Meeting Recap: The 2018 APGO Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar
Earlier this month, the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) hosted its annual faculty development conference for women’s health educators. The theme of the 2018 APGO Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar (FDS), “Medical Education Makeover: Cleanse, Repair & Refresh!” coincided with ideas of renewal and improvement to characterize the new year. The restorative and serene Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa in Manalapan, Florida served as the perfect setting for the three-day retreat, and over 200 attendees participated in keynotes, workshops and round tables designed to inspire new teaching strategies and foster career advancement.
Plenary Sessions
At the opening session, Martin L. Pernoll, MD, Educator Anne M. Libby, PhD (Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine) welcomed meeting participants with her keynote address, “Five Clues to Talent: Building a Strengths-Based Strategic Career.” Doctor Libby shared ways participants can approach career development strategically by identifying strengths and managing weaknesses. Attendees also learned how to use the same approach to help trainees and colleagues develop their careers.
Other plenary talks explored themes of safety, risk prevention, educational scholarship, technology and preparing for the future of health care delivery. Gerald B. Hickson, MD (Senior Vice President of Quality, Safety and Risk Prevention, Professor of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University) presented “Safety, Risk Prevention and Professional Accountability: People, Process and Technology;” Grace C. Huang, MD (Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) presented “Taking Your Teaching to the Next Level: Making Scholarship the Endgame;” and Maya M. Hammoud, MD, MBA (Professor, Associate Chair for Education, University of Michigan) presented “Transforming Medical Education for Future Health Care Delivery.”
Lunchtime Learning Session
Always a favorite among meeting attendees, the Lunchtime Learning Session lets participants enjoy an entertaining and insightful presentation over lunch. This year, C.O. “Skip” Granai, MD (Professor, Brown University/Women and Infants Hospital) presented “Mooo: Farmers, Poets and Doctors,” in which he encouraged attendees to listen for that soulful “mooo” during moments of uncertainty to remind them what originally brought them to academic medicine.
Clerkship Directors’ School
Before the start of every Faculty Development Seminar, APGO holds the first two sessions of the three-part Clerkship Directors’ School. Developed and directed by the APGO Undergraduate Medical Education Committee (UMEC), the Clerkship Directors’ School helps new and established clerkship directors prepare for the role and brush up on teaching and administrative skills. The interactive Innovation Station was held during the program. During this session, participants were introduced to low-fidelity simulations, aids and tools that can be implemented into the clerkship at their home institutions. The third part of the course, which features more advanced content, is held each year at the CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting in February/March.
Special Events
While the program was packed with educational sessions and abundant learning opportunities, FDS attendees also enjoyed some down time during two recreational events. Saturday Night’s Welcome Reception was a surprise party celebrating the 20th anniversary of the APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program, complete with a DJ and a photo booth station. With physician wellness being an important initiative of the organization, APGO hosted its annual 5K Suds Run & Walk. APGO also brought back the popular wine tasting and yoga experience, Vino & Vinyasa, for a second year. Both events encouraged meeting attendees to unwind and connect with one another after a strenuous day of learning.
Award and Scholarship Recipients
Several award and scholarship recipients were recognized at the 2018 APGO Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar.
To demonstrate APGO’s commitment to the engagement of international ob-gyn educators, each year APGO provides financial assistance for international faculty members to attend the Faculty Development Seminar through the APGO International Scholarship Program. This year, APGO welcomed two international scholars: Emmanuel Komla Senanu Morhe, MBChB, MPH, University of Health and Allied Sciences School of Medicine, Ghana; and Mulindi Mwanahamuntu, MBBS, MMed, University of Zambia, Women and Newborn Hospital, Zambia.
During the meeting, APGO recognizes junior faculty who exhibit a bright future in women’s health education with the William N.P. Herbert, MD, Promising Educator Award. This year, APGO recognized Jill Sutton, MD, East Carolina University, for her demonstrated potential as a future academic ob-gyn leader.
APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program
The 2019 graduating class of APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program held their first meeting prior to the start of the seminar. Course participants will meet for several more didactic sessions during the 15-month program which is designed to develop outstanding ob-gyn educators and administrators. This group of scholars marks the 21st class of the APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program.
In late 2017, APGO launched the APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program Frank T. Stritter, PhD, Endowed Faculty Fund Campaign to commemorate the 20th year of the program in 2018. The fund, named for Doctor Stritter’s numerous contributions to the program as its director for the first 18 years, will ensure the involvement of highly qualified professional educators and sustain the scholastic excellence of the program for years to come. The goal of the campaign is to reach $550,000 through fundraising events and donations.
Thank A Mentor
At the 2018 APGO Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar, APGO launched its “Thank a Mentor” Campaign, a celebration of physician and medical educator mentors who have inspired, instructed and developed our members throughout their careers. The three-month dedicatory fundraising campaign is appropriately bookended by two pertinent national observances, commencing with National Mentor Month in January and culminating March 30 with National Doctors’ Day.
Throughout the campaign, APGO members are encouraged to pay tribute to their career guides and counselors with a dedicated donation to the APGO ASL Frank T. Stritter, PhD, Endowed Faculty Fund. To demonstrate APGO’s commitment to mentorship initiatives and advocacy, APGO will match up to $10,000 in donations made during the campaign period. We invite you to make a dedicated gift to thank your mentor for his or her guidance. Visit www.apgo.org/aslcampaign to make a matched donation online and to download a tribute card.
Acknowledgments
APGO would like to thank the 2018 meeting faculty for sharing their ideas and wisdom in thought-provoking and entertaining presentations, and for inspiring attendees to advance APGO’s mission of improving women’s health care through education. We would also like to thank Program Co-Chairs B. Star Hampton, MD, Margaret L. McKenzie, MD, MS and Elise N. Everett, MD, as well as the entire UMEC committee for thoughtfully planning an exceptional and very successful meeting. Finally, we would like to thank our meeting attendees for their enthusiasm, energy and passion for improving medical education, and the entire APGO membership for their continued support and dedication to our field.
2019 APGO Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar
The 2019 Faculty Development Seminar will be held January 6-9, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii. APGO will announce the call for abstracts in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we invite you to watch our short video on how to write an educational workshop abstract.
For more information about the APGO Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar, APGO Clerkship Directors’ School or other programs and awards, please visit www.apgo.org.