Providing Effective Career Guidance and Addressing Learner Concerns with Donna J. Adams, EdD

On this week's episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, Donna J. Adams, EdD, discusses the noticeable rise in learner concerns over the past five years. Now that we are more than half a decade removed from the peak of the pandemic, managing these issues has become a top priority. With UTMB in Galveston, Texas, Dr. Adams serves as Program Director, Translational Research Education, in the Institute for Translational Sciences Office of Educational Programs. We're excited to welcome Dr. Adams for her first appearance on the show as we explore how faculty leadership can actively step in and help address these challenges. "I always tell students you need to look long term. You need to think about what skills can I pick up now that could be transferable to a postdoc to get into where I really want to go? Sometimes you have to play the long game instead of the short game," Dr. Adams said. Learning about unexpected career paths, opening new doors, and playing the "long game" (since some of the skills you gain will stay with you throughout your career) are all explored in this episode through the lens of Dr. Adams's robust experience. Transferable skills, a sense of curiosity, and relationship building are also covered. As the discussion wraps up, Dr. Adams also addresses getting comfortable with change, one of the few constants in academia, and why providing psychological safety is essential.