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Chattanooga Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC)

GMEC Meeting Dates

2023- 2024 GMEC Meeting Dates (usually conducted monthly - 3rd Tuesday's -- except December and June each year). Typically, our GMEC meetings are held in-person in the Erlanger POB Conference Room from 5 - 6 pm ET.  We will also have a Zoom option that will be emailed to GMEC members.  Dates are listed below:

  • July 19, 2023
  • August 16, 2023
  • September 20, 2023 
  • October 18, 2023 
  • November 15, 2023 
  • No meeting in December 2023
  • January 17, 2024 (Meeting cancelled due to weather closure)
  • February 21, 2024
  • March 21, 2024
  • April 18, 2024
  • May 16, 2024
  • No meeting in June 2024
Graduate Medical Education Committee Requirements and Structure

Paul M. Schwartzberg, DO, MBA, FAAP, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, and Designated Institutional Official [also Chair of the GMEC]

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires every Sponsoring Institution to have a Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) that, in cooperation with the Designated Institutional Official (DIO), oversees the GME Programs sponsored by the institution.  Meetings must be conducted at least once each quarter.  The ACGME requires that voting members must include:

  • Designated Institutional Official (DIO)
  • A minimum of two Program Directors of ACGME-Accredited Programs
  • A minimum of two peer-selected Residents from its ACGME-Accredited Programs
  • A quality improvement or patient safety officer or designee

Our GMEC is chaired by the DIO (Dr. Paul Schwartzberg).  Voting Members include:

  • All Department Chairs
  • All Program Directors
  • Dean, UTHSC College of Medicine - Chattanooga
  • Associate Dean, Research
  • Interim Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education
  • Assistant Dean, Finance and Administration
  • Director of Quality for CLER
  • Peer-selected Residents/Fellows from each Department
  • House Staff Association Officers
  • Erlanger CEO
  • Erlanger Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
  • Erlanger Vice President, Patient Safety and Quality
  • Erlanger Chief Medical Officer

Non-Voting Members include:

  • All Associate Program Directors (may vote when representing a Chair and/or Program Director)
  • Erlanger Chief Nursing Officer
  • Erlanger Chief Information Officer
  • Erlanger Chief Medical Information Officer
  • Chief Medical Officer, Erlanger Medical Group
  • Chief, Medical Staff, Erlanger Health System
  • Other Erlanger Administration, e.g., Chief Financial Officer (may vote if representing Erlanger Administration)
  • GME Lead Coordinator
  • GME Financial Specialist

We ask that at least one department official (Chair, Program Director, or Associate Program Director) represent each Department at the GMEC meetings.  Our GMEC usually meets ten times per year -- the third Tuesday of each month except December and June). 

Each GMEC meeting must be attended by at least one resident representative.  Minutes must be maintained and must document the requirements and responsibilities identified as part of the ACGME Institutional Requirements.  Minutes and GMEC documentation for our Campus are the responsibility of the Director of Graduate and Medical Student Education.

Responsibilities of the GMEC include:

Oversight of:

  • ACGME accreditation status of the Sponsoring Institution and each of its ACGME-accredited program
  • Quality of the GME learning and working environment within the Sponsoring Institution, each of its ACGME-Accredited programs, and its participating sites;
  • Quality of educational experiences in each ACGME-accredited program that lead to measurable achievement of educational outcomes as identified in the ACGME Common and specialty-/subspecialty-specific Program Requirements;
  • ACGME-accredited program(s)’ annual program evaluations and self-studies;
  • All processes related to reductions and closures of individual ACGME-accredited programs, major participating sites, and the Sponsoring Institution; and,
  • Provision of summary information of patient safety reports to residents, fellows, faculty members, and other clinical staff members. At a minimum, this oversight must include verification that such summary information is being provided.

