Identification of Competencies for Effective Dental Faculty

A faculty of sufficient size and possessing the appropriate skills is critical to dental education. Faculty shortages have been identified, but little has been written about the skills and abilities necessary for dental faculty to be effective. This project identified consensus lists of competencies in the areas of teaching and research. A panel of dental education experts used a web-based Delphi method to refine competency lists. The final lists of competency statements were organized into foundational competencies that applied to all areas and several areas of major competencies that were defined by supporting competencies. The panel rated the importance of each competency statement for each of three dental faculty categories: 1) clinical teachers, 2) clinical scholars, and 3) research-intensive scholars. The identification of a consensus list of competency statements for effective dental faculty will facilitate the development of programs for faculty to attain and maintain these competencies. ADEA could play a coordinating role in this faculty development effort.