3.1.H. Duration of Appointments

All Clinician Educator appointments are for a term of years.  In accordance with Administrative Guide Memo 2.1.9.5, candidates are notified in writing of the planned fixed term end date.  

The usual duration of an appointment (subject to relatively rare exceptions granted by the Vice Dean for a good cause and on a case-by-case basis) for each rank is:

Rank Initial Appointment or Promotion  Reappointment
Clinical Instructor Up to 3 years

Up to 3 years (renewable, unlimited if less than 0.5 FTE)

Clinical Assistant Professor 5 years  6 years (renewable, unlimited number of 6-year terms)
Clinical Associate Professor 5 years

6 years (renewable, unlimited number of 6-year terms)

Clinical Professor 5 years

6 years (renewable, unlimited number of 6-year terms)

*Clinician Educators are not required to complete full term before being considered for promotion

1. Term Appointments

Although term appointments are frequently made with the clear possibility of reappointment or promotion, there is no entitlement to such action at the end of the term, and it is not automatic.  Instead, decisions on reappointment and promotion, like decisions on initial appointment, are subject to programmatic need and budgetary considerations, the satisfactory performance of the Clinician Educator as well as the exercise of professional and scholarly judgment and discretion by the School’s departmental faculty and the School’s academic leadership.

Promotion is not a requirement for continued affiliation; qualified candidates may generally be renewed at the same rank for an unlimited number of terms.  However, Clinician Educators are encouraged to take advantage of career development opportunities to meet the criteria for advancement.

Reappointment and promotion reviews are generally (but not always) initiated approximately six months in advance of the appointment end date so that a decision is reached before the Clinician Educator’s current appointment ends.  Extension of term appointments is discouraged.  In the event that an extension is necessary, it is expected to be of short duration and supported by a reasonable explanation.

2. Outreach Site Assignment

If a Clinician Educator is assigned to an outreach site of Stanford Health Care, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, or the School of Medicine and the Clinician Educator’s (a) assignment ends or (b) the contract with the outreach site terminates, the Clinician Educator’s employment, and therefore appointment, with Stanford terminates.

3. Administrative Role at Stanford Health Care or Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital

If a Clinician Educator is assigned to administrative duties at Stanford Health Care or Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (see, e.g., Section 3.2.E.2.c), such administrative duties are at will subject to the agreement of Stanford Health Care or Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital as applicable, and the School of Medicine.