A hitchhiker’s guide to the hospital
“I am not sure what roads lay ahead when starting this journey. From student to resident to educator, the trip was shorter than I thought it would be. Looking in the rearview mirror, a lot of growth, happiness, and change. And now, a chance to pave the way for the people behind me.” – Sarika Ziemann, DO, internal medicine resident.
Personal reflections, like the one above, are an integral part of the Physician Educator Certificate Program and reflect teaching and learning during residents’ and fellows’ 8-month journeys as trained educators.
This May, the Physician Educator Certificate Program graduated its seventh cohort of 36 residents from 24 residency programs. To date, the program has graduated 352 educators.
“Our residents are so fortunate to have an opportunity like the PECP to enhance their teaching skills,” said LaTanya Love, MD, dean of education, executive vice president of Student and University Affairs, and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics. “Our residents are an imperative part of our educational mission, and it is important to invest in their professional development. We also hope that more of our trainees will consider academic medicine as their ultimate career path.”
The PECP is an 8-month program developed in 2016 by Peggy Hsieh, MEd, PhD, associate professor in the Office of Educational Programs and director of Educational Development; with support from Mark Hormann, MD, vice dean for the Office of Educational Programs; and Pamela Promecene, MD, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, and associate dean and DIO for the Office of Graduate Medical Education. The program is designed to help future medical educators develop effective teaching skills to prepare them for an academic career.
“These are dedicated educators/learners who chose to sacrifice their weeks, weekends, and downtime to challenge themselves and extend their knowledge to become effective educators,” Hsieh said. “Teaching requires passion and will lead to joy. I hope that PECP graduates will always find joy in teaching. PECP graduates wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for a certain person or group of people who supported and believed in them. So, I thank the program directors for encouraging them to embark on this journey.”
Many PECP graduates have accepted faculty positions at McGovern Medical School and other institutions, and alumni have been appointed to administrative leadership roles such as program directors.
“We are excited to share that this year PECP will be offered jointly between McGovern Medical School and Houston Methodist,” Hsieh said. “Trainees from both institutions will have the opportunity to patriciate in a single cohort taught by faculty educations from UTHealth Houston and Houston Methodist. This collaboration is a great opportunity for trainees to meet colleagues in the Texas Medical Center and learn from one another.”
The eighth PECP cohort will begin in September 2023, and applications for the program will be due in August.