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Early Career Launch Program

The Department of Urology is committed to ensuring that our faculty members are in the best possible position to succeed professionally. We realized that mentorship is an essential ingredient for faculty success. As a result, we have developed a robust mentorship program that is tailored to the values of Northwestern and the needs of our junior faculty members.

Program Overview

The Northwestern Urology Early Career Launch Program is a three-year mentorship program designed for early career faculty (1-3 years post-training), emphasizing the areas of research, teaching, and clinical skills, particularly concerning career satisfaction, career management, and collegial networking. Launch teams (mentees, mentors, Dr. Ross and Dr. Schaeffer) will focus on key aspects of faculty growth and development. The goals, metrics, and deliverables for each meeting and academic year will be developed by the early career faculty member with their Launch Team.

Suggested areas of focus for meetings and deliverables include:

  • Clinical: case mix, clinical volume, resources, scheduling, acquisition of new techniques, OR block time
  • Education: development of teaching skills, formal teaching roles within Department and Institution
  • Leadership: management and organizational skills, career goals, professional strengths, leadership education and development
  • Promotion Planning: metrics to achieve, references and support, timing and trajectory
  • Academic (Optional Track): research portfolio and focus, grant writing and funding, resources and space, utilization of resources and funding

Timeline 

Mentors and mentees will meet bimonthly during the first year of the program followed by quarterly meetings in years 2 and 3. Participants will also be required to attend a twice-annual group meeting with the entire Launch Team cohort. The group meeting will take place in September and March. The goals, metrics, and deliverables for each meeting and academic year will be developed by the early career faculty member with their Launch Team.

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Program Documents 

The following documents were designed to support a smooth process for the Launch Team cohort and to evaluate and continuously improve the mentorship program. These documents are password protected and if you are a part of the Launch Team cohort, you should have received the password at the beginning of the program. 

Workbook

The workbook is designed to provide an orientation to the program and mentoring process, sample mentorship meeting agendas, self-assessments, journal templates, and recommended readings and activities. The resources in this workbook are reflective of the focus areas of the program: personal development, professional development, skill development, academic career guid­ance, and leadership. 

Access Workbook

Modules

The Launch Team Program includes six training modules that align with key developmental domains for new faculty. Modules are designed to provide a framework for meeting discussions. Modules may be completed in an order that best supports mentee goals. These areas are: 

Access Modules

  • What is Your Why? 
  • Building a Clinical Practice 
  • Becoming an Educator 
  • Strategic Service 
  • Mentorship 
  • Promotion Planning 

Optional Modules 

  • Building Teams and Culture
  • Scholarly Work 
  • 2022-23 Inaugural Launch Team Pairing-Designated Folders- A pairing designated folder was created at the beginning of the program to make it easier for each mentorship pairing to organize and store files.  
    Access 2022-23 Inaugural Launch Team Pairing-Designated Folders
  • Mentee Action Plan - To determine activities that ensure mentoring goals are met; a mentee action plan is a must. The mentee will complete the plan with help from the mentor. 
    Access Mentees action plan
  • Mentorship Meeting Log - The mentee and mentor should record their meetings and activities to show progress achieved and assist with end-of-program feedback. 
    Access mentorship meeting logs
  • Evaluation - At the mid-point of the program and at the end, mentees and mentors will be asked to evaluate the program. Their input will help make any necessary adjustments to ensure the program remains effective. 
    Access evaluation form

Meet Our Launch Team Cohort for 2022-23

Learn more about the Early Career Launch Program inaugural Launch Team cohort members for 2022-23

Edward M Schaeffer, MD, PhD

Edward M Schaeffer

Chair, Department of Urology
Harold Binstein Professor of Urology
Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentor Edward M Schaeffer, MD, PhD.

Ziho Lee, MD

Ziho  Lee

Assistant Professor of Urology
Chief of the Division of Trauma and Reconstructive Urology

Learn more about mentee Ziho Lee, MD.

Robert E Brannigan, MD

Robert E Brannigan

Vice Chair of Clinical Urology
Chief of Male Reproductive Medicine & Men's Health
Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentor Robert Brannigan, MD.

Joshua A Halpern, MD, MS

Joshua A Halpern

Assistant Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentee Joshua Halpern, MD.

Nelson E Bennett, Jr., MD

 Nelson E Bennett, Jr.

Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentor Nelson E Bennett, Jr., MD.

Channa A Amarasekera, MD

Channa A Amarasekera

Assistant Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentee Channa A Amarasekera, MD.

Joshua J Meeks, MD, PhD

Joshua J Meeks

Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD Professor of Urology
Associate Professor of Urology and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

Learn more about mentor Joshua J Meeks, MD, PhD.

