Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Office for Faculty Development (OFD)

    In this section

    The Office for Faculty Development (OFD) supports and facilitates the career growth and development of Harvard-appointed Dana-Farber faculty.

    Specifically, the goals of the OFD are to:

    • Support the career development of all faculty at Dana-Farber
    • Nurture an inclusive faculty
    • Help ensure a positive faculty work environment

    About OFD

    The OFD works with Dana-Farber leadership to identify policies and practices that support faculty career development. The Faculty Council provides input and direction for the work of the OFD. Priority areas include supporting early-career faculty success, work-life integration support, and other factors that affect professional satisfaction and growth.

    Hallmark efforts in these areas include:

    Funding and Awards

    clinical-faculty-awardees-2025.jpg

    Recipients of the 2025 Clinical Faculty Awards (from left): Cristina Pozo-Kaderman, PhD; David Fisher, MD; Jeffrey Guenette, MD, MPH; Junne Kamihara, MD, PhD; Joseph Mancias, MD, PhD.
    • The Faculty Advancement Fund provides crucial research funding for faculty members facing a family challenge.
    • American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grants (ACS IRGs) offer essential funding for early-career investigators.
    • Caregiver Travel Awards provide financial support to defray extra dependent care costs while traveling for professional meetings.
    • The Advancement of the Careers of Faculty Award is given annually to a faculty member who has gone above and beyond to advance the careers of Dana-Farber faculty.
    • The Sidney Farber Scholar Program builds an alternative pathway to faculty positions for fellows and instructors with tremendous talent who would thrive pursuing independent research in a synergistic environment early in their careers.
    • Awards for clinical faculty include the Institutional Citizenship Award; Exemplary Care Award; Bridging Boundaries Award; Clinical Mentoring Award; and Innovation Award.

    Seminars and Events

    • New faculty receptions are held in the fall to welcome new faculty to the Dana-Farber community.
    • Clinical Faculty Receptions provide an informal opportunity for clinical faculty to come together. Clinical Faculty Awards are presented at the spring event.
    • The Annual Symposium for early-career research faculty provides an opportunity to learn from and about one another.
    • Monthly lunches and seminars for early-career faculty feature speakers on topics that support successful independence.
    • Guest speakers address data visualization, grant writing and public speaking.

    For more information about the Office for Faculty Development, email ofd@dfci.harvard.edu.