Development of a one-year academic fellowship in a skills lab environment

To help fill the shortage of pharmacy faculty members, more first-time faculty are being hired directly out of residency programs, with little specialized training in academia. Fellowships focused specifically in the area of academia may be useful in developing well-rounded, better-prepared new faculty members. These academic fellowships build on the foundation already established by previous work experiences, including prior residencies, by immersing the fellow in an academic-rich setting full of learning opportunities. Such programs could help supply pharmacy schools and colleges with qualified individuals to fill current and future vacancies. This paper describes the development of an academic fellowship in a skills lab environment and the perspectives of key players involved in the fellowship.