#  Part 1: Welcome 

 



##  Welcome to the Faculty of Medicine 

 Part 1 

Before you dive into teaching, research, or your first committee meeting, take a moment to understand the community you've joined. This is context you'll read once — mission, values, and the offices that support you.



 

 

 

       ![gordon hall on the hms quad](/sites/g/files/omnuum4521/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/2024-12/0034_GordonHall_034_0.JPG?itok=ytqgCn9H) 

 

 



 

 



 

The Faculty of Medicine encompasses both Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. You can read about our [**mission and community values**](https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/mission-community-values) and the [**Strategic Plan**](https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/strategic-plan-2025) that shapes where we're headed. All the rules relevant to academic appointments live in the [**Faculty of Medicine Handbook**](https://facultyhandbook.hms.harvard.edu/), and you can see who makes up our community in the [**faculty demographics**](https://fa.hms.harvard.edu/faculty-demographics). Every community has its own shorthand — our [**glossary**](https://fa.hms.harvard.edu/checklists-forms-guides-and-templates/#glossary) covers the abbreviations you'll encounter.



 

##  Academic leadership & key offices 

 



  [### Office for Faculty Affairs

 ](https://fa.hms.harvard.edu/)OFA

Appointments, promotions, career development, and retirement.

[Meet the OFA team →](https://fa.hms.harvard.edu/ofa-email-directory)



 

  [### Office for Clinical and Academic Affairs

 ](https://hms.harvard.edu/departments/office-clinical-academic-affairs)OCAA

HMS-affiliate agreements, clinical department reviews, and Foundation Funds.

[Explore Foundation Funds →](https://hms.harvard.edu/departments/office-academic-clinical-affairs/hms-foundation-funds)



 

  [### Office for Academic and Research Integrity

 ](https://ari.hms.harvard.edu/)OARI

Assuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and ethical standards.

[Review integrity policies →](https://ari.hms.harvard.edu/)



 

  [### Office for Culture and Community Engagement

 ](https://occe.hms.harvard.edu/)OCCE

Equity initiatives, pipeline programs, and community engagement.

[Explore programs →](https://occe.hms.harvard.edu/programs)



 

  [### Harvard Catalyst

 ](https://catalyst.harvard.edu/)Catalyst

Research funding, training, and resources across Harvard's clinical and translational community.

[Explore Catalyst resources →](https://catalyst.harvard.edu/support/)



 

  [### HMS Leadership

 ](https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/leadership)Directory

The deans, department heads, and administrative leaders across HMS and HSDM.

[View the full HMS leadership directory →](https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/leadership)



 

  

 

 

 

 [ View the full HMS leadership directory → arrow\_circle\_right ](https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/leadership)