ASCO’s Future Faculty Program

ASCO’s Future Faculty Program

Planning has begun and applications are being accepted for ASCO’s fifth biennial Future Faculty Program. The program has been reformatted and will be held on an annual, year-long basis. The newly formatted virtual program will run from lectures from January 2022 – June 2022 and mentoring sessions from January 2022 – December 2022.

ASCO wishes to include residents and graduate students from the schools and colleges of optometry to participate in the program, which is co-chaired by Drs. Mika Moy and Jeff Walline. The goal of the program is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their interest in and success as career-long, productive faculty members. The new virtual format will include asynchronous learning, as well as small group discussions. This program is geared toward individuals who have an OD degree or are earning a PhD.

Topics included in the sessions include a description of academic jobs, preparing a curriculum vitae and what to expect in an interview, giving effective presentations, effective teaching and assessment, promotion criteria, working in research, and breaking bad news students, and work-life balance. In all, participants will better understand the benefits of academia and how to negotiate the process from day one. Students will also be paired with mentors who will provide formal and informal advice and encouragement along the way.

The Future Faculty Program is an ASCO initiative aimed at addressing the strategic objective of faculty promotion and development. Program participants will meet with assigned faculty/mentors and attend sessions covering areas in teaching and learning, scholarship, and academic culture.

Interested resident and graduate students may apply for the program from August 1 – November 15, 2021. The early-bird registration fee is $25 for each participant from ASCOs active member institutions, $35 for associate member participants, and $45 until September 30. The registration fees begin at $50 on October 1. All applications must be approved by the dean/president of the applicant’s institution before submission to ASCO. Those accepted into the program must commit to participating in a monthly asynchronous webinar, monthly synchronous Q&A sessions (the 15th of each month from January-June 2022), mentoring group meetings, and completing pre-and-post-FFP assignments. For more information, e-mail LaShawn Sidbury, CMP, CAE, Director of Meetings and Special Interest Groups, or call her (301) 231-5944 ext. 3.