Initiative of the Council of Academic Societies. Redefining scholarship in academic radiology

Teacher or educational scholar? they aren't the same

As a result of dramatic changes in the health care environment, the importance of the teaching mission to the future of radiology is gaining greater recognition. A new breed of "clinician educators" has a presence in most academic radiology departments. A clear understanding of the differences between teaching and educational scholarship is necessary for the purpose of defining the role of the clinician educator. For teaching to be considered scholarship, it must be public, susceptible to critical review, and accessible for exchange and use by other scholars; unless teaching has all three of these characteristics, it cannot be considered scholarship. Medical schools can improve the retention of their best teachers by defining tracks and criteria for rewarding teaching efforts. Universities, medical schools, academic medical centers, and professional organizations are vital components of the infrastructure needed to promote educational scholarship. They provide a community of education scholars who share, collaborate, and exchange work and promote the science of education.