The History of the Faculty Development Fellowship

The Fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center was conceived in response to the need for teachers and leaders in family medicine. As stated in the original article in Military Medicine¹:

"The necessity of assuring continued qualified leadership to the military Family Practice residency programs led to the development of the Family Medicine Faculty Development Research Fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center in June 1982."

Since that time, the fellowship has welcomed physicians from all specialties and services. Over 60 graduates have made significant contributions to military medicine and beyond. Several graduates have achieved flag officer status. A significant portion of Army and Navy family medicine residencies are lead by graduates of the fellowship. Many graduates are prolific researchers and have published extensively.

1. Moore RG, Sullivan RA. Family medicine faculty development research fellowship in the United States Army: a new career pathway. Mil Med 1985;150:126-8.

About the Program

Do you love to teach? Do you enjoy research? Do you seek out leadership opportunities? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions you should keep reading.

The Madigan Faculty Development Fellowship is a two-year program that trains physicians to become teachers and leaders in the military. Graduates go on to become residency directors, residency teaching staff, clinic chiefs, department chiefs, and operational medicine leaders. The program includes a fully funded advanced degree and specialized training in the areas of leadership, teaching, and research. This training occurs during fellowship sessions, Master's Degree classes and conferences.

Fellowship sessions consist of reviewing research protocols, discussing assigned books on leadership and teaching topics, and meeting with leaders in military medicine. Sessions also cover topics such as career planning, teaching seminars, journal club, residency recertification, evidence-based medicine, American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirments, curriculum development, and much more.

To maintain their clinical skills, fellows see patients or work as attendings in the in- and outpatient settings. Navy fellows work at both Madigan and Naval Hospital Bremerton. One half day per week is spent attending or teaching CME for the residents. Additionally, fellows advise and mentor residents, attend all residency faculty meetings, and attend or lead weekly residency-wide faculty development sessions.

Fellows teach and present at regional and national conferences. Additionally fellows attend the annual Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) meeting and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Director's conference.

Participation in the fellowship is not limited to family medicine. All specialties are encouraged to apply with the support of their communities. The Army traditionally sends two to four physicians to the Madigan Faculty Development Fellowship per year. The Navy sends a number based on their teaching needs for that particular year. The Air Force has not routinely sent physicians to the fellowship but Air Force physicians have enrolled. Fellows may incur an additional 2 to 2½ years of active duty service obligation.

Advanced Degree

Two graduate degree tracks are offered to allow fellows to focus on their personal areas of interest: Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Business Administration (MBA).

MPH
The MPH degree program at the University of Washington in Seattle was rated number four in the nation in 2006. Fellows participate in an extended degree program that lasts 25 months. The summer sessions consists of daily classes in Seattle over a four week period for the first and second summers and over a two week period for the third summer. During the rest of the year fellows have two days per week dedicated to MPH studies and much of the course work is through distance learning. Fellows travel to Seattle four times each year from August through May for weekend seminars. Classes focus on research (biostatistics, epidemiology), public health, healthcare leadership, health economics, financial management, environmental health, program development, and many other topics. The capstone project is an original thesis of the student's choosing that normally consists of an IRB research protocol. More information about the extended MPH degree program can be found at this website: University of Washington's Extended MPH program.

MBA
The MBA degree program at Pacific Lutheran University is very well respected and offers a Healthcare Management Emphasis, with classes such as "Managing Health Care Enterprises" and "Health Care Regulation, Law and Ethics." It consists of 15 semesters of classes over 20-22 months. Classes are two nights per week at the nearby campus in Tacoma, Washington. The school has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) since 1976. Included in the program is an International Studies course with a 10 day fully-funded overseas experience. Fellows have two days per week dedicated to MBA studies. More information about the MBA program can be found at: Pacific Lutheran University.

About Madigan and Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord

MAMC's 243 bed tertiary care center opened in 1992, with nearly every major medical and surgical specialty represented and state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic facilities. The hospital cares for over 90,000 beneficiaries. MAMC is often at the forefront of innovation and change in military medicine. For example, it was voted "most wired" hospital in the Army. It is host to the Army's premier simulation center, the Anderson Sim Center, recognized as a Level 1 Sim Center by the American College of Surgeons.

Locale
Just 45 minutes south of Seattle, Joint Base Lewis-McChord boasts a spectacular view of Mt. Ranier, pleasant temperatures and outstanding year-round leisure opportunities. Boating, camping, hiking, skiing, fishing, professional sports, and cultural activities are within an easy drive. It is a great place to train and to live, for individuals and families alike.

Applicant Information

Interested? Curious? For more information, contact our Program Director listed below.

For Army Applicants: Please go to the Army's GME site for application information.
For Navy Applicants: Please go to the Navy's GME Site for application information.

COL Gary W. Clark MD, MPH
Director, Faculty Development Fellowship Department of Family Medicine, MCHJ-FP
Madigan Army Medical Center
Tacoma, WA 98431
(253) 968-4686 or DSN: 782-4686
(253) 968-2608 or DSN 782-2608 (FAX)
gary.clark@amedd.army.mil

We'd like to hear from you soon!