The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) made its debut at the annual Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) conference in Nashville, which afforded us the opportunity to connect with thousands of residency program directors, faculty, coordinators, administrators, and residents in attendance.
AMWA leaders—Dr. Karen Nichols, Dr. Kimberly Templeton, and Dr. Abby Spencer—were featured presenters in a session: Women Leaders in Medicine: Is it Harder, Easier, or Even Different? Dr. Yolanda Wimberly had been slated to speak but was unable to participate in the session. They were joined by AMWA Executive Director Dr. Eliza Chin, who helped bring the group together. The panelists, representing diverse backgrounds, shared insights from their leadership journeys:
(L to R) Dr. Eliza Chin, Dr. Karen Nichols, Dr. Kim Templeton, and Dr. Abby Spencer
Dr. Karen Nichols, former Dean of Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and past President of the American Osteopathic Association, highlighted key skills from her book: Physician Leadership: 11 Skills Every Doctor Needs to be an Effective Leader.
- Dr. Kimberly Templeton, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center and past President of AMWA, the Bone and Joint Decade, and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, discussed faculty development and leadership in medicine.
- Dr. Abby Spencer, a current AMWA Board member and Vice Chair for Education at Washington University School of Medicine, emphasized authentic leadership and mentorship in medical education.
The panelists encouraged attendees to adopt the fundamentals of leadership, which include knowing yourself, understanding perspectives, employing communication skills, and learning the principles of persuasion.
Key takeaways from these leaders:
- You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, you cannot choose both.
- Don’t wait for a title to lead. People learn to lead because they care about something. Use local issues to encourage residents to help lead.
- Act with authenticity by clarifying what’s important to you. Find your Ikigai – the intersection between what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
AMWA considers leadership development as essential to shaping the future of medicine, which is why we have designed tailored programs to support women in medicine at every stage of their careers. By providing mentorship, leadership skill-building, and opportunities for professional growth, AMWA supports residents to rise as leaders and for faculty and staff to become more effective leaders in their institutions.
As a first-time exhibitor, AMWA had the ideal opportunity to engage with key stakeholders in graduate medical education, presenting our comprehensive series of leadership programs. We were able to highlight our leadership offerings, which are tailored to the specific needs of trainees as well as faculty and staff who support residency programs. These innovative programs enhance the professional journey, targeting competencies that empower individuals as leaders prepared to drive meaningful change in their current roles and within their institutions, and aimed to reduce the risk of burnout.
We enjoyed meeting so many leaders in GME education and were delighted by unexpected visits from Dr. Briana Money, Designated Institutional Official at North Colorado Medical Center – the program founder and director of AMWA EVOLVE Certificate in Leadership Essentials, who was elated to see how much the program continues to grow. And, we loved reconnecting with AMWA ELEVATE Certificate in Leadership Alum, Dr. Christine Miyake, Program Director of Emergency Medicine at the University of Nevada Medical School in Reno, who shared how much she values her experience going through AMWA ELEVATE.
AMWA’s presence at ACGME offered the perfect forum to highlight our commitment to preparing all women in residency to excel as leaders – and to fulfill our goal of bringing the AMWA EVOLVE Certificate in Leadership to every trainee. In offering leadership opportunities for everyone during the residency years, AMWA is set to lead the way in supporting the professional growth of those shaping the future of healthcare.
(L to R) Dr. Amanda Xi, Dr. Eliza Chin, Dr. Dani Barnes
Dr. Jenny Mladenovic (L) (CWAMS) with Dr. Kim Templeton (L)
(R to L) Dr. Christine Miyake joined other residency leaders and Deputy Director, Jodi Godfrey, at the AMWA exhibit .
Dr. Nicole Canada (L) and Dr. Karen Nichols (R)
For information about AMWA’s leadership programs, CONTACT US.