Thursday, June 29, 2006
PD out of office 7/3 and 7/4
Dr. Shepherd and I will both be out of the office on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4. You may reach me on my cell phone in case of emergency. Dr. Nash
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Navigant update
The immediate impact of the Navigant recommendations as they apply to the FM Department are expected to be limited to the loss of three faculty positions. The Urgent Care position has remained unfilled for the past year and those duties covered by current members of the faculty. That strategy will continue long term and the unfilled position officially closed. One faculty member is scheduled to retire the end of August and that faculty line will be closed. One additional faculty member has decided to make a change to another practice opportunity and when that occurs, that faculty line will be closed.
To the best of my knowledge, there will be no staff cuts in the administrative staff upstairs. It is anticipated that there will be a small reduction in downstairs/clinic staff but I do not yet have details regarding that.
Navigant recommendations included the convening of a Task Force consisting of UTMB people to further study the residency and fellowship programs and make further recommendations regarding those. I do not yet know who will be on that Task Force or what their timeline will be. My personal speculation is that we will know something near the end of the calendar year. The Dean has given her word that all current residents and fellows would have the opportunity to complete their training program according to the current expectations for progress and promotion.
From my perspective, the FMR will continue to move forward on our improvement projects, working toward a program of excellence as has been our goal for the past two years. We've made a lot of progress toward the excellence criteria and hope to realize the achievement of some longer term goals in this new academic year. I anticipate no dramatic impact to our program at this point from the Navigant recommendations.
The Chiefs are updated weekly and they are, as am I, willing and available to answer any questions you may have or respond to concerns related to the Navigant report.
To the best of my knowledge, there will be no staff cuts in the administrative staff upstairs. It is anticipated that there will be a small reduction in downstairs/clinic staff but I do not yet have details regarding that.
Navigant recommendations included the convening of a Task Force consisting of UTMB people to further study the residency and fellowship programs and make further recommendations regarding those. I do not yet know who will be on that Task Force or what their timeline will be. My personal speculation is that we will know something near the end of the calendar year. The Dean has given her word that all current residents and fellows would have the opportunity to complete their training program according to the current expectations for progress and promotion.
From my perspective, the FMR will continue to move forward on our improvement projects, working toward a program of excellence as has been our goal for the past two years. We've made a lot of progress toward the excellence criteria and hope to realize the achievement of some longer term goals in this new academic year. I anticipate no dramatic impact to our program at this point from the Navigant recommendations.
The Chiefs are updated weekly and they are, as am I, willing and available to answer any questions you may have or respond to concerns related to the Navigant report.
Monday, June 26, 2006
To the new class of FM interns
Thoughts on being a Family Doc…
This is a hard year. You will learn more this year than at any other time in your professional life, with the possible exception of your first year in practice.
Remember that you are NOT a pediatrician, obstetrician, intensivist or surgeon! You will never know as much as they do about their fields. And you don’t need to. That’s not your job.
At the end of this year, your pediatric and internal medicine colleagues will not be competent to deliver a baby. You will. Your OB colleagues will not have a clue about what to do with a sick newborn or a young woman with chest pain. You will know. You will be able to manage a patient’s diabetes AND their hypertension AND their skin cancer. You will know which patient with a headache needs a CT scan and which one needs to learn about stress reduction. You will care for everyone in a family, from newborn to geriatric. You will understand how their history and family and community impact their health. None of your colleagues in other disciplines will be able to do all of that.
Try to remember some of this as you feel stressed and poorly prepared in your intern rotations. You are an intern and you are learning. Every one of us has been there. At the end of this year, you will be more prepared than the interns of any other field. It will seem like eternity and then suddenly the first year will be over. You will be amazed how much you’ve learned.
Welcome. We’re glad to have you here. It’s going to be an exciting and rewarding year.
This is a hard year. You will learn more this year than at any other time in your professional life, with the possible exception of your first year in practice.
Remember that you are NOT a pediatrician, obstetrician, intensivist or surgeon! You will never know as much as they do about their fields. And you don’t need to. That’s not your job.
At the end of this year, your pediatric and internal medicine colleagues will not be competent to deliver a baby. You will. Your OB colleagues will not have a clue about what to do with a sick newborn or a young woman with chest pain. You will know. You will be able to manage a patient’s diabetes AND their hypertension AND their skin cancer. You will know which patient with a headache needs a CT scan and which one needs to learn about stress reduction. You will care for everyone in a family, from newborn to geriatric. You will understand how their history and family and community impact their health. None of your colleagues in other disciplines will be able to do all of that.
Try to remember some of this as you feel stressed and poorly prepared in your intern rotations. You are an intern and you are learning. Every one of us has been there. At the end of this year, you will be more prepared than the interns of any other field. It will seem like eternity and then suddenly the first year will be over. You will be amazed how much you’ve learned.
Welcome. We’re glad to have you here. It’s going to be an exciting and rewarding year.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Happy and sad times
Well, we did it. We had to let them graduate... but we sure will miss them! It was a great night of celebration of accomplishments and sad goodbyes. This class holds a special place in my heart because they were the first that I was primarily responsible for selecting and recruiting as a new Program Director. I'm very proud of them and all they've accomplished. What a talented group of young people!
The UTMB-FM Faculty of the Year for 2006 is Dr. Cecilia Romero. Dr. Romero has served UTMB, the Family Medicine Residency and Pre-Doc programs and so many other organizations in more ways than I can possibly name. The FMR will especially miss her contributions to our Community Medicine curriculum and as a valued and trusted resident mentor. Dr. Romero will retire in September and she too will be missed. See the video of Dr. Romero's award presentation.
