Office for Faculty Development, Professionalism and Inclusion (OFDPI)

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The Office for Faculty Development, Professionalism and Inclusion (OFDPI) was established to help ensure that Dana-Farber's faculty thrives, scientifically and personally. Specifically, the goals of the OFDPI are to:

  • Support the career development of all faculty at Dana-Farber;
  • Enhance the diversity of faculty and faculty leadership;
  • Help ensure a positive faculty work environment through such strategies as mentoring programs and work/life initiatives.

About OFDPI

The OFDPI works with Dana-Farber leadership to identify policies and practices that support faculty career development. The Committee for Women Faculty, Clinical Faculty Council and OFDPI Advisory Committee provide input and direction for the work of the OFDPI. Priority areas include career development, work-life balance, and other factors that affect professional satisfaction and growth.

Hallmark efforts in these areas include:

Awards

  • The Gloria Spivak Faculty Advancement Fund provides research funding for faculty members facing a family challenge.
  • The Advancement of the Careers of Women Faculty award is given annually to a faculty member who has taken action beyond his/her job description to advance the careers of women faculty.
  • The Caregiver Travel awards provide financial support to defray some of the costs of traveling with dependents, or extra care at home, while traveling for professional meetings critical to promoting the advancement of early career scholars with familial obligations.
  • Scholarships for women faculty to attend leadership development conferences, such as those hosted by Harvard Medical School (HMS), or the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
  • Awards for Clinical Faculty rotate, with three of five awards offered annually: Institutional Citizenship Award; Exemplary Care Award; Bridging Boundaries Award; Clinical Mentoring Award; Innovation Award.
  • The OFDPI provides information on external awards for faculty.

Events

  • The Retreat for Women Faculty brings together women from across the Institute. Past years have featured speakers such as Harvard President Drew Faust and MIT President Susan Hockfield.
  • The Clinical Faculty Brunch is a family-friendly event held annually at the Museum of Science. The Clinical Faculty Awards are presented at this event.
  • The President’s Reception for Junior Faculty offers an opportunity for junior faculty to meet Dana-Farber's President and other key faculty leadership in an informal setting.

Professional Development

  • Hosts internal seminars on promotion, extramural funding, giving feedback, negotiation, etc.
  • Collaborates with Harvard Medical School and affiliated institutions to provide seminars on mentoring, orientation for new faculty, etc.
  • Offers group mentoring sessions for junior women faculty.

Initiatives

  • With the Clinical Faculty Council, developed Institute titles for clinical faculty.
  • With the Committee for Women Faculty: developed categories for Instructors; developed/administered childcare survey for faculty; created Faculty Discussion and Resource Guides
  • With Institutional and departmental leadership, working on a database which will help monitor faculty parity.

For more information on the Office for Faculty Development, Professionalism and Inclusion, call 617-582-8714.