 

Hiten D Patel, MD

Hiten D Patel

Assistant Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentee Hitel D Patel, MD.

Shilajit D Kundu, MD

Shilajit D Kundu

Chief of Urologic Oncology in the Department of Urology
Janice Binstein Professor of Urology
Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentor Shilajit D Kundu, MD.

Amanda X Vo, MD

Amanda X Vo

Assistant Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentee Amanda X Vo, MD.

Earl Y Cheng, MD

Earl Y Cheng

Chief of Pediatric Urology in the Department of Urology
Founders’ Board Professor of Urology
Professor of Urology (Pediatric Urology)

Learn more about mentor Earl Y Cheng, MD

James T Rague, MD

Rague, James T | Lurie Children's

Assistant Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentee James T Rague, MD

Elizabeth B Yerkes, MD

Elizabeth B Yerkes

Professor of Urology (Pediatric Urology)

Learn more about mentor Elizabeth B Yerkes, MD

Catherine M Seager, MD

Seager, Catherine M., MD | Lurie Children's

Assistant Professor of Urology (Pediatric Urology)

Learn more about mentee Catherine M Seager, MD

 

Diana K Bowen, MD

Diana K Bowen

Assistant Professor of Urology

Learn more about mentee Diana K Bowen, MD

Faculty Resources

The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine offers numerous resources to assist faculty in pursuing the careers they want. Browse or search the programs, services and resources available to faculty.

 

 Leadership

Career Planning

  • Mentoring Toolbox - A collection of valuable tools on defining the mentoring relationship, setting goals and career progression.

Collaboration and Community

  • Faculty Profiles- Faculty can get to know colleagues, find collaborators and showcase their own career achievements by completing their own profile.
  • Northwestern Scholars - A searchable database of research expertise across all disciplines at Northwestern University.

Consultation and Services

  • Executive Coaching - Opportunities through Kellogg School of Management to help hone leadership skills, maintain accountability and drive results.

Degree Programs

  • Evening & Weekend MBA - A top-ranked, part-time MBA program through Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
  • Executive MBA - A Kellogg School of Management program that supports leaders in tackling problems and broadening their networks.
  • Healthcare at KelloggThis Kellogg School of Management program trains rising leaders in healthcare to also be excellent general managers.
  • Master of Science in Learning & Organizational Change - Teaches students how to best utilize the people on their teams to make positive organizational changes.

Governance/Committee Opportunities

  • Faculty Senate - Join the elected representative body supporting Feinberg School of Medicine faculty.
  • Medical Faculty Council The council provides faculty the opportunity to offer feedback and voice concerns to the medical school administration.
  • Women Faculty Organization - Hosts activities that promote women’s professional achievement, mentoring and networking.

Resources and Funding

Training, Workshops and Mentored Career Development

 Research

Career Planning

  • Mentoring Toolbox - A collection of valuable tools on defining the mentoring relationship, setting goals and career progression.

Collaboration and Community

  • Faculty Profiles - Faculty can get to know colleagues, find collaborators and showcase their own career achievements by completing their own profile.
  • Lewis Landsberg Research Day - An annual, campus-wide event to promote faculty and trainee development by sharing research and encouraging conversation among colleagues.
  • Northwestern Scholars - A searchable database of research expertise across all disciplines at Northwestern University.
  • University Research Institutes & Centers  - A full listing of all research-related centers throughout the university.

Consultation and Services

  • Biostatistics Collaboration Center - Provides Feinberg and Northwestern investigators with support in biostatistics, epidemiology, programming and data management.
  • IPHAM Communications Consultation - A member-only service that supports investigators in their communications strategies, social media us and dissemination of findings.
  • IPHAM Grant & Manuscript Support A member-only resource that offers scientific and technical consultations, editing services and writing assistance.
  • Metrics & Impact Core Provides expertise on bibliometrics, data visualization, continuous improvement, informations systems and alternative metrics.
  • NUCATS Research Navigator These advisers are available to direct investigators to resources that can help them throughout each step of their work.
  • Quantitative Data Sciences Core This core collaborates in three main areas: biostatistics, bioinformatics and clinical informatics.
  • Research Computing Services Provides computing resources and consulting services to support innovative research across campus.

Degree Programs

Inventions, Patents, Commercialization and Industry Partnerships

  • Corporate Relations - Connects Feinberg faculty to industry partners in all areas of biomedical research by sharing opportunities and resources.
  • Innovation & Entrepreneurship Portal - The university’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Portal provides a central location for courses, networking opportunities, workspaces and more.
  • Innovation & New Ventures Office - Supports an entrepreneurial culture at Northwestern by helping investigators commercialize their innovations.
  • Innovations Laboratory - Works with healthcare professionals to develop medical training devices for use in medical education and research.

