Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP, returns for his third Faculty Factory Podcast appearance this week. We dive into the art of succession planning, leadership continuity, and the blueprint of a “phased rewirement,” reflecting on what these have meant for him throughout his impactful career in academic medicine.

Dr. Smith is the Chief Faculty Affairs Officer and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. He also serves as a Professor of Family Medicine at UMMC.

The podcast kicks off with "The Story Leading Up to Phased Rewiring." It began when Dr. Smith, as Chief Faculty Affairs Officer, started contemplating how he could transition out of the role while continuing to enjoy life at different levels and engage in different activities than simply coming into the office every day.

It began with a succession plan and identifying who had demonstrated the skills and competencies needed for UMMC's next iteration of the Chief Faculty Affairs Officer.

Dr. Smith walks us through the entire process, including how the individual identified for succession was put on a coaching path to be ready to assume the new role when the time came. This included shadowing Dr. Smith as he hired new leadership, allowing the individual to observe that process from start to finish.

As we learn, it’s not just a phased rewirement; it’s a phased replenishment. You’ll discover in this conversation that Dr. Smith’s approach is thoughtful, purposeful, and strategic when it comes to succession planning.

He also discusses what goes into building a reputation for “Continuity of Leadership” at an institution and how to be more intentional about ensuring the stability of individuals in formal leadership positions.

“People planning is the key to a thriving and flourishing organization within your building—think about what you need to do differently to implement people planning successfully,” he said.

His previous two appearances on our podcast can be found here:

• Episode 13 – A Faculty Factory Interview with Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP
• Episode 195 – Reflections on Building Faculty Growth and Leadership in the Face of a Global Crisis with Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP

You can reach Dr. Smith at posmith@umc.edu | Any questions, comments or feedback for us? Reach out to the Faculty Factory here: https://facultyfactory.org/contact-us/ .

This week on the Faculty Factory Podcast, author Joshua Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA, is back on the show, and we’re taking a deep dive into feedback. We discuss how to give and receive feedback more effectively—a topic that we all should strive to improve in our professional lives.

With 25 years of experience in military medicine, Dr. Hartzell is a retired army colonel as well as a practicing internist and infectious diseases physician.

Feedback is meant to be a conversation, helping each other better understand where the other individual is coming from. After all, we’re never sure what is going on in someone’s life until we ask.

How do we get better at feedback? Yes, you can read books and consume podcasts like this on it, but explicitly asking someone to give you feedback about yourself may be an even stronger starting point. Dr. Hartzell also encourages getting feedback on your feedback, as it takes practice.

"When we give people feedback, it tells them whether their performance aligns with our expectations or not; it really clarifies our expectations. I think that's really important because, without that, it's sort of left up to people to decide: 'Am I doing a good job?'" he told us.

Another crucial element surrounding this interview is the critically important notion that a lack of feedback is still a form of feedback so there are no doubt consequences of choosing silence and inaction.

Explore Resources from this Podcast

Dr. Hartzell’s first appearance on our Faculty Factory Podcast, titled “A Comprehensive Look at Developing Excellent Leadership in Medicine” can be found here: https://facultyfactory.org/joshua-hartzell/

You can learn more about Dr. Hartzell’s book, “A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence”, here: https://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Caring-Healthcare-Leadership-Compassion/dp/B0DSQ4276K

Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the Department of War.

References:

Kim Scott, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2019).

Ende J. Feedback in clinical medical education. JAMA. 1983 Aug 12;250(6):777-81.

The Faculty Factory Podcast is back for its Year 7/Season 7 debut this week, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Lilly Marks, a respected voice and distinguished leader in our field, is our featured guest, with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD, MS, joining alongside to add insights and further questions that ultimately provide a deep-seated exploration of several leadership traits and styles that are essential for success and building a healthy culture.

Among the leadership topics we dive into:

• Communication
• Adapting to change and challenges
• Transparency

Lilly Marks is a frequently sought-after national speaker on topics regarding medical school economics, healthcare practices, clinical practice management, and leadership in academic medicine.

She was the longtime Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and has spent more than 25 years in academic medicine in various administrative and leadership positions.

Dr. Chubinskaya is the Senior Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She also serves as a Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation in the John Sealy School of Medicine. Her previous two appearances on our podcast can be found here:

• Episode 11 – A Faculty Factory Interview with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD
• Episode 160 – Pearls of Wisdom for Faculty to Build a Career with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD

"If you want faculty to trust and respect you, you have to trust and respect them. And that means sharing information, because black box decision-making doesn't work. I think it's critical to give faculty good data and information that is timely, accurate, relevant, and understandable," Lilly said.

We want to thank Dr. Chubinskaya for her unwavering support of the Faculty Factory, as our hearts are filled with gratitude to be entering Year 7 with such incredible momentum ushered in with this episode.

We have all heard the saying: "New Year, New You!" Yet, embracing change is never easy, as it comes with uncertainty and the possibility of (gulp) failure. However, there is no real “failure,” only learning opportunities when your mindset is in the right framework.

