People Profile – Dr. Kathy Stolarz

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Kathy Stolarz, DO, FAAFP, (Family Medicine)

Kathy Stolarz, DO, FAAFP, (Family Medicine) dreams of a healthcare system where each and every patient has access to excellent care without regard to socioeconomic factors or type of health insurance.

“As the daughter of an immigrant and the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, I am passionate about creating an inclusive healthcare system that addresses the needs of populations that experience adversity,” she explains.

This passion—and an interest in developing tangible skills to address healthcare disparities in her own backyard and across the globe—initially led Dr. Stolarz to become a Family Physician. Now, as the Associate Director of Global Health, MedStar Academic Affairs, she underscores how the recent pandemic made clear the importance of global health. “We cannot provide healthcare in a silo. The future of healthcare IS global health,” she says.

According to Dr. Stolarz, the opportunities at MedStar Health for global health engagement have allowed her to grow an international network of bidirectional partnerships, work with residents and faculty from all specialties across Medstar Health, and advocate to Senators and Congressmen on important healthcare issues.

And, through the MedStar-Georgetown Global Health Equity Track, Dr. Stolarz says MedStar Health is training the next generation of physicians to meet global health needs. She encourages interested MedStar Health GME learners to contact her and get involved. She also encourages GME learners to travel and experience another healthcare system outside of the United States, if possible, and explains, “Your eyes will be opened to the possibilities and opportunities that exist for change.”

In addition to her role in global health, Dr. Stolarz is also the Associate Program Director for the Department of Family Medicine at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Georgetown University. Dr. Stolarz calls family medicine physicians the “Swiss Army Knives of healthcare” on account of their unique skillset and ability to care for patients of any age in a multitude of settings.

When she’s not caring for patients or training family medicine residents in the inpatient, outpatient, and labor and delivery settings, you can find Dr. Stolarz on hiking trails around Baltimore with her son, daughter, and husband or on the soccer field where she plays each week (and says she is actively recruiting other physicians to join her!).

People Profile – Dr. Jeffrey Breton

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Jeffrey Breton, MD, (PGY 4; Neurological Surgery)

Jeffrey Breton, MD, (PGY 4; Neurological Surgery) was recently elected as one of the newest members to MedStar Health’s Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), the team of residents and administrators that oversees the system’s many residency and fellowship programs.

Dr. Breton hopes to use his GMEC role to help fellow residents maximize valuable education time while respecting their needs as humans and providing an equitable and fulfilling workplace.

“There are many competing pressures on residents to be productive clinically and academically, with the expectation of somehow simultaneously mastering a specialty, possibly securing a fellowship, and trying to live your life outside of the hospital,” Dr. Breton explains.

He says his co-residents—whom he describes as “a source of knowledge, support, occasional commiseration, and friendship”—have been an immense help in managing these pressures. He also credits the neurosurgery faculty with taking a keen interest in their learners’ education and well-being and helping them succeed.

To incoming residents, Dr. Breton suggests a practical solution for juggling competing priorities: “Organization is paramount. With inspiration from one of the senior residents, I developed a color-coded organizational system to make sure I knew which consults I needed to call, drains I needed to pull, orders I needed to place, and consults to see and staff.” With a system like this in place, he says he’s been able focus more of his energy on learning medicine and taking care of patients.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Breton tries to set boundaries and make space for the activities he enjoys most, like reading; hiking; following his favorite baseball teams, the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants; honing his musical talents on the guitar, piano, and ukulele; and spending time with his co-residents, friends, and fiancée.

A fellow at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), a part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Breton often thinks about how healthcare might change in the future. CMMI develops and implements models for new and innovative forms of healthcare delivery. “These alternative payment models revise the incentive structure with the goal of improving quality or decreasing cost while keeping an eye towards addressing health inequities,” he explains. “In the future, I expect that there will be a larger role for quality and outcome-based metrics for public and private payers than there is today.”

People Profile – Liza Shaban

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Liza Shaban, MD, (PGY 2; Internal Medicine)

Liza Shaban, MD, (PGY 2; Internal Medicine) is a dedicated physician who calls both Jordan and Washington, D.C. home. She draws inspiration from her upbringing, where she was encouraged to look for ways to make a difference in the world. This sense of service led her to a career in medicine, with a focus on internal medicine. Dr. Shaban is passionate about providing equitable healthcare and has developed a strong interest in working with diverse populations through her clinical training and research.

