Intealth and ACGME representatives with J-1 physician attendees at the November 19 physician well-being seminar in Chicago
Intealth and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), two leaders in the education and training of physicians, held a seminar November 19 in Chicago to promote physician well-being. The seminar, funded in part by the U.S. Department of State, focused on the unique needs of foreign national physicians training in the United States and was attended by an engaged group of J-1 physicians from graduate medical education (GME) programs in the Chicago area.
Physician well-being is a timely issue and one that is critical to the ability of trainees to learn effectively and to provide quality care to patients. While all trainees need support during the transition to U.S. GME and beyond, foreign national trainees have unique needs. The seminar was designed to learn more about and help to address the needs of this critical cohort, which comprises a significant portion of our physician workforce.
The agenda for this full-day event was informed by data collected by Intealth via its annual well-being survey and featured subject matter experts from Intealth, the ACGME, and other institutions. Throughout the day, attendees heard presentations and participated in facilitated sessions on strategies for enhancing individual resilience and overall well-being, supporting well-being changes at their training programs, and navigating institutional systems skillfully and appropriately.
Participants also heard from three J-1 physicians who led peer-to-peer well-being projects at their training institutions with financial support from Intealth and the U.S. Department of State. The seminar concluded with sessions to support attendees in customizing strategies to their training programs and translating the day’s learning into actionable strategies.
The collaboration between Intealth and the ACGME was a key component in the success of the seminar, and the organizations are natural partners. Intealth and its ECFMG division evaluate the readiness of IMGs for entry into ACGME-accredited programs of GME. Intealth is the sole J-1 visa sponsor of foreign national physicians in U.S. GME, currently sponsors more than 14,000 J-1 physicians at teaching hospitals across the nation, and is responsible for monitoring their well-being. The ACGME oversees the accreditation of nearly 13,000 U.S. GME programs and establishes educational standards essential in preparing physicians to deliver safe, high-quality medical care.
Intealth and the ACGME will continue their partnership in support of physician well-being by producing a well-being module based on recordings from the seminar. This module will be freely available, building on the success of the seminar and extending its expertise for the benefit of the thousands of foreign national physicians training in the United States and providing essential health care services.
Categories: Advocacy & Wellness, ECFMG, IMGs in U.S.