Outgoing Chief Residents Clint Watson, M.D. and Huelen Smith, M.D. with Administrative Associate Louis Johnston announce award recipients.
Staff Appreciation Award recipient, Rosie Vincent
I won't list all the award recipients and graduates individually here because we will have a section of the website devoted to the details, so check the photo album in a few days. Thank you to the FMR Staff who did so much to make this a great night. Thank you to the residents of the Class of 2006, who have worked so hard and made us all so proud of them.
Congratulations, Residents of the Class of 2006!!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Congratulations, Angela
Three cheers for our own Angela Wells, member of the FMR staff! For those who don't know, Angela has a beautiful singing voice and recently competed for a chance to win some pretty fabulous prizes, including a recording contract. Learn more, see the video and help Angela win by voting at http://gospel2006.promolot.com/
We're cheering for you, Angela, and wishing the best!
We're cheering for you, Angela, and wishing the best!
Kudos to Clarence and Jerome
Linda recently received the six month summary report on medical records. I am pleased to recognize Clarence and Jerome for having NOT ONE delinquent medical record for the entire six months! Good work, guys!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
UTMB Update
The story in today's Galveston County Daily News
Dr. Stobo's public statement as posted on the UTMB website
Specifics regarding how Family Medicine and the FM Residency program in particular will be affected are not yet available. Dr. Thompson expects to receive some of that information this morning and I will post an update when I know more.
A general meeting for the Program Directors is scheduled next Tuesday. My meeting with Drs. Blackwell and LeBlanc follows on Wednesday morning.
To the best of my knowledge, I do not expect any current residents to be directly affected. This includes our incoming class.
Dr. Stobo's public statement as posted on the UTMB website
Specifics regarding how Family Medicine and the FM Residency program in particular will be affected are not yet available. Dr. Thompson expects to receive some of that information this morning and I will post an update when I know more.
A general meeting for the Program Directors is scheduled next Tuesday. My meeting with Drs. Blackwell and LeBlanc follows on Wednesday morning.
To the best of my knowledge, I do not expect any current residents to be directly affected. This includes our incoming class.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Program Directors' Workshop
Mike Callaway and I presented "Assessing Residents on the ACGME Competencies: The Issue of Reliability" at the 2006 Program Directors' Workshop, May 5th.
This project was funded by our current HRSA Residency Training Grant and begins to look at the issue of reliability of various measures of competency used in our program to assess residents.
The results were well received and should be useful to many Family Medicine programs. We anticipate submission for publication in the near future.
Thanks for the great work, Mike!
This project was funded by our current HRSA Residency Training Grant and begins to look at the issue of reliability of various measures of competency used in our program to assess residents.
The results were well received and should be useful to many Family Medicine programs. We anticipate submission for publication in the near future.
Thanks for the great work, Mike!
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Dr. Kunchar's fellowship graduation
Dr. Indu Kunchar, member of the FM Residency faculty, recently completed a Faculty Development Fellowship. Click the link to see the video of the faculty roasting Dr. Kunchar at graduation! :-)
Monday, June 12, 2006
Match 2007
The NRMP has posted the Match 2007 timeline, if you want to review it.
We will be having our first Recruiting Team meeting mid to late July, exact date TBA.
I anticipate our process will be much the same as last year, with interviews scheduled on Monday and Wednesday mornings, from mid-October through early February.
Stay tuned for announcement of the Recruiting Team meeting date/time...
We will be having our first Recruiting Team meeting mid to late July, exact date TBA.
I anticipate our process will be much the same as last year, with interviews scheduled on Monday and Wednesday mornings, from mid-October through early February.
Stay tuned for announcement of the Recruiting Team meeting date/time...
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Update on PD
Although not exactly Residency news, I do want to update you on my personal situation as it does affect Residency. And besides, many of you have been interested...
On Monday, I received a referral of a 3y/o girl for adoption from Russia. I will be making two trips to Russia to complete the adoption. The first will be about 10 days and the second 3 weeks. I plan to take maternity leave upon return from trip 2. In total, my second absence will be about 6 weeks.
I AM returning to work and the PD position after my leave. I do not anticipate any significant disruption in Residency. Dr. Shepherd, Ron Williams, Linda Hubbell and the remainder of the Residency team are well prepared to lead the program during my absence. I don't yet have any specific travel plans as I am awaiting my travel invitation from Russia. This could happen at any time and I will most likely get 2 - 4 weeks notice.
If you'd like to see a photo of my angel, there is one on my office door. :-)
I will post updates on specific plans as they become available.
On Monday, I received a referral of a 3y/o girl for adoption from Russia. I will be making two trips to Russia to complete the adoption. The first will be about 10 days and the second 3 weeks. I plan to take maternity leave upon return from trip 2. In total, my second absence will be about 6 weeks.
I AM returning to work and the PD position after my leave. I do not anticipate any significant disruption in Residency. Dr. Shepherd, Ron Williams, Linda Hubbell and the remainder of the Residency team are well prepared to lead the program during my absence. I don't yet have any specific travel plans as I am awaiting my travel invitation from Russia. This could happen at any time and I will most likely get 2 - 4 weeks notice.
If you'd like to see a photo of my angel, there is one on my office door. :-)
I will post updates on specific plans as they become available.
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