Member benefits
"Why should I join the ACGIM? What can ACGIM do to make me a more effective Division Chief? What programs and services will ACGIM offer that will make a difference for me in my institution?"
In his introductory column, Bob Centor, MD, the "pre" President of ACGIM noted four goals for the association that are important to Division Chiefs. Here is what have we done and plan to do to met these goals:
FOUR GOALS
I. Provide professional development through leadership and management training
º In 1999 and 2000 selected GIM Division Chiefs were invited to the Association of Professors of Medicine (APM) annual meetings. A major goal of these meetings was professional development with a particular focus on leadership. Since we expect the Fall APM annual meeting will be one of the two times that GIM Chiefs will want to gather face-to-face, we plan to invite all ACGIM members to attend future APM annual meetings. The next one will be held September 14-16, 2001 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia, PA.
º At the 2000 Boston SGIM meeting the fledging ACGIM held a daylong precourse, "General Internal Medicine Division Chiefs: Money and People." In the morning, GIM Chiefs discussed common problems in GIM finance and administration. In the afternoon, we had an invited guest, Leonard Marcus, PhD, from the Harvard Business School, who gave a workshop on health care negotiation and conflict resolution.
 At our upcoming meeting
in San Diego, we will present the first ACGIM Management Institute, which is scheduled to
precede the SGIM precourses. The Institute will run from 8:00 am—12:00 noon on
Wednesday, May 2nd. The half-day session will focus on care and nurturing of
Clinician-Educators, and leadership. After the Institute, the ACGIM Executive Committee has endorsed a full day precourse directed by Jack Pierce, MD addressing the challenges leaders face when dealing with the complexities of the change process. |
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"An organization for the chiefs is critical to help us develop leadership skills to be successful in our roles" |
III. Provide Personal and Professional Networking for GIM Chiefs
º Regular meetings: We envision ACGIM members gathering face to face twice a year — at the SGIM Annual Meeting in the Spring, and with the APM in the Fall. For example, at the SGIM Annual Meeting last Spring, over 30 Chiefs gathered for a dinner, and later an interest group. Networking occurred, important information was shared and discussed, and group camaraderie was palpable.
º Website: The ACGIM button will provide instant and hopefully regular access to colleagues.
º Mentoring: ACGIM is exploring the idea of a new GIM Chief orientation. Included in that concept would be the establishment of mentoring relationships with more senior Chiefs in similar institutions.
IV. Influence and educate institutional leaders about issues relevant to academic general internal medicine
ºIn academic internal medicine, other titled groups have organizations: Chairs (APM) Association Subspecialty Professors (ASP), Association of Program Directors (APDIM), Clerkship Directors of Internal Medicine (CDIM). These groups come together under an umbrella organization — the Alliance of Internal Medicine (AIM). ACGIM has been invited to join the Alliance. It has been recognized by AIM, particularly the Chairs, that GIM Chiefs have been absent, and have an integral role in clinical care, education and research in academic medical centers. The AIM organizations meet at the fall APM conference.
ºInstitutional leaders on the local level. We believe that ACGIM will assist Division Chiefs to deal more effectively with their chairs on a direct basis, and influence hospital, practice plan, and network leaders.
CONCLUSION
We are a new organization. Our structure and goals will evolve. We believe that we can become a powerful voice in SGIM and academic internal medicine. For many, the benefit of ACGIM will revolve around professional development and interactions with GIM Chiefs. We desire a diverse and inclusive Association. When GIM Chiefs began this process two years ago, we felt that we were an organization that was past due. In May 2001, we will arrive. Please join and participate.