So You Want to Be an Assistant/Associate Program Director? The Many Paths Forward

Aspiring educators often find themselves drawn to the prospect of program leadership, and the position of Associate/Assistant Program Director (APD) serves as an excellent introduction to an enriching academic career. For an aspiring APD, it can be difficult to imagine the integration of personal career goals with the wide breadth of APD roles and responsibilities. In this session, we will outline the wide variety of APD roles and responsibilities in the administrative, management, academic, and research realms. We will guide you through the journey from junior faculty to program leadership, offering insights into developing the mindset required for success. With changing responsibilities and altered work dynamics, transitioning to an APD role can be difficult.

This session will equip attendees with the tools to embrace these changes and tackle the unique challenges head-on, shed light on the distinct opportunities that the role presents for clinical, scholarly, and administrative accomplishments, as well as gain a comprehensive understanding of the diverse roles and responsibilities of an APD, craft a personalized career roadmap, and leave with the knowledge and strategies to flourish in your new role.

Presenters:

  • Geoff B. Comp, DO, FACEP
  • Justin Holmes, MD
  • Mary E. McLean, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
  • Leah M. Bralow, MD
  • Elspeth K. Pearce, MD
  • Kristen Whitworth, DO
  • Alina Tsyrulnik, MD

Authors

  • Geoff B. Comp, DO, FACEP

    Valleywise Hospital

    Dr. Geoff Comp is currently an Associate Program Director for the Creighton University School of Medicine Emergency Medicine Residency at the Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Geoff participates as a leader, mentor, and advocate for wilderness medicine and EM medical education with experience lecturing and teaching locally, regionally, and nationally. His professional and research focus includes wilderness medicine, physician wellness, mentorship, as well as innovation in medical education. He constantly seeks opportunities to combine his interests through collaboration with others and outdoor exploration. Outside of medicine, Geoff can be found running or road biking, trying to find the best Mexican food in Arizona, or chasing his two-year-old twin boys (Austin and Carter) with his wife, Mackenzie.

  • Justin Holmes, MD

    Texas Tech University HSC

    I attended medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center- Lubbock and completed my residency training at Baylor Scott and White- Temple, TX. I started at UMC/TTUHSC in July 2018 as an Emergency Medicine attending and Clerkship Director. I transitioned to Associate Program Director in 2021. In my spare time I enjoy going camping and spending time with my wife and 3 boys.

  • Mary E. McLean, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

    AdventHealth East Orlando

    Mary McLean is an Assistant Residency Director for the AdventHealth East Orlando EM Residency Program, and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency and Internal Medicine for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. She originally hails from Portland, Oregon, and completed her medical education at Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine and St. John’s Riverside Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Her professional interests include medical education, research, scholarly activity, public speaking, leadership and advocacy, bias, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has spoken nationally and internationally on the medical management of cardiac, neurologic, OB/GYN, neurologic, and traumatic emergencies, as well as on medical education and career development topics. Outside of work, she enjoys documentaries, animals, travel, and being a foodie.

  • Leah M. Bralow, MD

    St. Barnabas Hospital/CUNY

    Dr. Bralow completed residency at NYP Cornell/Columbia in 2013. She later because the director of the emergency medicine sub-internship at Columbia University for several years before becoming an Assistant Program Director at St. Barnabas in the Bronx. As APD, she is primarily responsible for designing the residency core education curriculum and for coordinating resident and faculty feedback. Her interests are curriculum design, feedback structure, disaster medicine and undersea and hyperbaric medicine. An avid SCUBA diver, Dr. Bralow loves to explore the world's oceans any opportunity she gets.

  • Elspeth K. Pearce, MD

    Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine

    University of Kansas Medical Center

    Elspeth Pearce, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and trained in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Dr. Pearce is the associate program director and director of simulation for the emergency medicine residency program. She also has a faculty appointment in the School of Medicine, in conjunction with the Zamierowski Institute for Experiential Learning, preparing and delivering longitudinal simulation curriculum for medical students. She has an interest in multimodal medical education, gamification, psychological safety in medical education, feedback, and coaching. Other interests include LGBTQ+ health disparities and reducing bias in medical education.

  • Kristen Whitworth, DO

    Corewell Health Lakeland

    Kristen Whitworth is the Associate Program Director for Corewell Health Lakeland Emergency Medicine Residency in Saint Joseph, MI. She received her undergraduate degree in biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and her doctorate of osteopathy from LECOM Bradenton. She completed a longitudinal track in medical education during her emergency medicine residency at Corewell Health Lakeland with a focus on simulation. Following residency, she assumed the role of Simulation Director of Corewell Health South and joined their emergency medicine faculty. She completed additional simulation training through the Center for Medical Simulation and the MSU Learning and Assessment Center. Her professional interests include creativity, resident wellness, women in medicine, and curriculum development.

  • Alina Tsyrulnik, MD

    Yale University

    Alina Tsyrulnik, MD attended Barnard College majoring in biology and minoring in psychology, graduating Suma Cum Laude. Thereafter, she pursued a medical degree at New York University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Yale University School of Medicine. She served as Chief Resident 2011-2012. Upon the completion of her residency, Dr. Tsyrulnik accepted a faculty position in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Yale University School of medicine. In 2013 she became the Assistant Residency Director for the department, and in 2017 she became the Associate Residency Director. Dr. Tsyrulnik is primarily in charge of the Emergency Department’s PGY2 class, taking a central role in mentorship, remediation, and clinical as well as academic development of 19 residents per year. In 2022, Dr. Tsyrulnik became the MD Director for the Interprofessional Longitudinal Clinical Experience (ILCE) course for Yale School of Medicine. The course centers on developing clinical skills in an interprofessional setting of MD, PA, and MSN students. Her academic interests are in resident education and assessment.

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