When a Department Head or other administrative leader who holds an endowed professorship reduces effort in an administrative or leadership role, but continues their faculty appointment, the faculty member may retain the endowed title or transition to “Distinguished” status. This decision is made in consultation with the appointing Department Head and/or hospital CEO/President and may be governed by the terms of the professorship (i.e., the professorship may only be available to the individual holding the administrative role). Endowed distinguished appointees typically no longer receive financial resources from the professorship unless agreed to by arrangement with departmental or institutional leadership. Once an incumbent has transitioned to “Distinguished” status, the Department Head or CEO/President may nominate a new incumbent.
A named title is modified by adding “Distinguished” immediately prior to the word Professor when an incumbent transitions to “Distinguished” status. In a fictitious example, the Gray Professor of Radiology would become the Gray Distinguished Professor of Radiology.
Process:
Step 1: Department Head or CEO/President requests transition to Distinguished status
Materials should be submitted electronically to the OFA at: endowedprof@hms.harvard.edu
- Letter to the Dean requesting the transition to Distinguished status. The nominating letter should be separate from the letter for the next incumbent when the transitions occur simultaneously
- Written acknowledgment from the faculty member that they are aware of the intended change in status
Step 2: Dean makes a recommendation to the University
- OFA reviews the submitted materials
- OFA submits the Dean’s recommendation to the University
- No decision is final until the University review is complete
Step 3: University renders a decision
- The University reviews the proposed appointment
- A final decision is communicated to the Dean’s office and the OFA
Step 4: Notification of approval
- OFA informs the Department Head and/or CEO/President of the outcome via email
- Formal letter from the Dean is sent directly to candidate
- Formal letter is sent from the University directly to candidate
Last updated June 2023