Portraits of Persistence: Professional Development of Successful Directors of Clinical Education

Background and Purpose. Directors of clinical education (DCEs) are academic physical therapists who coordinate the clinical education component of the curriculum. Their work occurs in 2 contexts, clinical practice and academia. Often they do not stay long in the DCE position, which contributes to the shortage of physical therapist faculty. The purpose of this study was to explore the professional development of successful DCEs. Subjects. Six successful DCEs were identified through a process of peer nomination. Methods. Data were gathered using semistructured interviews and curriculum vitae review. Qualitative case studies were written for each participant. Cross-case analysis using constant comparative methods and a data matrix resulted in a model of DCEs' professional development. Results. The final model included 6 themes: (1) responding to unexpected events, (2) match in interests and skills, (3) excitement for facilitating growth, (4) networking with colleagues, (5) supportive environments, and (6) mindful practice. Discussion. Successful DCEs chose their position in response to unexpected events in their lives. They remained in the position because they were excited about learning and development and enjoyed being the bridge between academia and clinical practice. Administrative duties were among the least favorite aspects of their work. Participants had a web of formal and informal professional learning experiences; networking with colleagues was one of their most important learning methods. Supportive work environments enhanced their professional development which resulted in mindful practice. Conclusion. The results of this study can be used to facilitate professional development of DCEs. Academic administrators can select DCEs who are excited about learning and development and willing to meet the expectations of academic faculty. Administrators can facilitate the professional development of DCEs by assisting them to develop as scholars and providing support personnel to assist with administrative duties.