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