A strategic plan is essential to the growth, evolution, and continuous improvement of any successful academic department. A strategic planning process should be undertaken in conjunction with changes in departmental leadership and at least every 5 years to ensure faculty and staff stay engaged and focused on the department’s vision, commonly agreed-upon departmental goals, and the strategies to achieve the vision. The strategic plan should be comprehensive, should have clear performance metrics, and should be used as the foundation for communicating and achieving the vision and goals of the department. It is important that the departmental strategic plan serves as a living document. To accommodate new trends or changes in the department’s environment, it should be monitored, evaluated, and refined on at least an annual basis.