Faculty development in general internal medicine. Perceptions concerning academic survival.

To understand the educational needs of faculty general internists in academic hospital environments, surveys of general internal medicine division chiefs, department of medicine chairmen, and members of the Society for Research and Education in Primary Care Internal Medicine were undertaken. Results indicated considerable interest in faculty development activities among all physicians sampled. Division chiefs and department chairmen viewed such activities as feasible, potentially effective, and were willing to assume considerable responsibility in providing educational opportunities to their faculty. Although some physicians viewed self-learning as a potentially effective educational method, the vast majority preferred learning in a small group taught by an expert. Specific content areas for faculty development were assessed, as were the skills thought to be essential for personal job satisfaction, academic promotion, and organizational effectiveness.