Physician Educator Certificate Program celebrates 10 years

Group portrait of the 2026 graduating cohort of the Physician Educator Certificate Program standing together indoors during a recognition event. Residents, fellows, faculty, and program leaders pose in several rows, with participants wearing a mix of professional attire, white coats, and clinical scrubs beneath blue and orange decorations celebrating the occasion.

The Physician Educators Certificate Program celebrates its 10th year.

The Physician Educator Certificate Program at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston recently marked a major milestone during its graduation luncheon, celebrating a decade of preparing residents and fellows to become future physician educators.

Launched in 2016, the Physician Educator Certificate Program has grown into a faculty development initiative dedicated to advancing medical education through teaching, feedback, curriculum development, and innovative instructional methods. Since 2023, the program has continued to expand through its partnership with Houston Methodist.

Led by Peggy Hsieh, PhD, MEd, professor and assistant dean for educator development at McGovern Medical School, the eight-month program has trained nearly 500 residents and fellows representing more than 20 programs.

Physician Educator Certificate Program alumni have gone on to serve as faculty members, chief residents, fellowship leaders, medical directors, specialty directors, and program leaders nationwide.

The graduation luncheon brought together institutional leaders, faculty, program directors, alumni, and current trainees to recognize the program’s continued impact. LaTanya J. Love, MD, dean of McGovern Medical School, attended alongside Office of Educational Programs leaders Mark Hormann, MD, and Allison Ownby, PhD, MEd; Office of Graduate Medical Education leader Mark Warner, MD; and many program directors who have supported resident and fellow participation throughout the years.

“I continue to be inspired by the passion our residents and fellows bring to education,” Hsieh said. “Over the last 10 years, we have built a community of educators committed to lifelong learning, collaboration, and advancing medical education for future generations.”

As the program looks ahead to its next chapter, it remains committed to developing educators who will shape the future of medical education for years to come.

Applications for the 2026-27 cohort open in mid-July, with the program beginning this fall.