GME in New Space that Fosters Collaboration and Innovation

Amidst the fury of regularly scheduled excitement and activity brought on by the ending of one June and beginning of another July, the Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME) is embarking on more than the typical season of off- and on-boarding of UMMC Resident and Fellow physicians.  This new anticipation is coming into focus after quite some time.  Since late 2017-early 2018, plans for an expansion and renovation of the GME administrative offices have been underway.  For more than four decades, centralized GME administration has been run out of a three-room suite off of the Hall of Heads, and next door to the former UMMC School of Medicine, across from the Office of Graduate Studies.  In that time, ACGME-accredited Program offerings have grown to over 65-accredited GME Programs.  It only served logic for the physical space to expand, too.  However, after construction and planning challenges and then a barrage of logistical hard-stops and supply chain issues brought on by COVID, plans had been halted.  The GME office, nonetheless, persisted in serving current House Officers and Programs, all the while continuing plans and workflow for a future GME workforce and administrative environment.  Plans for that environment came to fruition in late January 2023.  Saying "Goodbye!" after many years to the trusted office space - to include the plush green carpet that was older than even the most experienced House Officer - a GME relocation came about, shifting the office staff to the University Rehabilitation Center just in time to firm up plans to on-board roughly 200 individuals to training and employment.  Construction progressed swiftly, and, after almost four months, the GME Office staff have returned to begin establishing a work environment better suited to serve the House Officer workforce of more than 700 employees.  Featured in the newly renovated and expanded GME office is an interior conference room, a learning lab and touchdown space for Program personnel, a drop-in workstation for Residents and Fellows, a dedicated GME Associate Dean's office, and, overall, more room for collaborating with GME stakeholders.  Not to mention the windows!  With 200 seniors leaving during this time, along with 200 new-hire House Officers beginning, and 500 progressing House Officers advancing, GME is not lacking for activity.  However, once the new academic year is officially in full swing, the GME Office is excited to settle into the future of GME at UMMC - one where collaboration, innovation, and forward thinking has a proper place to thrive.