Dear GME Community,
Cindy Hamra Associate Dean, GME
First, a sincere welcome from the GME Office to the 500+ new residents and fellows who are joining UW School of Medicine to start their clinical training. GME hosted New Resident and Fellow Orientation on Wednesday to kick off the new academic year. The Huddle also featured an article about our new residents and fellows: Welcome 502 New Trainees.
We also want to wish our graduating residents and fellows the best as they move to the next stages of their careers.
June is Pride Month, when we celebrate the history, diversity and contributions of LGBTQIA people in the United States. For more about the history of Pride Month and what how UW Medicine does to honor and recognize the month (including digital assets and posters) please see the recent feature in The Huddle, as well as a spotlight on transgender voices from The Whole U.
The June 2023 edition of News & Notes has a lot of information about ongoing projects, new and updated policies, and pending events.
Thanks,
Cindy
Policies and Processes
- *New* GME Grant Funding Policy: The GME Office received feedback from our residents and fellows that late and/or conflicting information about grant funding availability and impacts has caused confusion and frustration. In response, we have developed a new Grant Funding Policy to centralize information and guidance that currently exists across multiple sources. We welcome your questions.
- The GME Office and GME Wellness are pleased to announce that as of July 1, 2023, the GME Wellness Service will be available to our non-ACGME fellows for those without faculty titles or with an existing counseling relationship. For those non-ACGME fellows with faculty titles (appointed as Acting Instructors), there are a number of support resources available via UWSOM Faculty Affairs. Please direct any questions to GME Director of Wellness, Dipti Chrastka.
- Learn More About Medical Regulation: The Federation of State Medical Boards has developed a series of educational modules to help medical students and residents learn about medical regulation before they begin their careers in medicine. The series includes:
- The GMEPAC application for academic year 2024-2025 (AY25) is open and information is posted to the new GMEPAC webpage. Any changes in rotations or expansions that result in an increase in training time at any site requires pre-approval through the GMEPAC process and confirmation of funding by the hospital(s). The GMEPAC process does not include VA FTE. The GMEPAC process was discussed at the April 2023 Lunch & Learn and the presentation slides and recording are available. GMEPAC applications for AY25 are due July 28, 2023. Please reach out to Cindy Hamra or Amanda Easton if you have questions about the process or would like to discuss VA funding.
- It is time for trainees to begin renewing their outside work activity requests for AY24. As a reminder, all requests for outside work must be reapproved each academic year. Please review the GME Outside Work webpage for the Moonlighting and Outside Work Policy and Outside Work Request Forms. Please email Angela James with any questions.
- Programs that have matched or extended an offer to a trainee who requires a disability accommodation, should reach out to the GME Office (Bre Smith) as soon as possible so that we can work with the Disability Services Office to support the program and trainee through the process.
- The AY24 GME Orientation webpage is now live! This webpage includes detailed information about important UW GME onboarding and orientation information. Additional pages with helpful information for trainees as they complete the onboarding process:
- The COVID-19 public health emergency is ending May 11, 2023. At the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency, CMS used emergency waiver authorities and various regulatory authorities to enable flexibilities so providers could rapidly respond to people impacted by COVID-19. Some of those flexibilities have been extended temporarily, some permanently, and some are ending on May 11. Please review resources on the UW Compliance COVID-19 Public Health Emergency page to answer questions you may have about changes impacting clinicians due to the end of the public health emergency.
- Please note the changes to University COVID-19 policies effective June 12th unless otherwise noted.
- The UW Medicine Bias Reporting Tool is for sharing incidents of bias including racism, sexism, ableism, discrimination of any form or other behaviors that do not reflect the prioritization of inclusion and equity expected in all areas of our community. Please feel free to share this flyer and postcard within your programs and workspaces.
- Additionally, the GME Concern Reporting tool is available to any members of the GME community to report concerns about the learning environment.
