Welcome 2024-2025 CRAB Co-Chairs!
Drs. Rachel Hall (Luminis/Anne Arundel Medical Center); Jayashrei Sairam (GBMC) and Sakthi Gautham (MedStar Health) were selected to serve as CRAB co-chairs for 2024-2025. We are so very pleased that they will be taking on this task for our MD ACP CRAB group. Each co chair has shared some of their amazing plans and goals for this year below.
Please send Kudos and congrats to them! Please look for additional information on upcoming CRAB programming.
Dr. Rachel Hall:
One of the programs I look forward to presenting this year is a lecture series on Medical Education. This would focus on topics and teaching methods within Residency and Medical Education. This series would support faculty development, residents pursuing academic medicine, and even residents in their roles teaching medical students and junior residents. I would aim for 4-5 lectures throughout the year hosted virtually in the afternoons or evenings. We would invite speakers on a variety of topics in medical education, with possible ideas including evidence-based teaching methods, evidence-based feedback methods, equity and inclusion in residency, incorporating resident wellness into teaching techniques, and resident-medical student dynamics.
The wide resources available in the area, with the presence of institutions like University of Maryland and Hopkins, as well as multiple community residency programs with fantastic educators, would give a variety of options for speakers and topics. Experts from institutions outside of Maryland could also invited to participate to broaden the scope and potential pool of speakers.
Dr. Jayashrei Sairam:
I am particularly invested in the career trajectories and future professional goals of residents. Having navigated the challenges of training in a community program, I understand the importance of creating opportunities for growth and development. One of my primary goals is to build activities that engage various residency programs across the state in collaborative research efforts. By maximizing scholarly activities and encouraging collaboration, we can not only advance medical knowledge but also build a strong sense of camaraderie among residents. This would benefit individual career development and strengthen the entire medical community in Maryland.
Additionally, I seek this opportunity to explore ways to help our institutions grow by learning from the lessons each has experienced. I hope to contribute insights from my own experience leading my program and to exchange ideas that will benefit our entire community.
Dr. Sakthi Gautham:
As an international medical graduate (IMG) who has navigated the challenges of securing a medical residency in the United States, I am committed to helping other IMGs overcome these hurdles. Every residency application season, I get numerous queries from international medical students, and IMG externs and observers. During those times, I am reminded once again how important guidance on the application process is for IMGs. As CRAB co-chair, I hope to implement workshops specifically designed for IMGs, consisting of 1-2 focused sessions around April/May to guide medical students and residency applicants on preparing for the upcoming application cycle. The sessions would feature medical residents from different programs across the city who have perspective on what makes a successful residency match for IMGs. Additionally, we could have program directors and/or faculty provide valuable insight on bolstering the application and information on what residency programs are looking for.
Depending on resident engagement with this program, we could offer personalized longitudinal mentorship for IMGs during application season. Collaborating with the MD-ACP IMG committee will help facilitate this beyond June 2025.
Additionally, I currently serve as the MHIM Wellness Committee chief, and would love to help plan wellness activities for Baltimore’s medical residents through CRAB as well. I look forward to enhancing the educational experience for our residents and students while strengthening the bonds within our medical community as CRAB co-chair.
2024-2025 Updates
MD ACP CRAB Melting Potluck/Holiday Party
Thursday, December 5, 6:30 PM | St. Agnes Hospital, Alagia Auditorium
We invite everyone to attend our CRAB Holiday event and to share this information with ALL.
Our Holiday Potluck will feature All the World’s a Stage Acting and Improvisation Exercises to Promote Collaborative Clinical Communication presented by Dr. Bernard “Beau” Landry-Wegener, Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine at JHUSOM, and a former musical theater actor who brings his unique style to this workshop. He is especially interested in using arts-based instructional strategies to teach medical trainees communication skills and aid in their professional identity formation.
We are also asking our registrants to tell about their own Holiday traditions with friends and family.
The main course, drinks, and desserts will be provided. If you are interested, we would love for you to bring one of your family's favorite appetizers or desserts.
Please be sure to register ASAP as we will need a firm head count. Please see the flyer for additional details.
Save The Date
Please see below dates that we hope that you add to your schedules and be sure to join us at these events:
Thursday, December 5, 2024, Alagia Auditorium, St. Agnes Hospital | CRAB Holiday Pot Luck Dinner with Presentation Bring your family and friends, dishes from your country of origin and of course some great stories to share.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 6:30 PM via ZOOM | Abstract and Poster Writing Workshop The "How To" on writing your abstracts and posters for our upcoming 2025 student & resident meeting
Friday, January 24, 2025, 11:30 AM- Saturday, January 25, 2025, Turf Valley Resort Ellicott City, MD | MD ACP Chapter Meeting In person and virtually
Doctors Dilemma will be held right after lunch on Saturday at 1:15 PM
Monday, April 28- Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Washington, DC | ACP Leadership Day a chance for you to meet with your Congressional delegation.
Thursday, May 1, 2025, 7:30 AM, St. Agnes Hospital | Mulholland Mohler Residents Meeting
CRAB Calendar Of Activities – 2024-2025
Thanks to all of our CRAB members who were able to attend the meeting/dinner on August 19th. Great company & great food – what could be better.
WhatsApp:
Please also share with your residents that Dr. Zayd from MHIM has created a WhatsApp group that he is requesting all chief residents to sign up for. This will allow chiefs to easily share ideas and information, and requests for assistance with each other. https://chat.whatsapp.com/IhddtEhbxv8G7AUDgaDWbL
NEW! Resident Committee:
The decision has been made to form a Resident committee that would be open to residents in their 2nd and 3rd years of training. A CRAB leader will be needed to facilitate the committee and begin the process of selecting members and planning programs. If interested please contact Maryellen at mew4work@aol.com.
Journal Club (Open to all programs):
Dr. Farshid Fargahi from Anne Arundel Medical Center was present at the meeting. He explained that last year the process of creating a Journal Club that all programs could participate in was begun. Those programs wishing to participate should contact Dr. Fargahi at the following: ffargahi@luminishealth.org. A ZOOM platform would be used to host meetings allowing programs to participate easily.
We're looking forward to another wonderful year for our CRAB group!
Dr. Colleen Christmas, Governor
Dr. Janaki Deepak & Dr. R. Dobbin Chow, CRAB Advisors