The Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office is the administrative support unit responsible for overseeing all activities related to GME at UAB. Currently there are 97 ACGME-accredited programs at the Birmingham campus and 4 additional programs located in Huntsville, Montgomery, and Selma. Currently, there are approximately 1,200 residents and fellows enrolled in these programs.
Group photo of Graduate Medical Education Staff
In Academic Year 2022-23, of the 873 of institutions that sponsor GME training programs in the U.S., UAB is one of only 23 that have greater than 100 ACGME-accredited programs. The number of UAB GME programs has increased by 5% over the past 3 years and growth is continuing. We are in the process of adding two new Psychiatry residencies at the Huntsville and Montgomery campuses to help UAB expand mental health providers in our state.
Dr. Alice R. Goepfert is the physician leader and serves as the Associate Dean for GME and the Designated Institutional Official. She is responsible for overseeing and administering all ACGME-accredited programs. She works in conjunction with the Dean’s Council for Graduate Medical Education that is comprised of Program Directors, Program Coordinators, Residents, Fellows and health system leaders to ensure that the quality of education and work environment is upheld in all programs.
Other GME leaders include Dr. Brenessa Lindeman, Associate DIO for the Clinical Learning Environment and Assistant Dean for GME, Dr. Latisha Elopre , Assistant Dean for Medical Education Diversity and Inclusion, Jennie Craft, Sr. Director , and Karley Beale, Operations Director. In addition, a House Staff Council (HSC) serves as a resident forum with membership representing all programs. The HSC meets regularly and provides an opportunity for residents and fellows to communicate and exchange information about their various work environment, ensuring compliance with ACGME requirements. Dr. Stephanie Rakestraw, General Surgery resident, is the AY 2023-24 President.
The GME Office consists of 10 staff members who are consultants to our Program Directors, Program Coordinators, Residents and Fellows for GME required processes.
The GME Office has four areas of focus: institutional and program accreditation, finance, human resources/compliance, and onboarding new trainees each year.
Maintaining accreditation for both the institution and individual programs involves focusing on activities to routinely monitor compliance with ACGME requirements and having oversight responsibility of the quality of the GME learning and working environment, as well as work hour compliance.
Other areas of the GME Office focus on maintaining data on resident schedules and human resource personnel files in compliance with ACGME and Joint Commission requirements, and onboarding over 300 new residents and fellows each summer.
The GME Office is the foundation of the administrative operations in helping to train the next generation of physicians. Click here to learn more.