- Interpreter Services and the Office of Healthcare Equity have created an online guide dedicated to providing resources for accessing medical interpreters, tips for partnering with medical interpreters, reminders about laws and regulations and directions on what to do in emergencies. Please read more about Clear Communication: Every Patient, Every Time.
Program Information
- The GMEC has approved appointment of the following new program directors; ACGME appointments require Review Committee (RC) confirmation:
- Ania Lang, Allergy & Immunology (ACGME)
- Evelyn Hsu, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, (ACGME – Interim)
- The GMEC approved revisions to the following policies at the May meeting. All are posted on the Policies and Procedures page of the GME website.
- Grant Funding Policy (see above)
- Scheduling and Boarders Policy
- The ACGME has a weekly e-Communication. If you wish to receive it, email ACGMECommunications@acgme.org.
Events of Interest
- GME Lunch & Learns
- AY24 Lunch and Learn schedule now posted
- July 20: ADS Annual Update + Program Oversight
- GME Outreach Event for trainees at HMC on June 30th from 11am to 1 pm. We encourage trainees to stop by to say hello, meet our GME team members and take a packed lunch. Please look for an email closer to the event with specific room details.
- The Institute for Common Power in partnership and the University of Washington Department of Medicine will be holding their quarterly Diversity Lecture series on Tuesday, June 29th from 12:00pm PST to 1:00pm PST (3:00pm EST to 4:00pm EST). Please join for “The History and Future of Black Physicians in Medicine” with Dr. Walter Conwell, Morehouse School of Medicine. Learn more and RSVP.
- UW Medicine Center for Scholarship in Patient Care Quality and Safety has shared the following information about application deadlines for three key quality and safety training programs (apply via the Center website):
- June 30, 2023: QI Scholars Program: Competitive yearlong advanced training; designed for junior and mid-career faculty pursuing QI as a scholarly focus.
- June 30, 2023: GME Quality & Safety Foundations Course: Open to any UW Medicine GME program—helps meet ACGME requirements for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.
- August 3, 2023: Certificate Program in Quality and Safety: Designed for healthcare professionals and teams from all backgrounds. An outstanding development opportunity for your faculty and staff to mentor and execute QI projects.
- Other GME Events can be found on our calendar.
Projects and Resources
The GME Annual Program Timeline: Please review for important dates for June and July.- Based on feedback from our community, in AY23 the GME Office developed Total Compensation sample statements for trainees at the R1 and R4 levels, meant to reflect incoming residents and incoming fellows, respectively. The R1 & R4 Total Compensation sample statements have been updated for AY24. These resources are posted to the GME Prospective Residents and Fellows page under a Compensation section, which also includes a Comparable Total Compensation Table summarizing how UW total compensation compares with other West Coast Institutions.
- Residents & Fellows – We want to hear from you! We hope to learn more about your current engagement with the UW GME Community and to understand opportunities for further connection and communication among trainees. Please take a moment to complete this survey and share your ideas about current and future GME education and community engagement events and tools.
- Residents and fellows are eligible to apply for a Housestaff Emergency Loan through the GME Office. The purpose of the loan fund is to provide emergency financial assistance to residents and fellows. The total amount of this loan has been increased from $1000 to $2500. Please see the loan form for complete details. As a reminder, our GME Financial Management for Residents & Fellows webpage is a great resource for trainees who would like to learn more about their finances and options as they prepare for graduation and a high-paying career.
- Trainees are encouraged to subscribe to UW Medicine STAT|INFO ADVISORY which has been designed to disseminate official information via text message to keep the UW Medicine workforce informed during emergencies and situations that might disrupt normal operations.
- A new opt-in module, Prioritizing Ourselves When Fatigued is a 5 minute training intended as a brief reminder on the important issue of fatigue. Learning Gateway is happy to answer any questions about the module.
- Our new Leave of Absence webpage is now live on the GME website. Here you will find LOA planning information and resources along with an intake form to contact GME for leave planning assistance: Leave Planning Submission Form. This form can be completed by trainees or program leadership. The December 2022 Lunch & Learn on ‘Leave Policy and Guidelines’ provides an overview of both these new resources; please the recording and slides.
