4.2. Appointments in the Faculty of Medicine

Harvard Medical School

Section 4 Table of Contents

The details below represent the various titles in the Faculty of Medicine and the basic criteria, process, and term for each rank.

Ladder faculty refer to individuals at the rank of Instructor (for affiliates only), Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor (including Professor of Clinical X). Ladder faculty are eligible to be considered for promotion along the academic ladder until attaining the rank of Professor.

Non-ladder faculty refer to Lecturers (including Senior Lecturers), Professors in Residence, and Professors of the Practice.

In this section:

Full-time, Ladder

Title: Instructor (for affiliates only), Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor (including Professor of Clinical X)

More About Full-time, ladder

Level of effort: ≥ 4 days per week at HMS/HSDM and/or primary affiliates (Full-time faculty may spend one day/week working at an affiliate of an affiliate.)

Term: Professor: indefinite; Professor of Clinical X: five years; Associate Professor: five years; Assistant Professor: three years; Instructor: one year

Search required? Yes

Part-time, Ladder

Title: Instructor (for affiliates only), Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor, Part-time

More About Part-time, ladder

Level of effort: ≥ 1 day per week, but fewer than 4 days per week, at HMS/HSDM and/or primary affiliates

Term: Professor: five years; Associate Professor: five years; Assistant Professor: three years; Instructor: one year

Search required? Only for Professor, Part-time; other ranks do not require a search

Lecturer

Title: Lecturer or Lecturer, Part-time

More About Lecturer

Level of effort: May be from full-time to less than 1 day per week but at least 50 hours of teaching of Harvard learners per year

Term: One year unless appointed three-year Lecturer

Search required? No

Senior Lecturer

Title: Senior Lecturer or Senior Lecturer, Part- time

More About Senior Lecturer

Level of effort: May be from full-time to less than 1 day per week but at least 50 hours of teaching of Harvard learners per year

Eligibility: Academic contributions and reputation are consistent with the general criteria for a Professor appointment and/or has previously held an unmodified title as Professor at an outside institution

Term: One year unless appointed three-year Senior Lecturer

Search required? No

Professor in Residence

Title: Professor in Residence

More About Professor in Residence

Level of effort: ≥ 4 days per week at HMS/HSDM or primary affiliate (Full-time faculty may spend one day/week working at an affiliate of an affiliate)

Title: Professor in Residence

Eligibility: Has previously held appointment as Professor at outside institution; national reputation

Term: Five years and option for one renewal of the five- year term (subject to review)

Search required? No

Professor of the Practice

Title: Professor of the Practice

More About Professor of the Practice

Level of effort: May be full-time (≥ 4 days per week) or part-time (≥ 1 day per week, but fewer than 4 days per week) at HMS/HSDM or primary affiliate. (Full-time faculty may spend one day/week working at an affiliate of an affiliate).

Eligibility: Established national reputation in a health-related field outside of academia, e.g., from government, industry, or the non-profit sector

Term: Five years with option for unlimited renewal (subject to review)

Search required? No

Professor of Clinical X

Title: Professor of Clinical X (where “X” refers to the clinical department)

More About Professor of Clinical X

Level of effort: ≥ 4 days per week at HSDM or a primary affiliate of HMS (Full-time faculty may spend one day/week working at an affiliate of an affiliate).

Eligibility: >5 years as Associate Professor at HMS/HSDM

Term: Five years and option for unlimited renewal (subject to review)

Search required? N/A (external candidates ineligible)

Professor Emeritus/Emerita

Title: Professor, Professor of Clinical X, Professor in Residence, or Professor of the Practice Emeritus/Emerita

More About Professor Emeritus/ Emerita

Level of effort: Determined by Department Head

Eligibility: Professor, Full-Time, Professor of Clinical X, Professor in Residence, or Professor of the Practice, greater than age 60 with at least 5 years of active Harvard service and maintaining some limited role at Harvard

Term: Indefinite

Search required? N/A

Corresponding Member of the Faculty

Title: Corresponding Member of the Faculty

More About Corresponding Member of the Faculty

Level of effort: Determined by Department Head

Eligibility: Retiree, from a ladder appointment other than Professor, Full-Time, Professor of Clinical X, Professor in Residence, or Professor of the Practice; greater than age 60+ or older with at least 10 years continuous Harvard service and maintaining some limited role at Harvard

Term: One year, renewable by appointing department based on continued service to Harvard

Search required? N/A

Member of the Faculty

Title: Member of the Faculty

More About Member of the Faculty

Level of effort: Determined by Department Head

Term: One year, renewable for one year for a maximum of two years

Search required? Yes, for Full-Time

Last updated June 2025