Faculty Affairs and Development
Supporting health sciences faculty at every career stage
Welcome from Sylk Sotto
Welcome to the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development, part of the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Whether you're just joining us or have been part of our community for years, we're here to support you—in your growth as an educator, clinician, researcher or leader and in building a career that feels sustainable and rewarding.
We invite you to explore the programs, resources and community available to faculty across all six schools of the health sciences. From professional development opportunities to guidance on navigating your career at Pitt, we hope you'll find something here that meets you where you are.
Contact
Sylk Sotto, EdD, MBA, MPS
facultyhsc@pitt.edu
View Profile
Office of Faculty Affairs and Development, Health Sciences
facultyhsc@pitt.edu
About
Sylk Sotto, associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs, health sciences, leads the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development. The office's work centers on strategy and stewardship, professional development, leadership cultivation and organizational culture, with a sustained focus on identifying and working from a framework of advocacy, equity and trust helping to shape faculty careers.
We collaborate with school-level leaders, associate deans and University offices—including the Offices of the Provost, the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, and the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement and Leadership Development—to design and implement evidence-informed practices. These partnerships strengthen faculty recruitment and retention, support promotion and tenure, and create the organizational conditions necessary for transformative scholarship, education and clinical care.
What we offer
Guidance for faculty affairs and governance
Policies and procedures, promotion and tenure guidance, grievance and mediation and standing committee oversight across all six schools
Professional development
Evidence-informed programs that cultivate skills in leadership, scholarship, mentoring, teaching and career advancement—tailored to career stage and pathway
Institutional excellence and equity
Examining structures, reporting lines and practices to reduce inequities; building environments where faculty of all backgrounds can belong and succeed
Organizational culture and well-being
Initiatives that sustain a thriving campus climate—supporting work-life integration, psychological safety and a culture of belonging
Leadership development
Engaging leaders across all six schools to build capacity, community and shared practices—from early career to senior administration
Individualized coaching and career planning
Providing one-on-one coaching and personalized career planning support to help faculty clarify goals, navigate transitions and advance along their chosen pathway—whether in clinical practice, research, education or academic leadership
Access to University-wide resources
Connecting health sciences faculty to Pitt's broad ecosystem of professional development, well-being and scholarly resources, including Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, NCFDD, Center for Mentoring, University Center for Teaching and Learning, and Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing
Health sciences development resources
We work in close collaboration with a robust network of faculty-focused offices and resources across the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences. Partners like the Institute for Clinical Research Education and the Office of Academic Career Development provide specialized programming in research training, career development and leadership—extending and deepening the support available to health sciences faculty at every stage.
Each of our six schools—medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, dental medicine, and health and rehabilitation sciences—also maintains its own faculty affairs and development office, staffed by dedicated associate deans and administrators who provide school-specific guidance on promotion and tenure, professional development, mentoring and faculty recognition. Together, this network ensures that every health sciences faculty member has access to both University-wide resources and the tailored, school-level support that reflects the distinctive missions and career pathways of their discipline.