A cultural shift within teaching hospitals is imperative to ensure that the US continues to have a sustainable, world-class healthcare workforce. The 2023 Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers Annual Meeting took this challenge head on and focused on reimagining graduate medical education (GME). Representatives across the GME spectrum, including residents, faculty, program directors, and hospital leaders, gathered to learn together and from one another.
Three themes emerged from this year’s conversations, exhibit hall interactions, breakout sessions, and keynote speakers.
1. Teaching and working with intergenerational teams requires new skill sets.
While millennials are approaching age 40 and joining the ranks of program faculty, generation Z physicians are entering residency training. Demographically the most diverse generation of Americans to date, these learners demand innovation in teaching methodologies and a cultural shift in approaches to well-being and engagement. Embracing technological advancements will be key to engaging learners and enhancing education programs. Similarly, teaching hospitals’ approach to resident well-being must reflect the expectations of younger generations, with a focus on work-life integration, community, aligned autonomy, and shared responsibility.
2. Fostering an inclusive training environment demands continued intentional focus.
Through the capstone presentations for AIAMC’s National Initiative VIII on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), participants described dedicated efforts, demonstrated impact, and showed there is still much work to do to create inclusive and equitable training environments across the country. Key focus areas include:
- Integrating JEDI into residency curricula.
- Ensuring a holistic review of applicants.
- Embracing alternative training approaches accounting for personality differences and learning-style preferences.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic will have lasting effects on the physician workforce pipeline.
In addition to presenters’ discussions on burnout and the Great Resignation within the physician workforce, the release of this year’s NRMP Match results was a top focus of conversation among conference participants. The sharp rise in unfilled emergency medicine PGY-1 positions despite the record number of physicians entering the Match will have a long-term impact on staffing in these critical areas if not addressed quickly.
Edited by: Matt Maslin
Published April 10, 2023