Inside Duke Medicine
GME fund marks a milestone
posted September 16th, 2008Duke University Health System marked the first year of its GME innovation fund at a Sept. 10 celebration at the John Hope Franklin Center. The fund’s goal is to allow program directors, faculty and trainees to develop sustainable short-term initiatives to enhance Duke’s learning environment and contribute to quality patient care. In all, 25 of 26 proposals were approved in the first year covering 13 departments. First-year funding averaged more than $67,000.
Proposals for future funding are due by Jan. 1, 2009, for grants of $50,000 to $100,000 a year for three years, with the option to reapply for an additional three years. For application guidelines, go to the GME website www.gme.duke.edu.
The GME funding has been well-received. A survey found that more than 80 percent of those who received money said they would not have been able to do their project without the support. Many cited benefits ranging from increasing interest in medical education and allowing for collaboration, to enhancing programs with technology and making learning easier, convenient and more fun.
The celebration featured comments from Chancellor for Health Affairs Victor Dzau, M.D.; Vice President for Medical Affairs Michael Cuffe, M.D.; and GME Director John Weinerth, M.D.
It also featured presentations by funding recipients David Tanaka, M.D., on improving residents’ resuscitation skills; Michael Haglund, M.D., on the Duke neurosurgery innovation grant; and Suzanne Woods, M.D., on promoting individualized learning plans for internal medicine residents through advancement of the advising process.