Review and Approval of:

  • Institutional GME policies and procedures;
  • Annual recommendations to the Sponsoring Institution’s administration regarding resident/fellow stipends and benefits;
  • Applications for ACGME accreditation of new programs;
  • Requests for permanent changes in resident/fellow complement;
  • Major changes in each of its ACGME-accredited programs’ structure or duration of education;
  • Additions and deletions of each of its ACGME-accredited programs’ participating sites;
  • Appointment of new program directors;
  • Progress reports requested by a Review Committee;
  • Responses to Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) reports;
  • Requests for exceptions to clinical and educational work hour requirements;
  • Voluntary withdrawal of ACGME program accreditation;
  • Requests for appeal of an adverse action by a Review Committee; and,
  • Appeal presentations to an ACGME Appeals Panel.

The GME Committee is responsible to establish and implement policies and procedures regarding the quality of education and the work environment for residents, review and make recommendations on resident stipends and benefits, establish and maintain oversight of program directors, establish and implement policies regarding duty hours, ensure programs provide appropriate supervision, review all ACGME program accreditation letters, and approve correspondence to ACGME.

The GMEC must demonstrate effective oversight of the Sponsoring Institution’s accreditation through an Annual Institutional Review (AIR). 

The GMEC must identify institutional performance indicators for the AIR, to include, at a minimum: 

  • the most recent ACGME institutional letter of notification;
  • results of ACGME surveys of residents/fellows and core faculty members; and,
  • each of its ACGME-accredited programs’ ACGME accreditation information, including accreditation statuses and citations.

The DIO must annually submit a written executive summary of the AIR to the Sponsoring Institution’s Governing Body. The written executive summary must include:

  • a summary of institutional performance on indicators for the AIR; and,
  • action plans and performance monitoring procedures resulting from the AIR.

The GMEC must demonstrate effective oversight of under-performing program(s) through a Special Review process.   The Special Review process must include a protocol that:

  • establishes criteria for identifying under-performance; and
  • results in a report that describes the quality improvement goals, the corrective actions, and the process for GMEC monitoring of outcomes. 
GMEC Membership
Role Name Title/Department
Chair, GMEC (Voting Member) Paul M. Schwartzberg, DO, MBA, FAAP Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, and DIO
Deans and Dean's Office Administration (Voting Members) James W. Haynes, MD, MBA, FAAFP Dean, College of Medicine - Chattanooga
  Jeffrey Bennett, MD, MBOE Director of Quality for CLER
  Crystal Maddox, MPA Assistant Dean, Finance & Administration
  Giuseppe Pizzorno, PhD, PharmD Associate Dean, Research
GME Administration (Non-Voting Members) Nolan English GME Financial Coordinator
  Rosalyn Stewart-Kalaukoa, BS, AS GME Lead Residency Coordinator
Erlanger Administration (Voting Members) Jim Coleman, Jr, MBA Erlanger President & CEO
  Jensen Hyde, MD, MPH Erlanger Chief Medical Officer
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
also Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency; 
  Tyler WInks Erlanger Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Erlanger Administration (Non-Voting Members)  Note:  One of these below may vote to represent either the Erlanger CEO or CMO if not present. Dave Garrett Erlanger Chief Information Officer
  Christopher Poole, MD Erlanger Chief of the Medical Staff
  Rachel Harris, BSN, RN Erlanger Chief Nursing Executive
  Adam Campbell, PhD Erlanger Chief Quality Officer
Department Chairs (Voting Members Sudave Mendiratta, MD, FACEP Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine
  Leslie Griffin, MD, MPH Chair, Department of Family Medicine
  Harish Manyam, MD Interim Chair, Department of Medicine; and 
Chief, Erlanger Cardiology
  Mounzer Yassin-Kassab, MD, MS Chair, Department of Neurology; and Program Director, Neurology Residency
  Stephen DePasquale, MD, FACS Chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
  Jeremy Bruce, MD Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
  Charles Woods, Jr, MD, MS, FAAP Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics

Chief Executive Officer, Children's Hospital at Erlanger)
  Mark Brzezienski, MD, MS, FACS Professor and Chair, Department of Plastic Surgery

