SABBATICAL is derived from the Hebrew word sabat, meaning rest, and is defined as "a plan for providing... an opportunity for self-improvement through a leave of absence with full or partial compensation, following a designated number of years of consecutive service." Sabbatical leave is a tradition in academia dating to the 1880's.1 Providing a variety of dividends to educator and institution, a sabbatical offers the opportunities to be among colleagues in other educational environments, to concentrate on an area of interest without distraction, to learn new educational and clinical techniques, and to achieve intellectual and professional renewal.2-4
Given the many positive aspects of a sabbatical, it is surprising how few faculty take advantage of this opportunity. A recent survey5 of 19 medical schools revealed that the proportions of their faculty that took sabbaticals within one year of eligibility ranged from 2% to 16%. Of those eligible faculty who