Training the Next Generation of Physicians at AAMC

In 2014, Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) was proud to earn institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This July, our Graduate Medical Education (GME) program will welcome our first class of surgical residents. Our surgical residency is phase one of establishing a full GME program.

As we look forward to the incoming residents, we’re reminded of the teaching activities AAMC has engaged in for years. AAMC has a long history of providing an excellent training ground for future generations of physicians and health care professionals. Successful AAMC fellowships in fields such as breast surgery and minimally invasive surgery demonstrate that young physicians are benefiting from our strong culture of quality and safety, as well as our emphasis on patient- and family-centered care.

AAMC general surgery research fellow Dr. Adam Weltz, of Columbia, Md., reflects on his career:

Dr. Adam Weltz

Dr. Adam Weltz

Q: Why did you choose AAMC for your fellowship?

A: I was looking for a two-year fellowship after completing general surgery residency [at University of Maryland Medical Center] that included one year of clinical research and one year of advanced minimally invasive surgery. I was very familiar with a lot of the previous work Dr. Adrian Park [chair of AAMC’s Department of Surgery] had been involved with and developed, and I specifically wanted to train under his leadership.

Q: Who or what at AAMC has had the greatest impact on your career here so far?

A: The culture at AAMC is very different from other institutions I have been a part of. There is a real focus on physician well-being and quality of life that is missing at other places. 

Q: What has been your most valuable achievement or standout moment as a research fellow at AAMC?

A: My daily interactions and work with the surgical staff including Dr. Adrian Park, Dr. Igor Belyansky and Dr. Hamid Zahiri, to name a few, have really fostered a wonderful mentorship experience. Together, we have submitted over a dozen abstracts to national and international meetings, numerous manuscripts to high-impact journals and will be presenting our work all over the world this year.

Q:  What do you look forward to next year as a clinical fellow?

A: I plan to join a robust academic program with sound senior mentorship and lots of personal growth potential. I also plan to participate in medical-relief mission work across the globe.

Q: How has AAMC contributed to your medical philosophy?

A: My medical philosophy has always been about putting the patient first, above anything else. AAMC shares that similar philosophy and strengthened my commitment to providing the best possible care I can.

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