ARCHES is a career development program for historically excluded research faculty that was built recognizing that diversity is critical to institutional success and scientific progress, and that representative role models positively impact junior faculty and trainees. It is well known that efforts to recruit and retain historically excluded (HEx) faculty have been plagued by longstanding challenges. Only 10% of academic medicine faculty nation-wide are Latinx, Black, or Indigenous; and these racial/ethnic minorities in academic healthcare are less likely to be promoted or advanced to leadership roles than people who are White or men respectively. Retaining women and other HEx faculty in academic healthcare is particularly challenging given implicit biases uniquely faced by HEx scientists.

The overarching goal of this program is to support and retain current research faculty who come from HEx backgrounds, both professionally and personally. We want to help them become scientific leaders in their fields and partners in driving systemic policy change that promotes a culture of inclusive excellence. While we want all HEx faculty to thrive, our first year is focused on the needs of UCSF URM faculty.

To accomplish this goal, we have developed a new Career Development Program aimed at providing specific activities to support the advancement of HEx research faculty.

Program Components

ARCHES is a UCSF-wide program focused on supporting and advancing the career development of historically excluded research faculty. This program is comprised of the following programs and activities:

  1. Career Development Programs
    1. Early-Career
      1. Early-Career Seminar Series: This quarterly seminar series for URM excluded faculty will include information about advancement, research funding sources, and mentorship. This activity is for URM Assistant Professors in the Ladder Rank, In Residence, Clinical X, and Adjunct research tracks.
    2. Mid-Career
      1. Mid-Career Faculty Peer Mentorship Series: A quarterly community building and peer-led networking series will be co-created with URM mid-career faculty to include open discussion about leadership, research funding, and advocacy. This activity is for Associate Professors who are URM, in the Ladder Rank, In Residence, Clinical X, and Adjunct research tracks.
      2. Mid-Career Faculty Development Program: A robust two-year program for three historically excluded research faculty across UCSF who are outstanding mentors. This program includes $75K per year, mentorship, sponsorship, and networking activities. This program is for URM and women Associate (or early full) Professors in the Ladder Rank, In Residence, and Clinical X research tracks.
  2. Community Building: Our goal is to encourage community building among UCSF URM research faculty. Anyone—regardless of series—interested in research is welcome to join. We will hold an annual convention of all groups to make requests of administration. This activity is for all URM research faculty in the Ladder Rank, In Residence, Clinical X, and Adjunct research tracks.
  3. Changemaker Grant Program: One grant (amount TBD) will be awarded to mid-career faculty annually to partner with an executive leader on a project targeting structural issues that are barriers for inclusivity at UCSF. These grants must be targeting priority areas for the institution. This will be matched funds with the Anti-Racism in Research Initiative. This program is for all URM Research Faculty.