Byron Joyner, MD, MPA
It’s time to celebrate our amazing learning community. I am excited to share the results of a recent survey of our residency and fellowship program alumni. This survey is an initiative included in our new GME Strategic Plan which will enhance our expertise in analyzing data, bridging information systems and delivering better reports. This month, I’ve asked Allison Shults, GME Residency Management System (RMS) and Information Systems Manager, to write about the alumni survey findings. I salute our alumni!
Byron Joyner, MD, MPA
Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education, Designated Institutional Official
Allison Shults
As RMS & Information Systems Manager with the GME Office, I oversee our community’s use of MedHub, which is our Residency Management System (RMS). I work closely with the data it collects from our users. In my role, I have the unique privilege of supporting many GME Strategic Plan initiatives by analyzing and sharing data that reflects our amazing learning community. Whether highlighting GME’s long history (our first accredited training program was 1952!) or the portfolio of programs and trainees we support (200+ programs and 1600+ trainees each year!), there is a myriad of data that tells the story of GME and illustrates how far and deep our community reaches. I would like to share our story with you.
I’m excited to focus here on our incredible resident and fellow alumni. They represent the best in medical education and serve as leaders in their communities. They are engaged during their training and remain engaged – whether through learning in CME courses, staying on as faculty, practicing in the WWAMI region, or being recognized for their contributions to public health and well-being.
But don’t just take my word for it – the data speaks for itself:
Alumni Practice Where They Trained
Studies repeatedly show that trainees are likely to practice in the same state as their residency program, and our alumni are no exception. We recently surveyed our graduates from the last 5 years (2018-2023) and found that 38% of 322 respondents are currently practicing in the WWAMI region (36% specifically in Washington)! In reality, this number is likely much higher considering our vast alumni base.
Reflecting GME’s mission to build physician-leaders that represent and enhance the communities we serve, it is exciting to see that our graduates also practice in diverse settings:
Not only do our alumni show a desire to work locally, but they also show a desire to lead. In our survey, 31% of respondents report holding a leadership position in their current organization. Multiple alumni have been recognized for their leadership in hospitals, research, mentorship, and much more.
Alumni Stay Engaged With GME
GME alumni recognize the impact of their training and continue to stay engaged in the UW community as both fellows and faculty. Over the last ten years, we have seen more than 700+ trainees stay on as UWSOM faculty, and 22% of UWSOM residents matched to UWSOM fellowship programs last academic year.
Our program leadership recognizes the many talents of our trainees and interviewed 82% of alumni who were interested in a further position at UWSOM [FIGURE 2].
GME is proud to have a community dedicated to supporting and enhancing the learning environment for our trainees, and the success of those efforts shined through in the survey. When asked whether our alumni felt their program prepared them for their position, a resounding 96% agreed (68% strongly agree and 28% agree) and 88% agreed that they would recommend their training program to others.
Alumni are Awarded for Their Impact
Given the data on our alumni’s success, it should come as no surprise that they continue to be recognized across the University and their communities. Alumni of UWSOM residency and fellowship programs have been recognized by the UW School of Medicine Alumni Association in each award category, including one Lifetime Achievement Award winner, one Lifetime of Service Award winner, and many more:
It’s clear from the data that UW GME alumni are shining examples of their training who represent their peers and UW School of Medicine well.
The GME Office celebrates the many contributions our alumni make and the successes they share with us. We are looking forward to continuing to receive valuable feedback from sources like our alumni survey. The GME Strategic Plan has created a renewed focus on advocating for our learning community and committing to enhancing the quality of the clinical learning environment, but we can only do this by first understanding the current landscape. We are implementing new initiatives to gain more insight which can help us navigate the future and create long-term successes. Personally, I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
Allison Shults
RMS and Information Systems Manager