Resources and Funding

  • Enterprise Data Warehouse - A single, comprehensive repository of all clinical and research data sources across campus.
  • Federal Funding Opportunities - Research Development’s curated lists of federal funding opportunities, pre-screened for Northwestern eligibility and expertise and categorized by research area; access weekly updates through the Pivot database or via the Insight newsletter.
  • Feinberg Research Office - Offers investigators information on funding opportunities, seed grants, social media support and more.
  • Foundation Relations - Connects Feinberg faculty to foundations and associations that fund biomedical research.
  • Northwestern University Office for Research - Supports best practices in ethical and safe research and manages research space and training facilities across campus.
  • NUCATS Resources - The Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute offers an array of support services for investigators at Northwestern University.
  • Research Cores - A full listing of instruments and services offered in centralized facilities across campus.
  • Starzl Academy - A comprehensive collection of Feinberg resources for physician-scientist training and those who are looking to jump-start careers in science.

Training, Workshops and Mentored Career Development

 Education

Career Planning

  • Mentoring Toolbox - A collection of valuable tools on defining the mentoring relationship, setting goals and career progression.

Collaboration and Community

  • Faculty Profiles - Faculty can get to know colleagues, find collaborators and showcase their own career achievements by completing their own profile.
  • Feinberg Academy of Medical Educators - Feinberg Academy of Medical Educators Block Change description The Feinberg Academy of Medical Educators (FAME) strives to develop faculty members to become more effective educators in all venues and to recognize outstanding educators at the Feinberg School of Medicine.
  • Northwestern Scholars - A searchable database of research expertise across all disciplines at Northwestern University.

Consultation and Services

  • Northwestern Simulation - Simulation-based education to improve healthcare providers’ cognitive, technical and professional skills</li

Degree Programs

Inventions, Patents, Commercialization and Industry Partnerships

  • Corporate Relations - Connects Feinberg faculty to industry partners in all areas of biomedical research by sharing opportunities and resources.
  • Innovation & New Ventures Office - Supports an entrepreneurial culture at Northwestern by helping investigators commercialize their innovations.
  • Innovations Laboratory - Works with healthcare professionals to develop medical training devices for use in medical education and research.

Resources and Funding

Teaching Opportunities

  • Teaching Opportunities - The MD Program’s collection of teaching opportunities sorted by schedules, skills and goals.

Training, Workshops and Mentored Career Development

  • AAMC Professional Development Resources - A broad list of opportunities that cater to the learning needs of academic medicine professionals in all career stages.
  • After-TIME Faculty Development Workshops - Monthly workshops, offered by FAME, covering a broad range of topics, including team-based learning, mentoring and simulation instructor trainin
  • Augusta Webster Fellowship - A mentored faculty fellowship in educational research, offered by FAME, that supports investigator-proposed, innovative projects in health professions education.
  • Learning Modules - Online learning modules, offered by FAME, designed to help faculty boost their skills as educators.
  • Medical Educator Certificate Program - A two-year, self-directed program, offered by FAME, meant to prepare clinical educators for excellence in teaching practice.
  • Searle Faculty Fellowship - Supports early-career faculty members who are expected to make significant, long-term contributions to the university.
  • TIME Lecture Series - A monthly lecture, offered by FAME, open to anyone with a passion for medical education; highlights advances in technology and emerging best practices.

 Clincian

Career Planning

  • Mentoring Toolbox - A collection of valuable tools on defining the mentoring relationship, setting goals and career progression.

Collaboration and Community

  • Faculty Profiles - Faculty can get to know colleagues, find collaborators and showcase their own career achievements by completing their own profile.
  • Northwestern Scholars - A searchable database of research expertise across all disciplines at Northwestern University.

Consultation and Services

  • Northwestern Simulation - Simulation-based education to improve healthcare providers’ cognitive, technical and professional skills.

Degree Programs

Inventions, Patents, Commercialization and Industry Partnerships

  • Innovation & Entrepreneurship Portal - The university’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Portal provides a central location for courses, networking opportunities, workspaces and more.

Training, Workshops and Mentored Career Development

  • Academy for Quality and Safety Improvement - A professional development program that aims to equip future leaders with the skills and tools to lead meaningful change.
  • NM Academy - Log in through a Northwestern Medicine network to access these training and development resources.
  • NM Performance Improvement - Log in through a Northwestern Medicine network to access these courses in process improvement and project and change management.
  • Office of Continuing Medical Education Promotes patient care and safety through accredited education activities based on up-to-date medical information.

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