This page highlights the promotion process information for both contributed service and full time faculty.

The promotion process occurs on a one-year cycle. Promotion packages are generally assembled in March or April, in preparation for review by the departmental Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure (APT) committee prior to submission to the Medical School APT committee.

Ideally, the faculty mentoring process should identify appropriate dates for promotion a year or more in advance. However, if a faculty member feels they are eligible for promotion, they should contact their division chief to review their accomplishments in the context of the faculty track. All faculty, whether full-time or contributed services, should discuss proposed promotions with the appropriate division chief. The vice chairman of medicine is also available for advice regarding the timing and requirements for promotion.

While the requirements for promotion vary by faculty track and rank, some general guidelines pertain to all promotions. Candidates should review their CV to ensure that it is updated and prepared according to the standard departmental format (MS Word). It is also useful to review the Medical School's guidelines and criteria for promotion for the appropriate track. Clinicians who have significant involvement in education should prepare a summary of educational work products.

An effective way to accumulate this information is to keep an ongoing file of such activities so that they can be assembled easily at the time of promotion. The Department of Medicine's Professional Activities Database can be a helpful electronic storage site. Candidates should also identify a list of internal and external references. The source of references varies with the faculty track, but in general, external references other than those associated with past training are the most appropriate. Ideally, references should be from faculty with the same or higher rank as the proposed promotion position and from a University with a stature equal to higher than Northwestern.

Generally, by May of each year, the Division Chief nominates the candidate with a cover letter that addresses each of the criteria required for promotion. This letter and the candidate's CV are reviewed by the Department of Medicine's leadership and the departmental APT committee in June. If approved, the candidate is asked to complete a full application packet, which includes the external references and often a personal statement. The Department and/or the Dean's office then solicits external letters of reference for the candidate, drawing from potential references submitted by the faculty member as well as others that may be deemed appropriate.

If approved, the promotion package is then forwarded to the Dean's office, generally in October or November. The subsequent review process includes reviews by the Medical School APT Committee, the Dean's office, and the Provost. The promotion may be deferred at any of these levels of review. Candidates are notified by approximately September of the following year of the final determination.