Full-Court Press for GME Success: Downstate Scores Big in Nashville
By Office of the President | Mar 11, 2025
Downstate scored big at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Annual Educational Conference in Nashville, delivering a championship-level performance in graduate medical education. With an all-star lineup of faculty and program coordinators, Downstate led advancing diversity, equity, and professional development in medical training.
Teresa Y. Smith, M.D., MSEd, Melanie Cheng, M.D., and Lana Irons, M.D., brought their A-game to the ACGME conference with their session, Breaking Barriers: Enhancing Inclusion and Equity Through Centralized Remediation in GME, focused on making graduate medical education (GME) more inclusive. They outlined a winning strategy for reshaping remediation, eliminating stigma, and recognizing the external challenges trainees face. By guiding GME leaders in creating supportive and equitable learning environments, they delivered an MVP-worthy performance, leaving a lasting impact.
The Residency Program Coordinator Forum (RPCF) Executive Committee—Juliet Green, MHA, C-TAGME; Kino Williams, MS, PHR, CPHQ, C-TAGME; Chantal Littrean, MPH, C-TAGME; and Natalie Arrindell, MBA—took the court and ran the play during the afternoon plenary, delivering high energy with their session, How to Slam Dunk Your Professional Development Initiatives, before a packed house of a record-breaking 2,000 program coordinators, administrators, and institutional leaders. They presented game-winning strategies to elevate coordinators’ roles and drive the success of residency and fellowship programs nationwide.
In addition to career growth strategies and innovative development tips, they scored from half-court by introducing the Well-Being Toolkit—a first-of-its-kind resource designed to support program coordinators’ professional and personal wellness. With the crowd on its feet, the standing ovation was well-earned, setting up three-point shots for a stronger, more connected GME community.
We extend our deepest gratitude to this exceptional team for their leadership at the ACGME Annual Conference. Their enthusiasm and expertise continue to strengthen and elevate graduate medical education, leaving a lasting impact on the national stage. Through their work and rigorous preparation, precision execution, and strategic collaboration, Downstate remains a powerhouse in medical education—driving excellence, innovation, and the future of healthcare.
