The fifth class of Primary Care Faculty Development Fellows celebrated graduation from the program on May 3 with a session that included presentations on their group projects, peer feedback, awards, and a keynote lecture.
The Department of Family and Community Medicine—in partnership with the UAB Center for Teaching and Learning and the UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science—began offering the faculty development fellowship in 2019, and 67 fellows have completed the program. The fellowship invests in senior residents and junior faculty interested in growing as leaders in academic medicine. Focus areas include teaching, scholarship, leadership, and practice transformation. The program combines instruction from recognized experts along with practical application and practice. As part of the program, each fellow conducts a teaching presentation to the group and is provided peer feedback. The fellows also form small groups, each completing a research project with the goal of presentation and publication.
"With the current and future shortage of primary care physicians, it's important to encourage and equip those physicians who are interested in training the next generation," said Professor Michael Wiederman, Ph.D., director of the Office of Leadership and Professional Development. "The program also provides a space for faculty at a very similar point in their careers the opportunity to share their overlapping concerns and solutions, creating a peer support network that extends beyond completion of the 10-month program."
2023-2024 fellowship graduate Daniel Fijabi, M.D., assistant professor and director of the Blaze to MD Primary Care Postbaccalaureate Program, had this to say about the program: "The program provided me with a thorough understanding of anagrams and their practical applications while also teaching me how to develop a leadership philosophy and research philosophy. Additionally, I learned valuable feedback techniques and how to mentor junior colleagues. The lectures also provided me with useful insights into delivering lectures and guiding students and junior colleagues. I was part of the team that developed a gamification project for Family Medicine IT exams, which taught me how to develop board-style questions and avoid common pitfalls. Overall, I am grateful to the program's leadership for giving me this opportunity to participate in the fellowship, which has broadened my knowledge and allowed me to contribute to a project. I highly recommend this fellowship to anyone looking to develop their skills and knowledge as a medical professional."
As part of the graduation festivities, fellows were joined by Allen Perkins, M.D., M.P.H., to talk about his leadership journey and overcoming health care challenges in Alabama. Dr. Perkins serves as the University of South Alabama Health's chief ambulatory medical officer and population health officer. He is also the former chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the USA College of Medicine and the past president of the Association of Departments of Family Medicine.
2023-2024 Fellowship Graduates
Jonathon Baccus, M.D., UA College of Community Health Sciences
John E. Burkhardt II, Psy.D., UA Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency
Victoria Chisholm, D.O., UAB-Cahaba Family Medicine Residency
Courtney Conklin, M.D., UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dept. of Family & Community Medicine
Joseph Coppiano, M.D., UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dept. of Family & Community Medicine
Daniel Fijabi, M.D., M.S., UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dept. of Family & Community Medicine
Ashley Ford, M.D., UAB Heersink School of Medicine-Huntsville
Dorothy Hughes, M.D., UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dept. of Family & Community Medicine
Taylor Lahasky, M.D., UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dept. of Family & Community Medicine
Matthew Miesch, M.D., M.S., UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dept. of Family & Community Medicine
Rohan Pareek, M.D., Resident, UAB Heersink School of Medicine-Huntsville
Daniel Shults, D.O., Christ Health Center
Carmela Ver, M.D., UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dept. of Family & Community Medicine
Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024-2025 Primary Care Faculty Development Fellowship class.