Academic Appointments
Information about obtaining an academic appointment with the Department of Family Medicine
We are pleased that you are interested in obtaining an Academic Appointment with the Department of Family Medicine. This page features information about the joys of teaching, the opportunities available, and the steps involved in obtaining an academic appointment.
If you have any questions, please contact us by email at dfmappointments@ucalgary.ca.
Academic Appointment Application Requirements
Please send the following items to dfmappointments@ucalgary.ca begin the process of obtaining your academic appointment. Your appointment will not be processed until all required information is sent.
Academic Appointment Application Form
Download and complete the information in the Application Form and send to dfmappointments@ucalgary.ca.
Academic Personal Info Form
UCalgary HR requires this information to process your appointment. Download and send to dfmappointments@ucalgary.ca.
Current CV
Please include an updated CV with your information package. We recommend that you follow a Standard CV Template.
Information for 3 References
Provide names and contact information (email and phone number) for three (3) referees. We will send a reference form to them directly.
Academic Appointments - Frequently Asked Questions
- Ties you into the Faculty Code of Conduct and how learners behave – gives you access to resources if required.
- Gives you a voice in the Faculty Council.
- It is an accreditation requirement from the College of Family Physicians of Canada
- To officially grade/access a learner.
- Recognition
- Getting our “numbers” right – the more accurate our numbers of teachers are the more effective we can advocate for Family Medicine.
The rank is your title within the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. Your rank is selected based on your teaching experience/history. Our Appointments and Promotions Committee will select the rank that is most suited to your teaching history. The ranks commonly issued are Clinical Lecturer (starting rank) and Clinical Assistant Professor (more experience). You are not tied to this rank forever. After you have gained more experience teaching, you can apply for a promotion if you wish. Our Appointments and Promotions Committee can assist you. See this Criteria for Appointment, Promotion and Assessment of Clinical, Adjunct and Adjunct/Research Faculty document for more information.
Once all paperwork for your application has been received, the files are then reviewed by the Academic Department Head for Family Medicine (ADH). The ADH will then, recommend the rank you will be given. Your letter of appointment is developed and sent out for signatures. After the letter has been signed by the necessary parties, it is then sent to you for signature and return. Overall, this process can take from 2 - 3 months.
The biggest delay is caused by missing paperwork, most often reference letters. Your file can not be reviewed until all paperwork has been received: this includes your curriculum vitae, academic appointment application, academic staff personal Information form, and three letters of reference. Other delays are often caused by incomplete or insufficient information submitted. It is important to include as much detail as possible with respect to your teaching history, for example how long you have been teaching, frequency, titles of courses, number of learners in your clinic. It is also important to ensure you return your signed letter of appointment in a timely fashion.
The first thing to do is see if you have an appointment in your specialty department. If you do not, let us know and we can assist you in applying for an academic appointment in that department or family medicine.
You do not need an appointment in family medicine, but it is recommended. If you already have an appointment in another department, just let us know. With agreement of the Department Head, we can offer you a joint appointment in family medicine.
It is a requirement of UCalgary that all physicians who teach learners have an academic appointment. Having an academic appointment does not obligate you to teach any more than you currently are.
Benefits of Teaching
The word doctor is derived from the Latin word docere meaning ''to teach''. Physicians are constantly challenged to stay on top of best practice in the care for our patients and to keep up with the ever increasing medical knowledge and skills we need to practice. You also may get requests to teach, have observers in your practice, or supervise medical students, residents or other learns. Family medicine requires lifelong learning and one of the most effective ways to learn is to teach!