People
- GME Team Members received Wellbeing Grant Funding for the following projects:
- Therapeutic Lightboxes for Resident Well-Being Project (submitted by the GME Wellness Team): This project aims to improve resident wellness by equipping windowless work and team rooms at identified hospital sites with therapeutic lightboxes (10,000 lux). With Seattle’s long dark winters and limited hours of sunlight, light therapy can improve mood, combat fatigue, regulate sleep cycles, increase focus, and contribute to stress reduction and enhanced resident well-being. Thanks to Tara Reid, faculty, Infectious Diseases, for the suggestion!
- GME Staff Community Series (submitted by the GME Office Professional Development Group): This project aims to create opportunities for staff across GME’s diverse departments to come together, connect, and celebrate each other and the work we do. These events include outdoor celebrations, indoor arts, and more. Our goal is to continue building and maintaining the relationships that enrich our lives and help us to continue to improve our world-class support to our physician-learners.
- The EDItorial is a monthly Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Awareness Newsletter created by Internal Medicine residency program staff. Each month they highlight different marginalized groups with opportunities to engage, support, and participate on international, national, and local levels. The June newsletter highlights pride month and the LGBTQIA+ community. Read the EDItorial on the IM residency website.
- Emily Brown, Associate Program Director, Child Abuse Fellowship is featured in ‘Public Health Emergency ends – so does Medicaid automatic re-enrollment‘ from Northwest Asian Weekly.
- Daniel Cabrera, Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency, is co-author of “Everyone Deserves to Belong” in The Hospitalist.
- Jason Castaneda, R2, Internal Medicine, is quoted in “Insomnia Drug Class May Not Influence Exacerbation Risks in COPD Patients” in Sleep Review.
- Jason Castaneda, R2, Internal Medicine and Lucas Donovan, assistant professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) are quoted in “Mortality, exacerbation risk in patients with COPD not higher with insomnia hypnotics” in Healio Pulmonology.
- Tom Fitzpatrick, fellow, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is quoted in “Council rejects Davison’s push to prosecute drug possession and public use” from Real Change.
- The Curbsiders Internal Medicine podcast featured top pearls from the recent Society of General Internal Medicine annual meeting, including Barak Gaster, professor, General Internal Medicine, for “Dementia in Primary Care” and Rebecca Gold R2, Internal Medicine and Adelaide McClintock, assistant professor, General Internal Medicine for “Trauma-Informed Care.”
- Mary Geist, R1, Internal Medicine, is lead author and Jocelyn James, assistant professor (General Internal Medicine) is senior author of “Timing of hepatitis C treatment initiation and retention in office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine: a retrospective cohort study” in Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. Department of Medicine co-authors are Andrea Radick, Judith Tsui, and Nancy Connolly.
- Melissa Herrin, Chief Resident, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, recently published ‘Work, Service and Health: Lessons from Veterans in the Environmental Contaminants Clinic’ in the health policy section of in-House: The Agora for Medical Residents and Fellows. She describes her training experience at the VA Puget Sound and advocates for health benefits for veterans with exposure concerns.
- Christopher Hofstetter, Associate Program Director, Spine Surgery, is featured in “Ultra Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery” from The Huddle.
- Zaroug Jaleel, resident, Otolaryngology, is recipient of the 2023 AAO-HNSF Resident Research Award.
- Nicholas Johnson, Associate Program Director, Critical Care Medicine, is co-author of “Changing Severity and Epidemiology of Adults Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States After Introduction of COVID-19 Vaccines, March 2021-August 2022” in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
- Barbara Jung, Chair, Department of Medicine, is the current America Gastroenterological Association President. Read more about her role and how she is paving the way for women in gastroenterology.
- Vishesh Kapur, Program Director, Sleep Medicine, is quoted in “Wide Awake at Bedtime Despite Being *So* Sleepy Mid-Afternoon? Here’s What To Know About Catching a ‘Second Wind’ of Energy” from Well+Good.
