Three academicians (Paul J. Friedman, Gail H. Cassell, Richard A. Cooper) discuss tenure in academic medicine. Friedman explains and defends the current system; Cassell argues that negative perceptions about tenured faculty are not supported by research but that better evaluation criteria are needed; and Cooper proposes that the purposes for…

The history of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1986 is reviewed, and planning/management issues for medical colleges facing the end of mandatory age-based faculty retirement are examined. Early planning to improve faculty evaluation and development, clarify financial guarantees of tenure, review space utilization, and make retirement…

Case studies of 10 medical schools identified innovative mechanisms of faculty governance and management to enlist faculty in meeting demands of a competitive marketplace, including appointment letters explicitly specifying roles and responsibilities; annual, objective, performance reviews; salary tied to performance; lengthened pretenure period;…