We will be back next week with brand new episodes for the Year 7/Season 7 debut of the Faculty Factory podcast. This week, we’re excited to ring in the new year by exploring some of the best interviews we’ve had over this podcast’s lifespan on how to make a transition decision.

Interested in hearing the full conversations from these episodes? Click on the links below to explore each episode in its entirety:

• Navigating a “Decision to Transition” in Academic Medicine with Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD: https://facultyfactory.org/jochen-reiser/
• Navigating a Transition from Academia to Industry and Back with Ludy Shih, MD, MMSc: https://facultyfactory.org/ludy-shih/
• Adaptability for Success at Any Stage of Your Academic Medicine Career with Janet Bickel, MA: https://facultyfactory.org/adaptability-for-success/

First up, we hear from Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD. Dr. Reiser is the President of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and CEO of the UTMB Health System. He is a professor in the John Sealy School of Medicine and holds the John D. Stobo, MD Distinguished Chair.

Next, we have an excerpt from a great conversation with Ludy Shih, MD, MMSc. Dr. Shih currently serves as Associate Professor of Neurology in the Department of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine.

Finally, Janet Bickel, MA, joins the show to share timeless advice on adaptability in the face of major change.

We firmly believe that these interviews comprising this “best of” podcast can help faculty members or really anyone looking for a fresh start in 2026! Happy New Year to all our community and family! Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/

This week, we're airing a Faculty Factory conversation featuring our friend Stuart Ray, MD, as he discusses triaging and competing demands. This episode originally aired in July 2023. Happy holidays to all of you! We wish you a very happy and healthy 2026.

Learn more about this podcast episode with Dr. Ray: https://facultyfactory.org/stuart-ray/

As a leader, the more you show your human side and reach out to others for help, the stronger the chance that the people around you will start to do the same.

There are plenty of leadership lessons for early-career faculty and beyond in this week’s Faculty Factory Podcast interview, just in time for the holidays, with our new friend Nicole Jarrett, MD, FACS. We hear about her journey and the transition from faculty member to a formal leadership role as Division Chief.

Dr. Jarrett serves as Division Chief of Hand Surgery in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is also an Assistant Professor and the Hand Surgery Fellowship Director at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

The confidence to ask questions is an important sign of a confident leader. We all have days when we need help, and displaying the confidence to ask questions is essential.

"It's okay to ask for help. We're all going to find ourselves in situations where we feel overwhelmed or where things aren't going right, and we need support,” she said.

Midway through the discussion, Dr. Jarrett talks about the art of purposeful socializing.

It’s crucial to allocate time for social functions in our lines of work, especially in leadership roles, and taking a very strategic and efficient approach to how we engage in these functions pays dividends. It can also save time.

“It’s not all fun at these parties; you have a job to do. I’m very glad someone gave me that lesson, and I’m happy to pass it along to my faculty,” Dr. Jarrett discussed.

Elevating professionalism is key to much of the day-to-day work of Ellen M. Friedman, MD, FACS, FAAP, and we knew we had to have her join the Faculty Factory Podcast to learn more.

Dr. Friedman serves as Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and is the Senior Associate Dean of Professionalism and the Director of the Center for Professionalism at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The end result of the Center for Professionalism, which we discuss at length in today’s episode, is a warm and positive professional climate at Baylor College of Medicine. We also dive into the concept of professionalism in general.

More about the Center: https://www.bcm.edu/education/academic-faculty-affairs/center-for-professionalism

While promoting professionalism is the core service of the Center, it also has systems in place to report instances where professionalism is lacking.

The problem with traditional wellness programs is that they often place the burden on the individual while systematic issues at the institution remain unresolved, as Dr. Friedman points out. The Center at Baylor aims to address those systematic issues so they don’t stand in the way of wellness and progress.

More than anything else, however, the Center exists to acknowledge and recognize acts of positive professionalism.

“It’s a very small number of individuals who are perceived to have lapses in professionalism, but unfortunately, that small group of people tends to receive the most attention,” she says.

For that reason, the Center is dedicated to honoring professionals who demonstrate exemplary professionalism.

More resources: https://facultyfactory.org/

Many leaders in the healthcare system and academic medicine, by default, manage their day through transactional leadership. However, as we learn in this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, there may be a better way.

We are thrilled to welcome Martin Zeier, MD, visiting us from Germany this week on the podcast to discuss transformational leadership.

Dr. Zeier leads the Division of Nephrology at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He recently traveled to the United States and attended the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Nephrology, which took place in Houston.

You can learn more about the University of Heidelberg here: https://www.nierenzentrum-heidelberg.com

Transformational leadership helps us build trust between one another, which is one of its core principles and plays a key role in mentoring the next generation of leaders. This leadership style can strengthen our teams to advance our institutions and the missions we serve.

It also challenges us to lead through intellectual stimulation, because academic professionals are not at their best without the opportunity for growth.

“I have always been curious about how I could build and enhance teams and how I could improve as a medical professional and leader,” Dr. Zeier stated at the interview's outset.

His own intellectual curiosity over the years served as an impetus for him to study organizational psychology in his advanced studies, as he also shared with us.

Learn more about the Faculty Factory: https://facultyfactory.org/