- Hiba Khan, fellow, Medical Oncology, received a 2023 Young Investigator awards from the American Society of Clinical Oncology for “Dismantling Disparities in Access to Oral Novel Hormonal Therapies in Prostate Cancer–A Mixed-Methods Analysis from a Population, Systems, and Patient-Centered Lens.”
- Among people whose liver is failing, the perpetual shortage of donor organs inhibits expectations of a timely, life-saving transplant. New research suggests that these people who initially seek care at safety-net hospitals may face additional obstacles to being considered for transplant. A study of three safety-net hospitals showed that, among patients whose measures of liver health would typically result in a referral for transplant evaluation, only about one-fourth received the referral. The finding was published June 8 in JAMA Network Open. “Patients who receive care at these safety-net hospitals generally do not go to the other hospital unless they have a specific referral,” said Nicole Kim, a co-author on the paper and a liver transplant fellow at the University of Washington School of Medicine. “Patients who present at safety-net hospitals are often more likely to identify as indigent and underserved, uninsured, lower-income, racial-ethnic minority and-or homeless.” Read the full story from UW Medicine Newsroom.
- Somnath Mookherjee, Program Director, Academic Hospitalist Fellowship, is the recipient of the 2023 National Award for Scholarship in Medical Education from the Society of General Internal Medicine. He received the award for his extensive body of scholarly work related to clinical teaching and evidence-based physical exam that has impacted medical education across the spectrum from UME to GME to CME, and also his successful mentoring in educational scholarship and demonstration of educational leadership.
- Leo Morales, professor and Assistant Dean for UW School of Medicine, has been invited to serve as a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) subcommittee for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The goal of this subcommittee is to make recommendations to the NAC on AHRQ’s proposed long-term strategic planning for AHRQ’s Patient-Centered Outcomes Trust Fund (PCORTF) investments.
- Fernando Picazo, fellow, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, is a 2023 recipient of the Underrepresented Trainee Development Scholarship from the American Thoracic Society (ATS).
- Jeff Probstfield, professor, and Kelley Branch, Program Director, Cardiovascular Disease, are co-authors of “Global Variations in Heart Failure Etiology, Management, and Outcomes” in
- Paul Pottinger, Program Director, Infectious Diseases, is quoted in “Rabid bat found in E. WA. It was the first in 5 years in Tri-Cities-Walla Walla region” in the Tri-City Herald.
- Ganesh Raghu, Program Director, Interstitial Lung Disease, is senior author of “Lung parenchymal abnormalities and outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID 19 pneumonia: A positive message from a prospective hospital-based longitudinal study for future considerations” in Respiratory Medicine.
- Colbey Ricklefs, Resident, Family Medicine received the 2023 Mizzou Alumni Association – Young Alumni Award.
- Maureen Ryan-Murphy, Chief Resident, Psychiatry, is featured in ‘At the intersection of homelessness, mental illness and addiction in Portland lies psychosis’ from KGW8.
- Talicia Savage, R3, Internal Medicine, is lead author and Rachel Issaka, assistant professor (Gastroenterology) is senior author of “Association between patient, clinic, and geographical-level factors and 1-year surveillance colonoscopy adherence” in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology. Department of Medicine co-authors are Veena Shankaran and Scott Ramsey.
- The Spring 2023 edition of Surgery Synopsis includes a wealth of information including features of newly appointed Vice Chairs, Program Directors, and trainees.
- Thomas Walsh, Program Director, Andrology, is featured in ‘Men’s Health Center Provides Comprehensive Care’ from The Huddle.
- Natalie Weathered, Program Director, Neurology, is featured in ‘If the Brain Is a Puzzle, Natalie Weathered Wants to Solve It’ from The Huddle.
- Douglas Wood, Chair, Department of Surgery, received the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s (NCCN) 2023 Rodger Winn Award for decades of work to develop, refine and promote the organization’s Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.