UMEC Spotlight on Faculty Development: David Banh, MD
David Banh, MD
Assistant Professor
Texas Tech University Permian Basin
At the 2019 Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar, Doctor Banh (with James Cook, MD, and Gabrielle Harrington, DO) presented Mind Over Bricks: Finding Your Team’s Inner Sunshine with LEGO® Elements.
APGO: What is your role in medical student education?
Doctor Banh: I am an assistant professor for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and I serve as a clinical preceptor for medical students, physician assistant students, and resident physicians from Family Medicine and Internal Medicine.
APGO: What inspired your interest in medical education research?
Doctor Banh: My interest in medical education research has always stemmed from resident well-being and extracurricular education, ie, business of medicine. When there was a need to develop and improve resident team-building exercises, I sought alternative programs that would engage the residents’ participation and improve their team culture with hopes to expand to an interdisciplinary program.
APGO: What were some of the challenges you faced while developing your program? What was the solution?
Doctor Banh: Challenges include acquiring the necessary buy-in from administrators, program managers, and the residents themselves as well as funding for the acquisition of the LEGO® elements. Team-building exercises typically can be time- and resource-intensive.
Buy-in was not difficult when presenting a team-building exercise that was not only fun but did not require any additional resources than what I had personally invested. LEGO® elements are almost ubiquitous and my having a personal interest in them made the development of the program easier.
APGO: What resources did you find the most useful in developing your program (including APGO resources)?
Doctor Banh: One of the most significant resource that helped me with my program is the APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program. The ASL program not only gave me the encouragement and mentorship necessary to advance my idea and program, but the resources to make it a reality.
APGO: What are one to three things that you hope people who attended your presentation at the Faculty Development Seminar take home with them?
Doctor Banh: Personally, I would like to see the participants experience the introductory team-building exercises firsthand and bring the concept back to their programs to create awareness. In doing so, I can continue to develop more advanced techniques for the team-building exercises.
APGO: Why do you attend APGO’s Faculty Development Seminar?
Doctor Banh: I was first introduced to the FDS through the ASL program – a program that was recommended to me by my chairperson. Ever since, I find the FDS an excellent source of information regarding medical education and a good venue to experience camaraderie and to foster multi-institutional cooperation.
Registration opens soon for the 2020 Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar in Bonita Springs! Click here to learn more.