We are excited to announce the 2026-27 Leadership Starts Here program, a cohort-based experience designed to facilitate professional leadership development for emerging faculty leaders across the Dell Medical enterprise.

Eligible faculty are invited to apply to participate in the no-cost program, which runs August 2026 to May 2027. 

The cohort will engage in dynamic, in-person monthly workshops and collaborative discussions among peers. Participants who attend at least 80% of the workshops will receive a certificate of completion in recognition of their dedication to leadership development.

Featured topics include:

Here’s what previous program participants shared about their experience:

“The Leadership Starts Here program is a unique opportunity to see behind the curtains of the complexity of a medical center and to understand the role we can and should play in it, while receiving the training and insights to do so effectively. Very worthwhile use of my time, and a highlight each month.”  —Maarten Rotman

“I appreciated the variety of topics, the opportunity to interact with external experts, and the time to build community with faculty across specialties. The program is very well organized making it easier to plan attendance around my clinical schedule.” —Lynn Thoreson

Apply by Feb. 20 for the opportunity to join a strong network of peers and expert facilitators. Program space is limited; participants will be selected through a competitive review process.

Attend upcoming ‘In Conversation’ sessions featuring Dell Med faculty leading impactful initiatives across enterprise pillars:

Learn about promotion readiness, areas of excellence and how to prepare your promotion dossier for the 2026-27 promotion and tenure cycles.
Review 2026-27 guidance » 

Promotion candidates for 2025-26: review resources »

Upcoming info sessions for all professional-track faculty:

Join our team for biweekly office hours to ask questions and learn about the faculty promotion processes, the Dell Med CV template and more.
Upcoming office hours: Feb. 4 and 18, March 4, 3-4 p.m., Zoom
Learn more » 

The Office of Professional Fulfillment and Well-Being recommends Stanford’s Physician Well-Being Director Course, a six-week, virtual professional development series with upcoming cohorts in March-April and October-November. The course equips health care leaders with evidence-based tools and skills to advance professional fulfillment and well-being. 
Email Julie Krause to learn more »

This weekly faculty development workshop series explores evidence-based strategies for teaching in the clinical setting through peer-to-peer discussion, case studies, simulations, videos and practice with feedback. 
Wednesdays, Feb. 4-March 11, 5:15-6:30 p.m., Zoom
Register for one or more session » 

Join members of the medical education team in actively discussing a research article together. The upcoming session features Sullivan Ayuso, a distinguished expert in general surgery who specializes in hernia repair, abdominal wall reconstruction and minimally invasive surgery.
Friday, Feb. 18, 12-1 p.m., HLB 5.201 or Teams
Email Karina Diaz-Santini to RSVP »

The Innovation Fund is a newly established seed grant supporting UT faculty interested in developing courses for continuing and professional education. Faculty will receive a stipend between $2,500-7,500 and support from Extended Education Ventures to develop and launch each course. All tenured, tenure-track and professional-track faculty are invited to apply. Intent forms are due March 23. 
Learn more and apply »

Dell Med’s Susan M. Cox, M.D. Academy of Distinguished Educators welcomes faculty participation at the spring mentorship event, which includes an opening discussion with a faculty panel on forging successful mentoring relationships followed by an interactive group- or speed-mentoring session.
Thursday, March 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m., HLB Auditorium
Register »

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our faculty members, whose work continues to inspire and create lasting impact. Please join us in congratulating these distinguished faculty members:

Congratulations to Gretchen Fuller, facilitator for our inaugural Faculty Coaching Program, and to all program participants who completed the six month course by presenting their academic portfolio projects to executive leadership, Drs. Al-Douri, Busch, Daigle, Freedman, Rippon, Sokas, Sabharwal and Wallingford, we look forward to seeing your continued growth and impact.

Have recent accolades or accomplishments to share? Submit via our new form for consideration in an upcoming newsletter.

Professors Elizabeth Matsui and Roger Peng talk about life in the academic trenches, telling it like it is. This micro-episode series podcast covers topics such as promotion letters, choosing a mentor and revising a manuscript in response to a review.
Listen now »

Feb. 23-27, Virtual
Register » 

Apr. 16-18, Corpus Christi
Register » 

June 8-9, Hybrid
Register » 

Email the Faculty Academic Affairs team to submit items you would like to be included in the next faculty newsletter.

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The Office of Academic Affairs' internal e-newsletter is for regular faculty at Dell Medical School and provides updates on the appointment, promotion and tenure process and faculty professional and leadership development opportunities. Email the Office of Faculty Academic Affairs.