An Inside Perspective on Faculty Development

When Dr. Elizabeth T. Rosolowsky began her role as Associate Dean, Faculty Development, in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry on December 1, 2025, she saw an opportunity to support faculty members not only as individuals, but as people working within complex systems. A pediatric endocrinologist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Dr. Rosolowsky describes the role as a chance to engage with colleagues through the professional journeys that matter most to them, while also thinking about faculty development from a broader systems perspective.

She sees the Office of Faculty Development as a hub connected to many spokes: departments, programs, resources, supports and individual faculty members. That image reflects both the practical and relational nature of the work. Faculty development is not a single workshop or one-time activity; it is a network of support that can help people grow in teaching, research, leadership, mentorship, career progression and professional practice.

An equity-oriented mindset is central to Dr. Rosolowsky's approach. She is interested in the larger ecosystem that shapes whether faculty members can flourish in their roles and responsibilities. Faculty members work within divisions, programs, departments, the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, the University of Alberta and clinical or academic environments, and those settings affect how easy it is to access development opportunities. Dr. Rosolowsky has noticed variability in access based on where people work, and one of the questions guiding her is how the Office of Faculty Development can help create greater equity of opportunity across the Faculty.

That system's view is especially important as faculty members navigate increasingly full and complex professional lives. Many faculty members want to participate in workshops, courses and professional development opportunities, but finding the time can be difficult.

Dr. Rosolowsky believes faculty development needs to happen in the places and spaces where faculty already work. Rather than treating it as something added on top of everything else, the Office can help embed development into day-to-day academic, clinical and leadership environments.

This approach is grounded in how adults learn. Experiential and socially based learning can be especially effective for changing attitudes and behaviours, and faculty development can create those opportunities through connection, shared problem-solving and practical application. Dr. Rosolowsky points to leadership development as one tangible way the Office can support faculty members. Even people without a formal leadership title can benefit from thinking like leaders, including building psychologically safe work environments, managing change and supporting effective teams. In a volatile and complex environment, she also sees connection itself as a form of support: faculty development can help people know they are not alone.

The Department of Pediatrics faculty may be surprised by the range of opportunities already available through the Office of Faculty Development. Last year alone, more than 30 workshops were offered across themes including Teaching Effectiveness, Research Effectiveness, Career Development and Leadership. Faculty members can also access one-on-one mentoring through the tenure and promotion process, including support with personal statements and dossier development, as well as peer review of teaching. Dr. Rosolowsky also highlights Shana Ross, MBA, a Faculty Development consultant whose background brings a valuable complementary perspective to professional development.

Looking ahead, the summer will include two Faculty Annual Report (FAR) question-and-answer sessions with Dr. Rosolowsky, Vijay Daniels and Kris Benson on July 22 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and August 10 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. These sessions are intended for faculty members who have already accessed the FAR site and have specific questions about where or how to report their activities. In early fall, dates still to be released, Dr. Rosolowsky will also host a Tenure and Promotion workshop for assistant and/or pre-tenured professors.

At the heart of the work is a simple invitation: faculty development should be useful, accessible and responsive to the people it serves. Dr. Rosolowsky encourages faculty members to reach out with ideas, noting that several initiatives have emerged from faculty suggestions. For the Department of Pediatrics, that means the Office of Faculty Development is not only a resource to know about, but a partner in building a culture where faculty members can grow, lead, connect and flourish.

Faculty members can also explore Office of Faculty Development offerings at https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/resources/faculty-and-staff/faculty-development/index.html.