This interview is one in a series of interviews with recipients of the 2022 ACGME Awards. The awardees join an outstanding group of previous honorees whose work and contributions to graduate medical education (GME) represent the best in the field. They will be honored at the ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place virtually March 30-April 1, 2022.
2022 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Lead Awardee Dr. Ted Epperly is the designated institutional official (DIO) at Full Circle Health in Boise, Idaho.
ACGME: How did you become involved in medicine, and in academic medicine specifically?
Dr. Epperly: I became focused and driven on a career in medicine at age 15, upon the death of my sister from congenital heart problems. I became interested in academic medical education when I was recruited out of my family medicine residency to be a faculty member at another family medicine residency program in the United States Army. I found that I enjoyed, and others observed that I enjoyed, teaching and I valued the connection with learners when the “aha” moment happens, and they truly understand a new concept in a way that brings that spark of recognition to their eyes.
ACGME: What does this award mean to you?
Epperly: This award means a lot to me! It is a pinnacle of academic achievement and leadership in creating important GME programs that are going to collectively create the physicians to care for millions of people through our graduates over the span of time. This award is a recognition by my peers that this work I have helped lead with my team has been important and valuable.
ACGME: What do you feel is the most important job a designated institutional official has?
Epperly: I believe an effective DIO integrates, coordinates, and implements multiple GME programs in a way that brings synergy to all the programs. The sum becomes greater than each of the program parts. At an institutional level the DIO creates a clinical learning environment where residents, fellows and faculty all grow and thrive.
ACGME: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Epperly: The most rewarding part of my job is utilizing all the skills of leadership to help programs, faculty, fellows, and residents achieve success and excellence. It is also rewarding to achieve our mission of serving the underserved and to all of our collective patients. The harmony and synergy of bringing together education and service in caring for patients is a powerful combination that helps both be at their best.
ACGME: What is the most challenging?
Epperly: There are two things that have become the most challenging part of being a DIO in a small rural state and bringing about change in GME. Number one is dealing with the politics of change. Getting all the right people to understand the vision in a way for them to help become part of the solution can be challenging. Number two, finding the finances and other resources to help bring about the vision of the growth of graduate medical education and its long-term importance as an investment rather than an expense is a challenge that is important to help people see.
ACGME: What advice do you have to residents or fellows who may be interested in pursuing a career in academic medicine?
Epperly: I would strongly encourage residents and fellows to consider pursuing careers in academic medicine. The reason for that is that you can contribute to knowledge and patient care in memorable and important ways that go way beyond your ability to care for all those patients individually. I would also advise residents and fellows who are interested to take a proactive step to get involved and pursue opportunities, either as a volunteer or as part of a team effort to become engaged in the active teaching of residents, fellows, and medical students. There is great joy in this. Pursue those interests of teaching and seek further knowledge and opportunities to both further your skills and to become part of programs where those contributions will last beyond a lifetime.
ACGME: Is there anything you would like to add that we haven’t already asked about?
Epperly: I would like to end with a quote from William Butler Yeats: “Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” This captures the magic and power of medical education for me. What we are trying to accomplish with residents, fellows, and faculty members is a lifelong passion of helping the next generations of physicians and academic leaders create programs and compassionate patient care that will improve the lives of all patients of our communities for lifetimes to come.
Learn more about the ACGME’s Parker J. Palmer Courage to Lead Award and nominate a deserving DIO for the 2023 Award – nominations are due by April 6, 2022.