Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr. Faculty Fellowship Award

Award Summary and Description

There is a need for mentorship, and support for physicians interested in addressing gaps in mental health, especially junior and mid-career faculty in a community-based medical system, to not only lift them up and empower them, but to hear their voices and acknowledge their contributions. AADPRT will benefit from supporting a group of members to engage in the organization and increase pathways to leadership. 

Awardees

The Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr. Faculty Fellowship Award is named for Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr., an esteemed teacher, mentor, community and private practice psychiatrist, and leader in using technology to extend psychiatry’s reach.  Dr. Bell completed his undergraduate degree at Morehouse College and received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed psychiatry training at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and child psychiatry training at Emory University. 

Dr. Bell taught psychiatry and was training director at Morehouse School of Medicine before becoming the training director for psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). He continues to devote his time to teaching at UTHSC as an associate training director in psychiatry. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the Black Psychiatrists of America, the American Telemedicine Association, and the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training.

Dr. Bell is well known for his innovative use of teleconferencing to teach and practice psychiatry in 1984. In 1999, Dr. Bell began using telepsychiatry for counseling at the college level and later developed a statewide telepsychiatry treatment and emergency network at the University of Tennessee for students and residents. Dr. Bell extended his reach with the technology further using teleconferencing to teach healthcare professionals in Ethiopia.

The Bell Fellowship requires a proposal for an education innovation project (e.g., didactic curriculum/course/session, clinical experience/rotation, resident/faculty development, mentorship, career development, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, etc.). The selection process will evaluate the proposed project based on background and gap analysis, goals, approach/methodology, evaluation/outcomes, and dissemination plan. Awardees will be provided a $500 honorarium as well as coverage of travel and registration expenses for one AADPRT Annual Meeting. Additionally, they will be assigned to an AADPRT mentor with whom they will work throughout the year on their project and be encouraged to submit their work as a poster or workshop at the subsequent AADPRT Annual Meeting.  The awardee will also be invited to join and participate in the AADPRT J.E.D.I. (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Committee.

Nomination Guidelines

ELIGIBILITY
Winning institutions are not eligible to submit nominees for a two-year period (e.g. submitted in 2024 (won in 2025) is eligible to submit again in 2027).​​​​​​

The nominee must be:

• Junior or mid-career faculty (instructor or assistant professor rank) within an academic institution or equivalent status in a community-based medical system.

The institution:

• May submit only one (1) nomination per eligible year.
• Program directors and institutions of nominated faculty must be members in good standing with AADPRT (i.e., current institution and individual membership dues must be paid).

Nomination Process

J.E.D.I. Committee Chair Theadia Carey and Bell, Jr. Award Committee Chair Ulrick Vieux offer mentorship to anyone wanting to go through the submission process. Email Theadia and/or Ulrick.

Nomination must include:

1. Completed online form.  The online nomination system is open to Training Director Members only. 
2. The following documents uploaded as one PDF.
   1. Nomination letter from training director. (No more than 2 pages, single spaced, 12-point Arial font, 1-inch margins; references may  be on a separate page.)The letter should include:
      1. Assessment of the faculty member’s excellence in patient care, potential as a leader, and  excellence in teaching/education.
      2. Explanation of how this fellowship program can benefit the nominee.
      3. Approval to attend the upcoming AADPRT Annual Meeting.
      4. The program’s commitment to support the nominee in carrying out the proposed  education innovation project.
   2. Nominee’s Statement of Interest (No more than 1 page, single spaced, 12-point Arial font, 1-inch margins) outlining their academic, teaching and leadership achievements, career aspirations, and how the fellowship program and the education project will promote their professional growth. 
   3. Education innovation project proposal (No more than 2 pages, single spaced, 12-point Arial font, 1-inch margins; references may be on a separate page) that outlines:
      1. Title
      2. Background (including problem statement and local gap/needs analysis)
      3. Goals (that are feasible and address the local gap/need)
      4. Approach/Methodology (e.g., stakeholders, context/participants, innovation/pedagogy/content)
      5. Evaluation (including outcomes and measures)
      6. Dissemination Plan (e.g., poster, workshop, journal article)
      7. If project is new or in-progress
   4. Nominee's Curriculum Vitae

A confirmation email will be sent TO THE SUBMITTER ONLY (training director) when the complete electronic submission is received. If the training director does not receive confirmation within two business days, send an email to exec@aadprt.org. All requests for confirmation must be received before the deadline. Materials will not be accepted or considered after the deadline.

Selection Process

The Bell Fellowship Award Committee will select one awardee each year.
Nominations (of eligible nominees) will be evaluated in the following areas:

1. Excellence in patient care
2. Potential as leader, advocate, and role model
3. Excellence and interest in teaching/education
4. Quality of the Statement of Interest
5. Quality of the Education Innovation Project Proposal

As an educational organization, AADPRT gives preference to nominees with an interest in education.

Additional Information

Committee Membership
The Bell Fellowship Award Committee consists of seven AADPRT members representing various regions (including a rotating chair).

Rubric for Evaluating Nominees – each item: 5-point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree).  Maximum score 50 (up to 30 for project proposal)

• Patient Care -- Nominee has a strong record of excellence in patient care.
• Leadership -- Nominee has very strong potential as a leader.
• Teaching -- Nominee has demonstrated excellence and innovation in teaching.
• Statement of Interest -- Nominee clearly outlines their academic, teaching and leadership achievements, career aspirations, and how the fellowship program will promote their professional growth.
• Project Proposal (up to 30 points)

1. The background has a clear problem definition and local gap/needs analysis.
2. The goals are feasible and address the local gap/need.
3. The approach specifies the context/participants, involves appropriate stakeholders, and utilizes sound pedagogy and evidence-based content in its proposed intervention.
4. The evaluation plan defines relevant and feasible outcomes and measures.
5. The plan for dissemination is realistic and appropriate.
6. Overall, the project proposal is outstanding.

Submission Deadline: September 22, 11:59p CT

Submit Nomination