Episode 100: A Conversation about Wellness, Disability, and Intersectionality

Interviewer:
Lisa Meeks

Interviewees:
David J. Skorton, MD, President and CEO of the AAMC
Amy Adams, Director of Student Affairs, Alignment and Holistic Review at AAMC
Mytien Nguyen, Researcher and MD-PhD student at Yale

Description:

In this milestone episode, host Lisa Meeks interviews leaders from the AAMC and a medical student to tackle the critical issues of burnout, mental health, and disability inclusion in medical education. The conversation provides an overview on the current state of burnout and well-being among medical students, residents, and fellows, while also highlighting the AAMC's efforts to address these challenges through targeted initiatives and collaborations.

The interviewees stress the importance of supporting the well-being of traditionally underrepresented and marginalized groups in medicine, including individuals with disabilities. The episode further explores strategies for improving program access and fostering inclusive environments for disabled students, with a particular focus on the impact of intersectionality on medical student well-being, informed by a pivotal study on burnout at the intersection of race and disability. This episode is essential listening for anyone committed to the future of medical education and the well-being of its community. Don’t miss this special celebration of 100 episodes!

Transcript
Keywords: AAMC, URiM, Disability, Accommodations, Policy, Intersectionality, David J Skorton, DocsWithDisabilities, Medical Students, Wellbeing, Depression, Burnout
Bios:
David J. Skorton, MD
President and CEO, Association of American Medical Colleges
David Skorton, MD, is president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which represents the nation’s medical schools, teaching hospitals and health systems, and academic societies. He began his leadership of the AAMC in July 2019 after a distinguished career in government, higher education, and medicine. Previously, Dr. Skorton served as the 13th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, where he oversaw 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and education programs. Prior to that, he served as president of two universities: Cornell University (2006 to 2015) and the University of Iowa (2003 to 2006), where he also served on the faculty for 26 years and specialized in the treatment of adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease. A pioneer of cardiac imaging and computer processing techniques, he also was co-director and co-founder of the University of Iowa Adolescent and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic. A distinguished professor at Georgetown University, Dr. Skorton is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, as well as a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Skorton earned his BA and MD degrees from Northwestern University. He completed his medical residency and fellowship in cardiology and was chief medical resident at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Amy Addams
Director, Student Affairs Alignment and Holistic Review; AAMC
Ms. Addams is a diversity, equity, and inclusion expert, change management professional, researcher, and author. She has robust experience in both higher education and in the not-for-profit space. Her work focuses on creating and sustaining equitable and inclusive systems, cultures, policies, and processes in the fields of medical education and community health. At the AAMC, she leads the holistic review work across the continuum from pre-med preparation and admissions through residency recruitment and selection as well as emerging work on disability inclusion. For the Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HPRC), she engaged Boston-area middle schools and community members to make lasting changes in nutrition and physical activity. Her credits as an author include, the Roadmap to Diversity: Integrating Holistic Review Practices into Medical School Admission Processes. Co-author of Best Practices for Conducting Residency Program Interviews and Holistic Review in Medical School Admissions and Selection: A Strategic, Mission-Driven Response to Shifting Societal Needs, and several peer reviewed articles on the prevalence and experiences of medical students with disabilities. Developmental editor for Accessibility, Inclusion, and Action in Medical Education: Lived Experiences of Learners and Physicians with Disabilities and Roadmap to Excellence: Key Concepts for Evaluating the Impact of Medical School Holistic Admissions. Developmental editor, key contributor, and facilitator of the Holistic Review in Admissions and Selection workshops.

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