This interview is one in a series of interviews with recipients of the 2024 ACGME Awards. The awardees join an outstanding group of previous honorees whose work and contributions to graduate medical education (GME) represent the best in the field. They will be honored at the ACGME Annual Educational Conference March 7-9 in Orlando, Florida.
2024 Debra L. Dooley GME Program Coordinator Awardee Graceann Endicott is the director, medical education for emergency medicine at Cooper University Health Care/Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey.
ACGME: How did you become involved in academic medicine?
Endicott: I was introduced to academic medicine in the department of surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania back in 1979. I worked with the most amazing mentor anyone could ever have for four years and then moved to New Jersey and took a position as the program coordinator in the department of internal medicine at Cooper in 1983.
This was an extremely challenging position with more than 50 residents/fellows and 100 students rotating through the department annually. There were many interesting days during my 13 years in that department. During that time, I trained my sister-in-law for my position so she could cover me while I was out on maternity leave (1989). I went back to work part-time during my daughter’s early years, and my sister-in-law blossomed in the position.
In 1994, the department of emergency medicine was established, and we were approved for an emergency medicine residency. I have been here ever since. Seeing how GME at Cooper, and especially in emergency medicine, has grown has been most rewarding. I am privileged to work with an incredible group of department and program leaders for so many years. Of note, my sister-in-law is still in GME today and has been in the GME Office at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania as a director of graduate medical education programs since 2005.
ACGME: What does this award mean to you?
Endicott: This award is very special to me, and I am honored to be one of the recipients this year. I feel blessed to be recognized among my peers who are deeply committed to their programs and work tirelessly to do everything they can to make those programs successful.
ACGME: What is the most rewarding part of being a coordinator?
Endicott: Honestly, there are so many rewarding parts, but I would say being a part of a great program that educates and trains phenomenal physicians who are wonderful, caring human beings is the most rewarding. Our chairman has created a special group here and our residents become family from Day One and most want to stay here at Cooper forever! Those who do go on to other places, always keep in touch especially around the holidays with so many sending holiday cards with pictures of their families and updating us about their lives. I am proud to have played a small part in their residency education.
ACGME: What is the most challenging part of being a coordinator?
Endicott: One of the most challenging things of being a coordinator usually has to do with getting people to do things in a timely manner without so many reminders. I know many of my colleagues echo this sentiment.
ACGME: What advice do you have to new coordinators who are just starting their careers?
Endicott: My advice to new coordinators would be to be kind to yourself, try to get a great mentor either at your institution or someone from your national residency coordinator organization. Give yourself a few years to master your position.
ACGME: Is there anything else you would like to add that we haven’t asked about?
Endicott: Thank you again for this honor!
Learn more about the ACGME’s Debra L. Dooley GME Program Coordinator Excellence Award and nominate a deserving coordinator for the 2025 Award – nominations are due by March 27, 2024.