We had a fantastic time celebrating with you at the Orioles game this month. We look forward to creating more wonderful memories together!
Marc El Khoury, MD, (PGY 2; Internal Medicine) describes medicine as the lifelong pursuit of both scientific excellence and human connection. Dr. El Khoury’s inspiration to pursue medicine—and, especially, cardiology—began with his grandfather, who, despite experiencing multiple heart attacks, lived to be 100 years old. Thanks to the power of modern cardiovascular medicine, Dr. El Khoury says, he was still tending to his garden, still full of life, when he passed. Seeing how evidence-based interventions could preserve not just life but quality of life sparked Dr. El Khoury’s passion for the science behind clinical care. “At the same time, what left a lasting imprint,” he says, “was how my grandfather’s physicians cared for him in his final days—with compassion, clarity, and humanity. Their presence ensured his passing was peaceful and dignified, surrounded by loved ones. That experience taught me that medicine isn’t only about advancing knowledge; it’s also about building trust and showing up for patients and their families in moments that matter most.” Dr. El Khoury, who is originally from Byblos, Lebanon, and lived in the United Kingdom for 10 years before moving to the U.S., says MedStar Health’s motto of “One Team” is something he sees his colleagues
Last month, we discussed methods of assessment in medical education. Milestones and EPAs are both methods of assessing trainees in a system of competency-based medical education (CBME). If you recall, competency-based medical education starts with the final outcome in mind (i.e., providing excellent patient care as a competent physician) and includes levels to capture progression towards that end goal. Training programs can then design educational opportunities and/or provide coaching to help trainees gain knowledge and skills needed to move from their current level to a higher level of competence. Milestones, as published by the ACGME, focus on the individual components (i.e., knowledge and skills) needed to become a competent physician. These components vary slightly among specialties but are generally grouped under common categories, including medical knowledge, patient care, system-based practice, professionalism, interpersonal and communication skills, and practice-based learning and improvement. Within each milestone, different levels are articulated, and generally, a medical trainee should progress from level 1 as a medical student to level 5 as an attending or independent practitioner. A trainee can be at different levels within different categories at the same time (such as level 2 in medical knowledge while level 4 in communication skills), as trainees are
Historically, assessment in medical education consisted of written and oral exams of medical knowledge. However, contemporary medical education recognizes the complexity of assessment and offers multiple assessment methods to better capture the multidimensional nature of education. Some examples of modern assessment methods include the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exam), the mini-CEX (Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise), and DOPS (Direct Observation of Procedural Skills). Competency-based medical education, as discussed in our last Medical Education Minute, utilizes measures of competence, such as milestones and EPAs, that begin with the final outcome in mind but include levels to capture progression toward the end goal. When completing or reviewing an assessment, it’s important to keep the following in mind: Who is doing the assessing, and what is their perspective grounded in? (e.g., Faculty member assessing a trainee may have a different frame of reference than a trainee completing a peer evaluation.) What is being assessed? (e.g., Assessing a trainee’s medical knowledge of HIV, a trainee’s skill level in performing a laparoscopic procedure, or a trainee’s competence in leading a family meeting all assess different dimensions of a physician.) Does your assessment method align with what you intend to measure? (e.g., An in-training exam score may be
Mohammed Moumen (PGY-2; Dermatology) was drawn to MedStar Health for its robust clinical training in complex medical and pediatric dermatology, as well as the opportunity to learn from a diverse patient population across all skin tones and socioeconomic backgrounds. Originally from Morocco, he now calls D.C. home, which he loves for its vibrant environment with incredible museums, an excellent food scene, and numerous cultural opportunities. MedStar’s support for personal interests, such as the opportunity to participate in the global health track, a mission that resonates with his personal values and interests. Dr. Moumen’s journey into medicine was inspired by his mother’s struggles navigating the complexities of the healthcare system. As a result of this experience, he is committed to advocating for marginalized communities. Moreover, he developed a deep passion for dermatology due to its complexity, particularly the skin manifestations of systemic diseases. He finds the field incredibly rewarding, as it allows for continuity of care and the opportunity to build lasting patient relationships. As a dermatology resident, Dr. Moumen works in both outpatient and inpatient settings. In the outpatient setting, he manages a weekly continuity clinic and gains experience in a variety of clinical environments. In the inpatient setting, he
In celebration of Thank a Resident Day, the Baltimore Surgery Residency program expanded the initiative to Thank a Resident Week, dedicating an entire week to wellness and appreciation. This celebration was inspired by our commitment to resident wellness, guided by our Thrive wellness initiative. Using the Duke Wheel of Health as a framework, each day’s appreciation activities were structured around key wellness themes. Throughout the week, we highlighted each of our five resident classes, featuring daily messages about appreciation with wellness-focused gifts: Friday (prior): Therapy dog visit to kick off the celebration Monday (PGY-1s): Mental and Emotional Wellbeing – “Pep talk pills” with motivational quotes Tuesday (PGY-2s): Physical Activity and Fitness – Exercise dice for fun and movement Wednesday (PGY-3s): Nutrition and Lifestyle – DoorDash gift cards to support healthy choices Thursday (PGY-4s): Sleep and Rest – Sleep masks to encourage restorative rest, plus a special lunch Friday (PGY-5s): Physical Environment – Scented candles with messages of gratitude. Gift bag filled with thoughtful items, including a candle, pen, and USB drive. Thank you to all our residents for your dedication and hard work. We appreciate you today and every day!
