pearls and pitfalls of a program director

Pearls and Pitfalls of a Program DirectorAdelle Atkinson, MD, FRCPC

Paediatrics

Objectives – what will we talk aboutSome reflections on a first term as Program

Director

Some things that keep me awake at night

Top 10 things I would advise (if asked)

Discussion

Some ReflectionsIt is very difficult to describe the scope of the responsibilities of a Residency Program Director!

Blue book: “The program director is responsible for the overall conduct of the integrated residency program. The program director must be assured of sufficient time and support to supervise and administer the program. The program director is responsible to the head of the department concerned and to the postgraduate dean of the faculty.”

Program Director’s Handbook: “The Royal College relies on Program Directors to ensure that residents are able to achieve the competencies of their specialty and that they are thoroughly prepared for their certification examinations and future careers as specialist physicians and surgeons. The Royal College supports your efforts to maintain the highest quality of residency recruitment, training and evaluation.”

EducatorSocial WorkerAmateur PsychiatristSchedulerProblem Solver (daily)Recruiter AdministratorCurriculum DesignerEvaluation Designer

Things that keep me awake at night1. CaRMS (just because I am up late reading files!)

1. Book time for file reading in your calendar way in advance2. Accreditation

1. Start preparing your documents months in advance3. Resident in difficulty – academic or professionalism

(especially if it is professionalism)1. Ensure to engage your remediation committee, don’t do it

alone2. Document, document, document

4. Emails – residents, PG, RCPSC1. Book time in your calendar for ‘email review’2. Try to touch emails once

Top 10 Things I would advise

#1Every time you ask a question, make a change, deal with an important issue, do it in a scholarly way.

1. Participating in scholarly activity is important, fun and keeps the work interesting

2. Other people will find it useful, so try to get it out there

3. Example: Residency Research Project, Night Float trial

Top 10 Things I would advise#2Rely on your RPC

1. There are multiple daily decisions to be made2. Some decisions have significant

consequences/impact3. The RPC provides support, consultation, great

ideas and represents all aspects of your program4. Example: Program evaluation – resident retreat

reports

Top 10 things I would advise#3 Ask the residents, they often have

innovative solutions to problems1. Residents should be engaged at each stage of any

process of decision-making and change2. Engaged residents feel an ownership of the

program3. Example: academic ½ day attendance

Top 10 things I would advise

#4 Collaborate with the Program Directors in your specialty across the country, get on the listserv!

1. We all have the similar issues, some are specialty specific.

2. Important to know what is being done across the country from a program delivery point of view.

3. You will get ideas for our own program

4. Example: STACER format, 4th year on call survey (Chiefs and program directors)

Top 10 Things I would advise#5 Create a culture of transparency

1. Context is important2. Keep residents up to date with changes, even

while in progress3. Include residents in the changes4. Example: RCPSC exam time changes.

Top 10 Things I would advise#6 Take advantage of some CE in medical

education if you have the opportunity.1. Provides you with really useful tools.2. Networking3. Value added for the PD job

Top 10 Things I would advise#7 If you have a resident in difficulty, get

onto the issues immediately and ask for help.1. Residents in difficulty often get picked up later in

training2. Remediation plans take time and resources3. Example: in-house remediation

Top 10 Things I would advise#8 Use the resources around you, locally at

your site, the PG office and the RCPSC, College of Family Practice.

1. Have a number of people on speed-dial from the PG office, they can answer pretty much any question within seconds.

Top 10 Things I would advise#9 Think about how to best balance the

roles of resident advocate and being supportive of and working with faculty who teach the residents

1. Need credibility in both arenas2. Sometimes have to have difficult conversations

both with faculty and residents

Top 10 Things I would advise#10 Choose your Chief Residents carefully

and provide them with mentorship.1. They are your right/left hands.

Objectives – what we didSome reflections on a first term as Program

DirectorSome things that keep me awake at nightTop 10 things I would adviseDiscussion

It’s a great job!

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