How to recruit, retain, and reap the rewards of working with PhD/EdD educators in surgery.

Background: PhD and EdD educators in departments of surgery have and are increasingly becoming valuable colleagues. Professional educators typically assist chairpersons and program directors by positively impacting the education, research, and service missions.
Objective: The purpose of this article is 3-fold: (1) to identify ways of finding prospective PhD/EdD educators, (2) to recognize ways to work with educators in a complimentary way so the educator and directors mutually benefit, and (3) to identify various ways departments and programs can benefit from employing a professional educator.
(Copyright © 2012 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)