Oral Abstract Presentations

Innovative Leadership Development Curriculum for Women Trainees in the Department of Medicine: A FWIM Initiative 

1. • Presenter: Gayathri Krishnan, MD

   • Description: The FWIM Trainee Leadership Development Program is an 8-month certificate pathway for residents, chief residents and fellows in the Department of Medicine that is aimed at instilling trainees with critical leadership skills needed to successfully advance in medicine. The curriculum covers topics such as effective communication skills, negotiation strategies, creating individual career development plans, curating a professional network, and leveraging one's strengths. Trainees get faculty mentorship through the program as well. Gayathri Krishnan, MD, MHPE is the Director of the FWIM TLDP and will share data on program outcomes collected over the last two years. 

Teaching Shared-Decision Making During Telehealth: An Experiential Learning Intervention for Rheumatology Fellows in Training

1. • Presenter: Alberto Maria Sobrero, BSc

   • Description: This presentation highlights the development and evaluation of an educational intervention aimed at enhancing telehealth (TH) and shared decision-making (SDM) skills among rheumatology fellows-in-training (FITs). FITs completed a pre-intervention TH encounter, an online module, a simulated patient encounter focused on SDM, and a post-intervention encounter. Results showed significant improvements in FITs' confidence in SDM skills during TH and improvement in FITs’ performance of general TH skills. These findings suggest that targeted educational interventions can effectively prepare FITs for patient-centered care in TH settings. 

Promoting Surgical Resident Well-Being through Therapist-Facilitated Discussion Groups: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

1. • Presenter: Jorge Zarate Rodriguez, MD

   • Description: To promote the well-being of surgery and OBGYN residents, the GME Wellness Program began offering confidential therapy-led discussion groups to provide residents with a safe space to discuss common issues and create community. This is a quantitative and qualitative survey-based study aiming to understand residents’ experience participating in these groups. Overall, the groups improved resident wellness and fostered relatedness; residents found the opportunity to discuss shared struggles the most valuable aspect of the discussion groups.