Instructor of Anesth vs. Prof--what's the diff?

[chrisv]

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So just out of lame curiosity...what's the difference between someone being a faculty member with the title of "Instructor of Anesthesiology" vs. "Professor of Anesthesiology"?

 

[Apollyon]

It's just like the rest of academics, with one exception. Instructor is the lowest level. Next is assistant professor, then associate professor, then full professor. However, with clinical appointments (as you see, such as "clinical associate professor of anesthesiology"), they do not (usually), to my knowledge, involve tenure. If true tenure exists in clinical medicine, I hope someone will speak up. And, distilled to its essence, true tenure means you can be a total slug and they can't fire you, as long as you aren't a criminal or blatantly incompetent (like floridly psychotic or stroked out) - I thought it was moral turpitude, criminal activity, or incompetence.

Some places give residents the title of "instructor in anesthesiology", whereas others give that to faculty of the most junior experience, or fellows, but people who have completed residency.

 

[IlDestriero]

It is an academic appointment usually reserved for the most junior faculty, but not always. In the two Universities where I've held appointments, its also useful as the publish or perish, up or out, academic time clock doesn't start until you're promoted to Asst. Professor. It allows the new faculty get their research off the ground for a couple years first.
Traditional tenure track jobs seem to be rare now in anesthesia as few clinicians are interested in >50% research time and its associated pay cut. My current medical school recommends >75% academic time for successes in the tenure track! Our academic-clinical track is usually 25-30% non clinical time and doesn't lead to tenure, but it does offer a sabbatical. I think you can apply after ten years. Our pure clinical people don't get tenure or a sabbatical, but they still get "academic" time out of the OR for administrative responsibilities, lectures, teaching, etc. Several of the clinical people are actually fairly productive academically, and they are given some additional time to pursue those interests.

 

[chrisv]

So it has nothing to do with whether an anesthesiologist is BE (board eligible, as in couldn't pass their boards) vs. BC (board certified)?

 

[chrisv]

So it has nothing to do with whether an anesthesiologist is BE (board eligible, as in couldn't pass their boards) vs. BC (board certified)?

 

[Dejavu]

So it has nothing to do with whether an anesthesiologist is BE (board eligible, as in couldn't pass their boards) vs. BC (board certified)?

No,

Been here fifteen years as an Instructor, will die as an Instructor and proud of it.

Been BC for long enough to be Lifetime Certified.

I am just not interested in doing 5-8 papers and some book chapters and some visiting lectures and such in order to be considered for promotion. I would much rather take care of patients and let other, younger, colleagues do all that academic stuff.

 

[chrisv]

Thank you for clarifying this for me!!!

 

[cchoukal]

As others have said, it is one (the lowest) in a series of academic titles. The criteria for advancement from one to the next will vary by university. For example, one university I know of (I work there) appoints you as an Instructor if you don't have a fellowship and an Assistant Professor if you do have a fellowship (I think we even pay the Instructors less). This is arbitrary in that some other university might have a different criteria (e.g., board-certification, full/part time, etc.) for distinguishing between the two.

 

[proman]

My shop requires a pulse and board certification to go from instructor to assistant. It comes with a ~50K raise so not something to turn down.

 

[jwk]

As others have said, it is one (the lowest) in a series of academic titles. The criteria for advancement from one to the next will vary by university. For example, one university I know of (I work there) appoints you as an Instructor if you don't have a fellowship and an Assistant Professor if you do have a fellowship (I think we even pay the Instructors less). This is arbitrary in that some other university might have a different criteria (e.g., board-certification, full/part time, etc.) for distinguishing between the two.

At least one institution I'm familiar with has "associate" as it's lowest level - not associate professor, just associate. Then instructor, then asst prof, then assoc prof, then professor. They made more than residents, but not much.

 

[usnavdoc]

So it has nothing to do with whether an anesthesiologist is BE (board eligible, as in couldn't pass their boards) vs. BC (board certified)?

This is really institution dependant. For examply the only instructors we (Emory)have are the instructors in the AA school. We used to have some part time MDs who were instructors as well. But currently AFAIK every MD that is full time starts at assisstant prof.

Other places it is used for new grads who havent passed boards, then after passing boards they get promoted and and maybe a pay raise. (Salaries also may not be attached to professional advancement...everyplace is different)

So in order to give you a solid answer people need to know the program design you are asking about, because it really isnt an across the board kind of thing.

Also Board Eligible doesnt necessarily mean you COULDNT pass boards. It might mean you are in the process and havent taken the tests or havent recieved scores yet. Our faculty have to be boarded by year 3 or they are terminated. Doesnt matter if they are still Board eligible or not.

 

[Danbo1957]

Most instrucors are first year appointments out of residency, who are promoted to Assistant Professor after one year's experience. Most of the others with instructor ranks are longtime clinicians who are only affiliated with the school, teach part time, and have no academic responsibilities.