or other creative activity.

In addition, service to national scientific and related organizations, meritorious contributions to federal, state and local governments and/or outstanding service to the local community will strengthen the case for promotion at this level. Appointment or promotion to clinical professor level requires three letters of recommendation from peers.

Should you have any other questions please contact the Voluntary Faculty Coordinator in the Department Business Office at (619) 543-5944.