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 March 7-9 in Orlando, Florida.
2024 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Awardee Lindsay Sonstein, MD, FACP, is the vice chair for education and program director of the internal medicine residency program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.
ACGME: How did you become involved in medicine, and in academic medicine specifically?
Dr. Sonstein: I have been interested in being a physician since I was a little girl. I did not have anyone in the medical field around me growing up so I can honestly say I’m not sure I truly knew what it entailed. Growing up, I wanted to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. In college, I developed a passion for teaching and education and my back-up plan if I didn’t get into medical school was to become a teacher! Thus academic medicine was a natural fit: I get to see patients, teach residents and students, and dabble in administration, which I also really enjoy.
ACGME: What does this award mean to you?
Sonstein: This award means EVERYTHING to me; I literally cried when I read the award letter. Out of the thousands of program directors across the country it is so hard to believe that I was chosen for this. I am already lucky enough to have the best job in the world, this award is the icing on the cake.
ACGME: What do you feel is the most important job the program director has?
Sonstein: To support your learners and advocate for them and their education each and every day.
ACGME: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Sonstein: Watching my residents grow and develop into amazing and successful physicians. I love hearing from past graduates about how prepared they were to tackle their fellowship or their job. It means the world to me.
ACGME: What is the most challenging?
Sonstein: Setting aside time for my personal career advancement (this is important but is hard to do when you have a million other things going on).
ACGME: What advice do you have to residents or fellows who may be interested in pursuing a career in academic medicine?
Sonstein: Don’t be afraid of academic medicine. There are so many ways you can structure your career in academic medicine to meet your specific needs. Your first year or two as a faculty member—say yes to what you can! This allows you to experience all facets of academia (clinical, education, administration, and research) so you can figure out what your true passions are.
ACGME: Is there anything else you would like to add that we haven’t asked about?
Sonstein: Stay balanced; find things outside of medicine (family, hobbies, exercise, community work) to help keep you sane!
Learn more about the ACGME’s Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award and nominate a deserving program director for the 2025 Award – nominations are due by March 27, 2024.