Faculty Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure

Initial Appointment

The Department chair and members of the Orthopaedic APT Committee determine your initial academic rank. In some instances, administrative review may delay the finalization of your formal appointment. During this interim period, you may begin your role as an Instructor until the review process is complete.

Commitment to Advancement

Duke University is deeply committed to supporting the academic growth and professional development of its faculty. Advancement in academic rank is a vital part of this commitment, typically occurring over a 4–6-year timeframe. Progression is based on sustained academic productivity and meaningful contributions to the university and broader scholarly community.

Given the diverse expertise within our department, a wide range of accomplishments may strengthen your case for promotion. These may include—but are not limited to—robust academic portfolios in research, teaching excellence, clinical innovation, leadership, and service.

To learn more, please review the general guidelines and expectations for advancement.

Preparing for Promotion

Once you believe you meet the criteria for promotion, please get in touch with the administrator of the Orthopaedic APT Committee. The promotion preparation process includes the following required documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) Template in Duke format | Scholars@Duke CV Builder Tool

2. Intellectual Development Statement (IDS): The IDS should provide a comprehensive overview of your academic contributions, trajectory, and future goals. It must not exceed five pages in length and should be followed by the required tabular summary. The document should be single-spaced and formatted in 12-point Times New Roman font.

3. Annotated Bibliography (AB)
   Instructions (View Example):
   - Include the full citation for each publication (PubMed format preferred, including PMID, PMCID, and DOI)
   - List all authors (do not use “et al.”)
   - Highlight your name in bold
   
   Number of Publications in the Annotated Bibliography to List by Rank
   Associate Professor (Career Track) – 3 required (within 7 yrs. preferred) 
   Associate Professor, without tenure (Tenure Track) – 5 (all within 7 yrs.) 
   Associate Professor, with tenure – 10 required (all within 7 years)
   Professor (Career Track) – 10 required (within 7 yrs. preferred)
   Professor, with tenure – 20 required (all within 7 years)
   Provide a brief, 3-4 sentence description of the significant findings of each work and their significance  
   Include the number of times each work has been cited
   Do not list papers in preparation or submitted papers that have not been accepted for publication

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After submission, the Orthopaedic APT Committee will review your application. If approved, the committee will request letters of reference from internal and/or external reviewers, depending on the promotion track. This review and reference process typically takes 12 months.

Promotion Tracks

Primary promotion tracks at Duke include:

• Faculty Career Track – Upon initial hire, Clinical Sciences faculty at Duke are appointed at a rank determined jointly by the faculty member and the Department Chair, typically Medical Instructor or Assistant Professor, without a track assignment. The tenure clock begins upon appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher and runs for 10 years. Faculty may choose to pursue the Faculty Tenure Track—generally between years 4–6—if deemed potentially eligible for Tenure, with mutual agreement required for track assignment. Per University Bylaws, Tenure is automatically granted if no decision is communicated by the end of the tenure clock.

  Faculty on this track are expected to:
  - Demonstrate excellence in their primary domain of expertise.
  - Engage in scholarly activity.
  - Make substantive contributions in at least one additional domain.
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• Tenure Track – Designed for academic faculty, it is intended for clinical department faculty within the Duke University School of Medicine who hold advanced degrees such as MD, MD/PhD, DO, DO/PhD, MD/DVM, PhD/DVM, or PhD. This track is intended for those pursuing promotion based on unique and innovative contributions to science and medicine across a range of disciplines, including basic science, translational research, clinical research, health services research, and education. All scholarly work must be aspirational, innovative, and distinctive, with demonstrable impact beyond Duke.

  Promotion evaluation includes a broad spectrum of scholarship domains, such as: biological sciences, population health sciences, epidemiology, biostatistics, informatics, health services, quality and performance improvement, community engagement, pre-clinical and clinical trials, and educational research and methodologies.
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While there may be some overlap between tracks, faculty can request a track change with approval from the Department Chair.

• Career Track Promotions: Reviewed by the Orthopaedic Surgery APT Committee, then by the Medical Executive Committee (MEC), and finally shared with the Board of Trustees for information only.
• Tenure Track / With Tenure Promotions: Reviewed by the Orthopaedic Surgery APT Committee, then forwarded to the Clinical Sciences APT Committee (CSAPT), followed by the MEC, with final approval by the Board of Trustees.

Timeline and Expectations

Due to the involvement of multiple review bodies, the promotion process may take 12 to 18 months or longer, depending on the need for revisions. We encourage faculty to begin preparing early and to reach out for guidance throughout the process.

Additional Resources

• Clinical Sciences APT for Faculty
• Duke University Faculty Handbook
  • Appendix E – APT Policy, Clinical Science Departments
• Faculty Ombudsman

Questions? 

Contact Cindy Sparrow.