OFD Faculty Development Awards

The Office of Faculty Development awards funds to enhance teaching, mentoring educational scholarship and /or leadership skills.

There are two award categories. Funds up to $1500 per project in either category can be requested.

OFD Education Innovation Project Grant

This award aims to promote educational scholarship among UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Professional Staff and faculty members of the Department of Pediatrics. The grant will provide financial support for projects relevant to medical education learners across the continuum of pediatrics (medical school students, graduate medical education learners, continuing medical education/faculty).

Innovative curriculum, educational research and/or the development of new educational resources are some of the examples of projects that will be considered.

Funds up to $1500 per project can be requested.

It is expected that this project will enhance the quality of education in our institution in some way, e.g., a new curriculum, or teaching or evaluation approach that can be integrated into training the targeted learning group(s). It is also expected that scholarly work be submitted for presentation at a local, regional, or national conference.

Application form: Education Innovation Project Grant (PDF)

Prior Education Innovation Project Grant Awardees

Melissa Tavarez, MD
Education Champions Program

Ingrid Libman, MD, PhD; Hebatullah M. Ismail, MBBCh, MSc, PhD 
Project: A day in the life of a patient with diabetes

Matthew Pihlblad, MD
Project: Educational benefit of the D-eye in teaching direct ophthalmoscopy

Amanda Brown, MD
Project: Learning How to Give Serious News Effectively: A Workshop to Improve Pediatric Residents’ Medical Error Disclosure 

Andrew McCormick, MD
Project: Health and Wellness: Play and Exploration in Medicine

Wednesday Sevilla, MD, MPH, CNSC
Project: Nutrition Retreat – Intensive and Immersive Nutrition Education for Pediatric GI Fellows

OFD Individual Faculty Professional/Leadership Development Grant

This award supports the professional development of UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Professional Staff and faculty members of the Department of Pediatrics. This may take the form of advanced training, applicant-designed projects, travel expenses, or other opportunities to enhance the career success of individual faculty.

Funds up to $1500 per project can be requested.

It is expected that the funds will help to establish the awardee as a leader in one of the following domains (list is not exhaustive): education, leadership/administration, quality improvement, or patient safety. It is further expected that the knowledge or skills gained from this experience will be disseminated locally, such as through a faculty development workshop, QI project, or other means.

Potential formal programs to consider include but are not limited to:

Application form: Faculty Professional/Leadership Development Grant (PDF)

Prior Individual Faculty Professional/Leadership Grant Awardees

Jennifer R. Marin, MD, MSc
To attend the AAMC Mid-Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar

John Szymusiak, MD, MS
To pursue formal training in Quality Improvement from the Intermediate Improvement Science Series course, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence

Application Information

Applications for either award are to be submitted to the Department of Pediatrics Office of Faculty Development. They can be submitted by email or delivered to Emily Morris at emily.morris2@chp.edu, Administrative Offices, 5th floor, AOB.

Application Cycle

Watch for an email announcement from the Office of Faculty Development. Direct any questions to Melissa Tavarez at melissa.tavarez2@chp.edu.

Application Content and Forms 

For the OFD Educational Innovation Project Grant, please provide:

  • Project proposal, outlining goals, methods, desired outcomes, and timeline.
  • Description of how engaging in this project will influence your career as an educator and/or enhance the quality of education at our institution.
  • Budget outlining the funds you need to support the project. You can request funds up to $1,500 per project.
  • Copy of your curriculum vitae.
  • Letter of support from your division chief or department chair.
  • Applications, excluding CV, support letter, and any other attachments should not exceed three pages.
  • Application form: OFD Education Innovation Project Grant (PDF)

OFD Education Innovation Project Grant Review Rubric (PDF)

For the OFD Individual Faculty Development Grant, please provide:

  • Letter of Intent, outlining your professional goals and how this faculty development experience will influence your career.
  • Description of how this experience will enhance the quality of education, patient care or leadership in our institution.
  • Budget outlining the funds you need to support the professional development opportunity. You can request funds up to $1,500.
  • Copy of your curriculum vitae.
  • Letter of support from your division chief or department chair.
  • Applications, excluding CV, support letter, and any other attachments should not exceed three pages.
  • Application form: OFD Faculty Professional/Leadership Development Grant (PDF)

Questions?

Review Process

The Department of Pediatrics Faculty Development Committee will review the applications and decide upon awards based upon:

  • Consistency with the purpose of the funds
  • Strength of the proposal
  • Feasibility
  • Innovation (for Education project)
  • Likelihood to contribute to the individual and/or institution or academic/medical education community at large