Jennie Craft, MPPM, C-TAGME, director of Graduate Medical Education for the UAB School of Medicine and UAB Hospital, received the 2021 GME Institutional Coordinator Excellence Award from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, recognizing her leadership and dedication to residency and fellowship training.
Craft has led graduate medical education at UAB for the past 16 years. Her career at UAB Hospital began in 1985, when she began work as a medical technologist at UAB Hospital. She has held leadership positions within the hospital, including serving as lead tech and technical supervisor for a lab section, critical care supervisor and liaison with intensive care units, and administrative director of hospital labs, before becoming director of Graduate Medical Education in 2005.
“Jennie provides expert knowledge and facilitation of all the requirements to maintain ACGME accreditation for our growing list of programs,” said Alice R. Goepfert, M.D., associate dean for Graduate Medical Education in the School of Medicine and Designated Institutional Office at UAB Hospital. “Jennie does everything with great humility. She leads by example with calm strength, fierce advocacy for program directors and coordinators, and respect and compassion for each individual resident and fellow. She is the ultimate servant leader.”
The GME Institutional Coordinator Award recognizes an institutional coordinator who demonstrates in-depth knowledge of graduate medical education and the process for internal review. According to the ACGME website, the award winners are leaders who skillfully manage the multiple roles of administrator, counselor, enforcer, coordinator, organizer and scheduler.
“During her directorship, she has led by example through her remarkable character and has built an impressive record of achievement that has directly impacted residents and fellows at UAB,” said John Killian, Jr., M.D., resident in the Department of Surgery and president of the House Staff Council. “Ms. Craft is a tireless advocate for trainees, treating all members of our community with dignity and respect. Her positivity and organizational skills have greatly benefitted the GME community, and she has been instrumental in our training programs’ success.”
Craft will be formally recognized during a special session of the virtual 2021 ACGME Annual Educational Conference on Feb. 24-26, 2021.