# Designing an Inclusive Onboarding Program for Academic Ambulatory Care Faculty

## TL;DR

This paper outlines a practical onboarding program for new physicians in academic medical centers to support their clinical, educational, and research roles.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a structured onboarding model tailored for academic physicians, emphasizing community, efficiency, and inclusivity.

## Key findings

- A well-designed onboarding program can enhance physician wellness and early clinical efficiency.
- Inclusive onboarding fosters collaboration and a sense of belonging among new faculty.
- The model is adaptable for use in academic departments with diverse geographic locations.

## Abstract

Academic medical centers are unique healthcare institutions that have a threefold mission of patient care, education, and research. Successful onboarding of new physicians to these institutions requires not only training specific to their roles as clinicians but also additional guidance to navigate the complexities of an academic medical practice as well as teaching and scholarly activities. As more attention is being paid to physician wellness, the onboarding of new physicians should also aim to instill a sense of community and camaraderie, provide practical guidance to ensure the early adoption of efficient clinical practices, and mentor them through the challenges of building a practice. Furthermore, the early establishment of a culture of community engagement and inclusive excellence fosters a sense of belonging that can result in enhanced collaboration, creativity, and, ultimately, organizational success. We present a practical guide for creating a physician onboarding program modeled for an internal medicine department within an academic medical center with broad geographic practice locations, including primary and specialty care.