This interview is one in a series of interviews with recipients of the 2024 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 March 7-9, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.
2024 Courage to Teach Awardee Dr. Eric Hsieh is vice chair for Educational Affairs and the program director of the internal medicine residency at Los Angeles General Medical Center and Keck Medical Center.
ACGME: How did you become involved in medicine, and in academic medicine specifically?
Dr. Hsieh: My journey to academic medicine has always been because of great mentors. I have had some amazing teachers and mentors who have had a significant impact in my life. The privilege to work in academic medicine and give back even a small fraction of the mentorship I have received has been an honor for me.
ACGME: What does this award mean to you?
Hsieh: What an amazing honor! More than anything it’s a testament to our amazing residents, faculty members, staff members, and leadership team. I’m amazed by all of them each and every day. It will always be one of the greatest privileges of my life to work with all of these individuals.
ACGME: What do you feel is the most important job the program director has?
Hsieh: Building a strong team around you! This isn’t a one-person job. Having great coordinators, associate directors, and staff and faculty members is the only way to be effective.
ACGME: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Hsieh: Watching our residents evolve into talented, confident physicians. Each resident’s path is unique with its own set of hurdles and challenges. Watching them all achieve their career goals and playing whatever small part I can is very gratifying.
ACGME: What is the most challenging?
Hsieh: Balancing my own work-life balance with the needs of our residents is both challenging and rewarding.
ACGME: What advice do you have to residents or fellows who may be interested in pursuing a career in academic medicine?
Hsieh: It’s a career where you get to work with interesting, dedicated people and help shape the lives of young physicians. But there are multiple career paths within academic medicine, so definitely talk to your mentors, your teachers, and your program directors about those different paths.
Learn more about the ACGME’s Courage to Teach Award and nominate a deserving program director for the 2025 Award – nominations are due by March 27, 2024.