An orientation unlike any other: House officers safely welcomed amid COVID-19

In mid-June and early July each year, Michigan Medicine welcomes its newest additions to the house officer population. These amazing people come with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences as young physicians coming to Michigan Medicine to begin, or continue, their graduate medical education, residency or fellowship training.

House officers range from recent graduates fresh out of medical school to more seasoned learners joining Michigan Medicine to begin a post-residency fellowship.

This year, in the months and weeks leading up to their first days in the organization, the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office was compelled to work collaboratively to redesign several in-person events to accommodate changes in the interest of the safety and wellness of the incoming residents and fellows.

In the shadow of COVID-19, nearly all events typically scheduled to occur during the institutional orientation for new house officers were analyzed, re-examined and redesigned. Orientation events that could be converted into virtual events were; however, some events do not lend themselves to virtual platforms and as such were still scheduled to take place with strict safety considerations following recommended social distancing mandates.

GME’s remarkable partners in Health Information Technology & Services expeditiously restructured how MiChart training was to be delivered to the eager-to-get-started incoming residents and fellows. Colleagues in the Clinical Simulation Center were able to provide required life support trainings following updated American Heart Association (AHA) standards. Additionally, our partners in the medical school were able to deliver important “Residents as Educators” training by way of the Michigan Medicine MLearning platform.

Equally as important this year were partners in the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion, who provided Unconscious Bias training to help overcome health care disparities. The program was initially designed as an in-person experience and was morphed into a two-hour virtual course complete with Zoom presentations and small breakout room discussions to facilitate a personalized, meaningful session that was well received by attendees.

The extraordinary Occupational Health Services office is always accommodating, but this year their work was especially vital. They brought a team of staff to complete fit testing on all incoming house officers. It was no small feat and they completed this task by bringing with them large portable HEPA filters, a team of nurses and support staff. In collaboration with Infection Prevention & Epidemiology, additional experts in personal protective equipment were made available to ensure that each new house officer received a new N95 respirator mask and necessary training.

The institutional orientation could not have happened this year without the amazing collaborative efforts of ALL GME orientation business partners. Throughout the planning stages and the ensuing orientation events, our colleagues remained committed to the successful onboarding of our incoming residents and fellows.

GME would like to thank:

ACLS/BLS/PALS – MM Clinical Simulation Center
Niles Mayrand
Andrea Mitz
Dawn Simon
Debra Yake, R.N.
Laurie Clouse

Health Information Technology & Services
Along with countless instructors…
Preston Kelly, Ph.D.
Jamie Anderson
Nina Bosse
Charlene Eagle
Tara Manwaring
Cristina Moisa
Dima Tawakkol
Niraj Shah
Marc Stephens
Michele Meissner
Sue Senn
Jamie Croy
Marc Vezina
Molly McPhall
Megan Lowry
Sean Quinn
Motica Lowery

Shared Services Center – I-9 Processing & HR Records
Debbie Popkey
Christine Eccleston
Amanda Jarson
Kayla Schlaud
Chris Boddy
Jennifer Crosby
Will Simon
Donna Jedele

Key I-D
Reva Frye
Scott Klee

Occupational Health
Sandy Feldkamp, R.N.
Drue Stout
Tom Mann
Teresa Wackus
Janet Loveless
Tina Thumm
Rashele Wright
Mozhgan (Megan) Mohsenifar
Alyse Johnson

Safety Management Services
John Potas
James Womble
Chris Kahle
Jakob Kriebel

Parking Services
Kim LeClair
Lindsey Lossing

GME Team Members and Program Administrator Volunteers
Ali Jones
Amy Spencer
Lisa Leininger
Kim Desbrough
Barb Turgyan
Amy Cutting
Pam Borton
Russ Hathaway
Phil Hebert
Amy Steinacker
Lisa Reppenhagen
Jill Arendall
Chris Rupkey
Terri Schork
Shiela Julin

Healthcare Disparities – Unconscious Bias Training
David Brown, M.D.
Marcia Perry, M.D.
Andrew Dering, M.D.
Clarissa Love
Alvina Swidan
Michael Herrington, M.Ed., SPHR
Ali Von Au Douglas

CoMET Team
Brendan Munzer, M.D.
Daniel Cronin, M.D.
Eric Berry
Michael Ferrera, M.D.

For the many program administrators and others who gave feedback, asked great questions and brainstormed ideas to make the necessary changes and adjustments to onboarding the new house officers during the COVID-19 pandemic, thank you!