Faculty Career Pathways

Mitra Aliabouzar, PhD working in the lab

Tracks for Your Career Success

Learn about your options for career tracks at the U-M Medical School, including clinical, research and tenure tracks.

Explore Faculty Career Tracks

Clinical Track

The Clinical Track began in 1986 and actively contributes to the clinical and teaching missions of the Medical School.

Tenure Track

The Tenure Track was the original full-time faculty track in the Medical School. Its focus is scholarly research, organizational service and health care.

Research Track

The Research Track began in 1974 and has two pathways; the Research Professor Track and the Research Scientist Track.

Other Faculty Appointments

Discover additional career pathways and appointments for faculty, such as joint appointments.

Career Roadmap
Office of Faculty Development Career Roadmap Programs

Starting with New Faculty Orientation on Day 1, faculty have the support of our programs, including an early career kickstart with Launch Committees (3 months - 2 years). We then offer promotion prep planning to guide faculty through promotion packet, educators portfolio and CV preparation. 

The APEX mid-career program (8 - 15 years) provides a symposium and an event series to review promotion packet best practices. Senior career (15+ years) offerings include themed sessions, direct to leadership development, and the Senior Career NEXT Phase program.

Programs to Advance Each Career Stage

We have developed programs tailored to assist faculty in advancing in each stage of their careers.
  • New Faculty Programs
  • Mid-Career & Senior Faculty Offerings
  • Emeritus & Retired Faculty Program
  • Regional Partner Programs

    • Upcoming Events

     See all events
    9 3 2026 9:30 am 9 3 2026 - 12:00 pm

    Postdoctoral to Research Faculty Orientation Program
    In-Person Event: This orientation introduces postdoctoral scholars to the research faculty pathway, with a focus on the Research Investigator position.
    9 8 2026 12:00 pm 9 8 2026 - 1:00 pm

    Research Faculty Seminar Series
    In-Person Event: Building Research Capacity through Undergraduate Engagement: The Center for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Inquiry and UROP as Partners in Discovery
    9 10 2026 10:00 am 9 10 2026 - 12:30 pm

    Research Investigator Welcome Orientation
    In-Person Event: This welcome orientation introduces newly appointed Research Investigators to the role, expectations, and key opportunities available.
    9 15 2026 9:00 am 9 15 2026 - 11:00 am

    Elevating Leadership in Medicine: Practical Tools for Faculty Success
    In-Person Event: This workshop is designed for physician faculty and healthcare leaders who want to enhance their leadership effectiveness.
    9 15 2026 12:00 pm 9 15 2026 - 1:30 pm

    AI Series: The Realities of Augmented Intelligence
    Virtual Event: This interactive seminar will engage participants in a critical exploration of the next frontier of computational thought.
    9 15 2026 1:00 pm 9 15 2026 - 3:00 pm

    Mentoring in Healthcare
    In-Person Event: This workshop is based on the book "Mentoring in Healthcare" by Drs. Ruth Gotian, Vineet Chopra, and Sanjay Saint.
    9 16 2026 12:00 pm 9 16 2026 - 1:00 pm

    Bridging the Hard Conversations
    Virtual Event: In this workshop, participants learn how to navigate high stakes, emotionally charged conversations with more confidence and clarity.
    person taking notes in front of a laptop
    9 22 2026 12:00 pm 9 22 2026 - 1:00 pm

    How Can I Reduce My Risk of Dementia?
    Virtual Event: This presentation will review current evidence regarding the life-course risk and protective factors for cognitive decline and dementia.
    doctor pointing to brain scans
    9 24 2026 12:00 pm 9 24 2026 - 1:00 pm

    Easing Your Clinical Burden: Creating Templates in MiChart for DAX Copilot
    Virtual Event: This session introduces participants to ambient documentation within Epic and explores how it can be integrated into everyday clinical workflows.