“My inspiration to pursue medicine came from a combination of personal experiences and a desire to serve others,” she says. “Growing up in an empowering home and school environment, I was encouraged to overcome societal limits and give back to my community. Volunteering ignited my passion for equitable healthcare. My clinical training and research further solidified my interest in internal medicine and affirmed my commitment to serving diverse populations.”

As one of the newest members of the System GMEC (Graduate Medical Education Committee), Dr. Shaban is committed to improving medical education and residency training. She advocates for resident well-being and inclusivity, aiming to shape policies that create a supportive learning environment. Her success at MedStar Health has been driven by the collaborative culture and leadership within the organization, along with her proactive approach to learning and skill development.

In her personal life, Dr. Shaban maintains a balance through activities like pickleball, cooking, and spending time with friends. She encourages her colleagues to prioritize their well-being and build strong support networks during the demanding training years. Looking ahead, Dr. Shaban envisions a future in U.S. medicine that prioritizes preventive care, improves care coordination, and addresses healthcare disparities to ensure equitable access for all.

People Profile – Dr. Katherine Lewis

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Katherine Lewis, DO, (PGY 2; Family Medicine)

Katherine Lewis, DO, (PGY 2; Family Medicine) is a dedicated Family Medicine physician at MedStar Franklin Square in Baltimore, MD. Originally from Columbia in Howard County, Maryland, Dr. Lewis is excited to be practicing medicine in her home state. Her passion for medicine began early on, driven by a desire to interact with people daily and serve her community.

“Medicine was the only career I ever considered because I had always wanted a job where I could interact with people daily and serve my community,” she says. “I love that everyone is their own puzzle with a thousand different solutions, and it’s our job to find the best solutions to the puzzle that fits the patient’s goals.”

Dr. Lewis was drawn to family medicine because of the continuity of care it offers and the opportunity to help patients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. She values being a central point of support for her patients and providing holistic, patient-centered care.

At MedStar Health, Dr. Lewis credits her success to the support of her colleagues, including her fellow residents and attending physicians, who provide mentorship and encouragement. Outside of work, she prioritizes her well-being by staying active with the Canton Run Club, kayaking, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets, Riggins and Rory.

As a prospective member of the System GMEC (Graduate Medical Education Committee), Katherine strives to make a difference. She is an advocate for positive change that enhances the resident experience at MedStar. She is approachable, open to feedback, and committed to being a team player. Her focus includes improving resident safety, wellness, and creative supportive spaces, ensuring that residents can thrive both personally and professionally.

Dr. Lewis envisions a future healthcare system that is more accessible and supportive for all patients, without the barriers that currently limit access to necessary care and treatments. When she’s not focused on medicine, she enjoys exercising, cooking, and planning her upcoming wedding.

September 17: GME Town Hall

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Medical Educator Minute – “Coaching” in medical education

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What is “coaching” in medical education, and how is it different from traditional teaching and feedback?

Coaching helps learners recognize their growth potential and fosters responsibility in finding their own path to improvement. Unlike traditional teaching, which focuses on telling, coaching emphasizes asking, enabling learners to develop lifelong adaptive skills (Hammound et al., 2022). While formal coaching programs exist, “impromptu coaching” is gaining attention for its ability to support trainee growth through brief, focused interactions based on a specific area, skill, or patient encounter that has been directly observed by the coach.

Five factors for effective impromptu coaching:

  1. Identify coachable moments – this can be any observed moment of patient care
  2. Create a supportive setting – ensure appropriate time and space for conversation
  3. Use time wisely – focus on a specific skill or area
  4. Ask questions – the hallmark of coaching – to help the learner uncover their own mental processes, strengths, and gaps
  5. Build a trusting relationship – coaching is grounded in growth mindset, ensure the learner feels capable of improvement

So, what does this look like in practice?

You’ve just finished rounds with your learner. During the last patient encounter, the patient’s family member became upset when discussing the plan of care. The learner seemed uncomfortable and ended the encounter quickly, seemingly dismissing their concerns.

  1. “Before we move on for the day, do you have a minute? I’d like to debrief that last encounter.”
  2. “I felt it got a little tense at the end, what was your experience?”
  3. “What part made you uncomfortable?”
  4. “Why do you think the family member responded that way? How might you have approached the conversation differently?”
  5. “Conflict can be very uncomfortable. What do you think you can do to make the conversation more comfortable?”
  6. “How can I help you work on these skills?”

To learn more: