Caterpillar Faculty Scholars Fellowship
Introduction
The Caterpillar Faculty Scholars Fellowship is a 16-month-long faculty development program designed to enable early career clinical UICOMP faculty (those within the first seven years of initial faculty appointment) to pursue scholarship in education, research, leadership, and community program development, to take on greater leadership roles, and to become more effective teachers for successful and productive careers, academic medicine.
The first cohort of faculty scholars started in 2002. Funding for the program was made possible through an endowment from Caterpillar and the Illinois Health Education Consortium. Ten cohorts and 64 faculty graduates later, funds from the endowment continue to make the fellowship possible.
One of the primary goals of the fellowship is to prepare clinical faculty members for successful and productive careers in academic medicine.
The fellowship meets once a week on Tuesday afternoons with faculty participating in a series of workshops, seminars, and journal clubs to meet the curricular objectives and complete mandatory research and curriculum development projects.
At-a-Glance
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Length
16 months (September-December next year)
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Meetings
Tuesdays; lunch 12:30 p.m. (provided), workshop 1–3 p.m.
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Format
Active‑learning workshops & scholar reflections & scholars’ time/journal club
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Capstones (required)
- Research project (individual)
- Educational curriculum project (individual or group)
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Eligibility
Physician & non‑physician teaching faculty with a University appointment
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Graduation
≥ 75% attendance and both capstones submitted
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Support
Stipend for capstones and educational materials
Cat Scholars Fellowship Apply Now
Contacts
Dr. Wynn
Fellowship Director
Kelvin Wynn, MD
309-671-8335
kwynnmd@uic.edu
Rachel Probst
Fellowship Coordinator
Rachel Probst
309-671-8483
rprobst@uic.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Basics
What is the duration of the fellowship?
The Fellowship is a 16‑month program that begins in September and ends in December of the following year.
When are the sessions held?
Sessions meet on Tuesday afternoons. Lunch is provided by the Fellowship at 12:30 p.m., followed by 2‑hour active‑learning workshop sessions from 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Note: Tuesday sessions also include scholars’ educational reflections on the workshop and scholars’ time or a journal club component.
Is lunch provided?
Yes. Lunch at 12:30 p.m. is provided by the Fellowship before the workshop.
Eligibility and Application
Who is eligible to apply?
Physician and non‑physician teaching faculty with a University appointment are eligible to apply.
Do I need to be full‑time faculty?
No, but a University appointment is required. (If you’re unsure whether your appointment qualifies, please consult your department’s faculty affairs office.)
Program Expectations
What are the attendance requirements?
Scholars must maintain at least 75% attendance for the Tuesday sessions.
What are the capstone requirements?
There are two required capstone projects:
- Research project (individual)
- Educational curriculum project (individual or group)
What counts for graduation?
To graduate, scholars must (1) meet the 75% attendance requirement and (2) submit both capstone projects.
What happens if I miss a session?
You must still meet the 75% attendance threshold across the program. (If a conflict arises, talk with the fellowship director and coordinator early about your plan to remain in good standing.)
Learning Format
What is the format of the Tuesday workshops?
Interactive, active‑learning sessions (1–3 p.m.), often followed by scholars’ educational reflections and scholars’ time or a journal club to reinforce learning and application.
Will I be expected to reflect on the workshops?
Yes. Scholars are expected to engage in educational reflections tied to the workshop content.
Capstone Projects
What is the difference between the two capstones?
The Research Project is individual and focuses on a scholarly question.
The Educational Curriculum Project can be individual or group and focuses on designing/implementing an educational curriculum.
Can I collaborate on the curriculum project?
Yes. The curriculum project may be done individually or in a group.
Funding and Resources
Do scholars receive financial support?
Yes. Scholars receive a stipend that can be used for capstone projects and educational materials related to the Fellowship.
Are there restrictions on how the stipend can be used?
The stipend should support activities directly related to your capstones and educational materials for the Fellowship.
Completion and Recognition
What do I need to do to complete the Fellowship?
- Achieve ≥ 75% attendance at Tuesday sessions
- Submit the two capstone projects (individual research project; individual/group educational curriculum project)
When does the Fellowship end?
The program concludes in December of the year after your September start (i.e., after 16 months).