Program Director, Plastic Surgery Residency
  Benjamin Dart, MD, FACS Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery
  Amar Singh, MD, FACS Chair, Department of Urology
Program Directors (Voting Members) Dharmendra Patel, MD Program Director, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship
  J. Daniel Stanley, MD, FACS, FASCRS Professor, Department of Surgery; and 
Program Director, Colon & Rectal Surgery Fellowship
  Frank Tift, MD, FAEMS, FACEP Program Director, Emergency Medical Services Fellowship
  W. Douglas Gregorie, MD, FACEP Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency
  Arslan Kahloon, MD Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship
  L. Curtis Cary, MD, FAAP, FACP, MRCP (London) Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency; and 
Associate Program Director and Resident Liaison, Pediatrics Residency
  Todd Boren, MD Program Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship (AAGL-Accredited)
  Harris Hawk, MD Program Director, Neuro-Interventional Surgery Fellowship (Non-Standard)
  Angela Yates, MD Program Director, Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency
  Dirk Kiner, MD Program Director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
  Warren Gardner, II, MD Program Director, Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Fellowship (Accredited by the Orthopaedic Trauma Association)
  Karla Garcia, MD, FAAP Program Director, Pediatrics Residency
  W. Hunter Garrett, MD Program Director, Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship
  Radhika Shah, MD Program Director Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
  W. Heath Giles, MD, FACS Program Director, Surgery Residency; and ACS Mastery in General Surgery Program
  Robert Maxwell, MD, FACS

Professor, Department of Surgery; and Program DIrector, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship

  Neelima Katragunta, MD, FACS, RPVI Program Director, Vascular Surgery Fellowship
  Benjamin Smith, MD, FAEP Program Director, Clinical Ultrasound Fellowship (accredited by the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Accreditation Council)
  Anand Shridharani, MD Program Director, Urology Residency
  Benjamin Waldorf, MD Program Director, Urology Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgery Fellowship (Accredited by the Endourological Society)
Associate Program Directors (Non-Voting Members - may vote if representing a Chair or Program Director) G. Alan Hyde, MD Associate Program Director, Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship
  Karen Rogers, MD Associate Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency
  Steven Fox, MD Associate Program Director, Family Medicine; and Director LifeStyle Medicine
  Jensen Hyde, MD, MPH Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency; and Erlanger Chief Medical Officer
  Radhika Shah, MD Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency
  Sean Rice, MD Associate Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship
  A. Mitch Dizon, MD, MSCR, FACOG Associate Program Director, Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency and the MIGS Fellowship
  Jesse Doty, MD Associate Program Director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
  Mark Freeman, MD Associate Program Director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
  Vanessa Pigg, MD Assistant Program Director, Pediatrics Residency
  Amy Wells, MD Assistant Program Director, Pediatrics Residency
  Jason Zurawick, MD Associate Program Director, Pediatrics Residency
  Jason Rehm, MD Associate Program Director, Plastic Surgery Residency
  S. Dave Bhattacharya, MD, FACS Associate Program Director, Surgery Residency
  Christopher M. Bell, MD, FACS Associate Program Director, Surgery Residency
  Robert Jean, MD, FACS Associate Program Director, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship
  Jessica Lange, MD Associate Program Director, Urology Residency
  Charles Joels, MD, FACS, RPVI Associate Program Director, Vascular Surgery Fellowship
Peer-Selected Resident/Fellow Representatives (one voting member per program) Marc Erickson, MD Cardiovascular DIsease Fellowship Representative (Chief Fellow, 3rd Year, PGY-6  Level)
  Christopher Sciarretta, MD Emergency Medicine Resident Representative, PGY-3 Chief Resident
  Alex Jones, MD Family Medicine Resident Representative (Chief Resident, PGY-3   Level)
  William Oelsner, MD Gastroenterology Fellow Representative (PGY-5 Level); and Secretary, House Staff Association
  Arpita Yadav, MD Internal Medicine Representative (PGY-3 Level); and Well-Being Chair, House Staff Association
  Hannah Bowers, MD OB/GYN Resident Representative (PGY-4 Chief Resident)
  Mitchell Scull, MD Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Representative (PGY-4 Level)
  Colton Norton, MD Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Representative (PGY-5 Chief Resident)
  Kaitlyn Ellington, MD Pediatrics Resident Representative (PL-2 Level)
  Pahola Rodriguez, MD Pediatrics Resident Representative (Senior Resident, PL-3)
  Robert Kimmel, MD Plastic Surgery Resident Representative (PGY-8 Chief Resident)
  Hayley Everett, MD Surgery Resident Representative (PGY-6 Chief Resident); and House Staff Association President
  R. Chace Hicks, MD Surgery Resident Representative (PGY-4 Level); and House Staff Association Vice President
  Alex Hwang, MD Urology Resident Representative (PGY-4 Level)
Invited Guests (Non-Voting Members)
Samantha Bond Cardiovascular Disease and Gastroenterology Fellowship Coordinator
  Maggie Hamblen,
C-TAGME, CAP
Colon & Rectal Surgery Fellowship; Surgery Residency; & Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Coordinator II
  Velvet Green Emergency Medicine Residency Coordinator
  Elissa McCoy, MEd Family Medicine Residency Coordinator
  Deborah Fuller Internal Medicine Residency Coordinator II
  J. Hayden Morris Neurology Residency Coordinator
  Janie Boals, BS Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Coordinator
  Kimberly Davis, MEd, CAP, C-TAGME Orthopaedic Surgery Residency & Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Fellowship Coordinator
  Ashley Thurston,
C-TAGME, CAP
Pediatrics Residency Coordinator
  Allison Ellis. CMA Plastic Surgery Residency & Research Coordinator
  Elizabeth Eaves Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Coordinator
  Stacey Blanks,
C-TAGME, CAP
Urology Residency & Laparoscopic & Robotic Urology Surgery Fellowship Coordinator
  Cindy Rudolph, MS Vascular Surgery & Surgery Lead Coordinator
  Larissa Wolf, MD Instructor & Administrative Chief Resident, Internal Medicine Residency
GMEC CLER Subcommittee
GMEC CLER Subcommittee

