Joy McCann Professorship Award

Purpose of Joy McCann Professorship

In 2004 the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School received an endowment from the Joy McCann Foundation to establish a Joy McCann Professorship for Women in Medicine. The purpose of the Professorship is to identify and reward female faculty who have demonstrated leadership in medical education, mentoring, research, patient care and community service. The explicit intent of the Joy McCann Foundation is that the stipend be used to encourage, inspire, and reward the recipient to promote the advancement of women.

Funds provided by the Professorship might be used to provide partial salary support to the awardee; to support participation in a leadership development program such as ELAM; to sponsor external speakers/workshops on campus; to co-sponsor events with the Women’s Faculty Committee; or to sponsor/support other programs that recognize and support female faculty.

Past Recipients

Term and Salary Stipend

The professorship is held for three years as outlined in the guidelines. The award is accompanied by a salary stipend of approximately $25,000 per year.  The stipend can be used as salary support or for other purposes, such as initiating or sponsoring a special project.

Criteria for the Joy McCann Professorship Award

• Female faculty with at least five-years’ service at UMass Chan or the UMass Memorial Health System;
• An effective mentor, advisor or role model for faculty, medical students or residents in teaching, research or clinical care;
• Demonstrated leadership at the local, regional/community, or national level;
• A clear and strong vision of how the Joy McCann Professorship will allow the nominee to promote the success of women medical students, residents, and faculty at UMass Chan.

Nominations Deadline

Nominations for the Joy McCann Professorship can be submitted to the Office of Faculty Affairs at faculty.affairs@umassmed.edu by a deadline published in the year it opens.  The Call for Nominations occur once every three (3) years. Please direct any questions to Dr. Mary Ahn, MD, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, at Mary.Ahn@umassmed.edu. 

Review Process

Nomination Information:

Nomination packages are submitted electronically to the Office of Faculty Affairs at faculty.affairs@umassmed.edu.  Packages must include:

• two letters of recommendation (one-page each) describing the nominee’s teaching, service, clinical care, mentoring and leadership skills that warrant consideration for this award.  One of the letters must be from the nominee’s Department Chair or Program Director;
• statement from nominee of their vision for the professorship (1-2 pages); and
• nominee’s current CV.

Review Process:

1. The Nominating Committee will review the submitted materials and identify 2-3 finalists for personal interview.
2. Selected finalists will be individually interviewed by the Nominating Committee.  Important components of the interview will include discussion of the candidate’s leadership and mentoring successes and assessment of each candidate’s vision for the Professorship.
3. The Nominating Committee will submit a final slate to the Provost.

Award Decision:

The Provost determines the Joy McCann Professor, based on the recommendations of the Nominating Committee.  The Joy McCann Professorship is awarded for a three-year term with the option to reapply for a second, three-year term.

Professorship Responsibilities

In addition to promoting the success of women faculty, residents and medical students, during her three-year tenure, the Joy McCann Professor will be expected to:

1. Become an active member of the Women’s Faculty Committee
2. Report annually on progress to the Women’s Faculty Committee
3. Report annually on progress to the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
4. Report annually on progress to the Joy McCann Professorship Program
5. Report annually all activities and expenditures to the Office of Affairs

Faculty Affairs Contact Information

• Email: Faculty.Affairs@umassmed.edu