Outreach and Recruitment
Fall has arrived with its vibrant colors. Last month, Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) sent delegations to the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) conference in Chicago, as well as to the Meharry Medical College Residency Fair. Both events were highly successful for our teams, who had the opportunity to meet a diverse group of students and prospective YSM and YNHH trainees.
On October 4, the Student National Medical Association's (SNMA) Region VII hosted its annual Regional Medical Education Conference at YSM. The event featured lectures, scientific poster sessions, and medical school exhibits in the lobby of The Anlyan Center on the Yale campus, and our medical students, Graduate Medical Education (GME) trainees, and faculty staffed several exhibitor booths. Over 225 students registered for the conference. Our YSM SNMA chapter leaders did a great job hosting the event at Yale. Additionally, the YSM Alumni organized a social meet-and-greet the night before, held at one of our excellent New Haven restaurants. Thanks to Ann Arthur, MD, associate dean for alumni affairs, and the YSM Alumni organization for hosting this successful event.
The GME office, in collaboration with the Minority Housestaff Organization (MHO), looks forward to our YSM and YNHH annual virtual recruitment event, which will take place in a few weeks. We will invite program leaders and faculty members to join our trainees in engaging with students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) medical schools, specifically Meharry College of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. All medical students are invited to attend this virtual recruitment event.
The GME office also plans to host two virtual sessions for all applicants interviewing for our residency programs. The first session will be in late November, and the other will be in February. The purpose of these sessions is to offer a virtual platform where interested applicants can meet representatives from our GME trainee organizations in breakout rooms. We will invite the following GME organizations to participate: Minority Housestaff Organization, First-generation Low-Income Trainees, Women’s Housestaff Organization, Yale Queer (YQ) + Housestaff Organization (HO) LGBTQIA+ Organization, and the Yale Resident and Fellow Senate.
Retention
The Office for Collaborative Excellence in Internal Medicine (OCEIM) held a half-day retreat last month as part of the Partners in Collaborative Excellence (PaCE) initiative, spearheaded by Cayetana Navarro, MBA, OCEIM program manager. The session was moderated by Jim Morris, an educator, coach, and strategist who helps organizations shape and build inclusive and supportive climates and cultures. The retreat focused on how best “insiders” and “outsiders” within organizations can help foster inclusivity and tap into excellence driven by diversity of perspectives and experiences.
I found Jim's “Head, Heart, and Hands” approach to be very effective in guiding one from simple cognitive recognition to a deeper understanding of what is felt and experienced as an "outsider." With such knowledge comes an inherent call to action. Jim steered participants through the process of cognition, conviction, and commitment. He emphasized that true growth happens in spaces of vulnerability. We plan to have further sessions as part of our ongoing PaCE initiative.
As a reminder, Christopher Sankey, MD, is offering coaching services free of charge to staff and faculty within the Department of Internal Medicine. If you are interested in exploring coaching, please don't hesitate to contact him.
Carli Gaughf is moderating a series of book club sessions on “For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color” by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez. Upcoming sessions are on October 29 and November 12 at noon. All members of the YSM community are welcome.
Next month, I will be collaborating with Aba Black, MD, and Hussain R. Khawaja, MD (Brown University), on a session titled “The Impact of the Current Landscape on GME Education” at the Society of General Internal Medicine New England Chapter Scientific Meeting.
Recognition
I am honored to have received the Connecticut American College of Physicians Chapter (CTACP) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for 2025. This award recognizes those who excel in the promotion of physician diversity and inclusion in Connecticut with outstanding achievements in mentoring, leadership development, and role modeling. I am deeply grateful to all the physicians who nominated me and the CTACP. I share this award with all our Collaborative Excellence team members in Internal Medicine.
I am committed to supporting and expanding the culture and climate of Collaborative Excellence within the Department of Internal Medicine; please join me in this effort. Together, we strive. Together, we rise.
Respectfully Yours,
Benjamin
Benjamin Mba, MBBS, MRCP (UK), CHCQM, FACP
Professor of Medicine
Vice Chair of Medicine for Collaborative Excellence
Graduate Medical Education Director for Collaborative Excellence
Associate Designated Institutional Official for Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale School of Medicine
