This Area of Excellence is appropriate when a specific area of clinical expertise provides the unifying theme for the candidate’s academic activities and achievements. The individual is considered a leader in a clinical field and has a reputation as an innovator in approaches to diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease; applications of technology to clinical care; and/or in developing models of care delivery. The candidate must demonstrate scholarship, which may include first or senior author original research, reviews and chapters in his/her area of clinical expertise, guidelines/protocols for patient care, publications evaluating the impact of a clinical innovation, and/or other publications. With higher ranks, there is an increased expectation for the dissemination of clinical innovations beyond the local level, original research publications supporting the impact of clinical innovations, a reputation as a clinical expert beyond the local level, and independence as a thought leader. There should be a strong educational component in the clinical field (reported in Teaching and Education), and the individual may participate in clinical, translational or basic scientific research related to the clinical field. If research activities are substantial, including funding as a principal investigator, investigation should be designated as a supporting activity.

This Area of Excellence is appropriate for candidates who spend a high proportion of their time on educational activities, view education as their primary academic focus, and produce scholarship that advances the science of education. The individual is considered a leader as an educator and has a reputation as an innovator in approaches to teaching, assessment, and educational program development. The candidate must demonstrate scholarship, which may include publication of first or senior author original research, reviews and chapters on clinical or educational topics; curricular materials, assessment tools, and publications evaluating the impact of an educational innovation. With higher ranks, there is an increased expectation for the dissemination of teaching innovations beyond the local level, original research publications supporting the impact of educational innovations, a reputation as an educator beyond the local level, and independence as a thought leader.

This Area of Excellence is appropriate for individuals who spend the majority of their time conducting research. Investigation is broadly defined to include basic, translational and clinical research, including epidemiology, outcomes and health services research, and biostatistics as well as research in social sciences, ethics, bioinformatics and health economics, among others. Investigation also includes the development of innovative methods/technologies and/or novel applications of existing methods and technologies. This Area of Excellence may also be used to recognize the contributions of individuals with research training in diverse fields that bring a unique or critical expertise to the biomedical research team. It includes individuals participating in large collaborative and multicenter research, as well as those conducting research individually or in small groups. The candidate must demonstrate scholarship, which may include first or senior author publications of original research, and/or publications from large multidisciplinary studies with middle authorship positions in which the candidate and to which the candidate made documented, significant intellectual contributions. With higher ranks, there is an increased expectation for robust, sustained extramural funding, the impact of the scholarship, and independence as a thought leader.