  • Dr. Paul M. Schwartzberg - Chair (Associate Dean and DIO)
  • Dr. James Haynes (Dean)
  • Dr. Jeffrey Bennett (Quality Director for CLER; & Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's Hospital at Erlanger)
  • Dr. Adam Campbell (Erlanger Vice President & Chief Quality/Patient Safety Officer)
  • Elizabeth Appling (Erlanger Chief Diversity Officer)
  • Rachel Harris, RN (Erlanger Chief Nursing Executive)
  • Dr. Haley Everett (House Staff Association President & PGY-6 Chief Resident, Surgery)
  • Rosalyn Stewart-Kalaukoa, AS, BS (GME Lead Residency Coordinator)
GME Program Development and Expansion Committee

GME Program Development and Expansion Committee

  • Dr. Paul Schwartzberg - Chair (Associate Dean and DIO)
  • Dr. James Haynes (Dean)
  • Dr. Harish Manyam (Interim Chair, Department of Medicine)
  • Dr. Benjamin Dart (Chair, Department of Surgery
  • Dr. Hayley Everett (President, House Staff Association and PGY-6 Chief Resident, Surgery)
  • Crystal Maddox, MPA (Assistant Dean, Finance and Administration)
  • Steve Burkett (Erlanger Vice President, Strategy and Business Development)
  • Rosalyn Stewart-Kalaukoa, BS, AS (GME Lead Residency Coordinator)
GME Institutional Policies Committee

Institutional Policies Subcommittee

  • Dr. Paul Schwartzberg - Chair (Associate Dean and DIO)
  • Dr. James Haynes (Dean)
  • Maggie Hamblen, C-TAGME, CAP, GME Coordinator II
  • Faculty Member
  • Program Director
  • Rosalyn Stewart-Kalaukoa, AS, BS (GME Lead Residency Coordinator)

 

Feb 28, 2024