ELAM EDGE: YOUR BIWEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR EVERYTHING ELAM

LEAD STORY

ELAM Welcomed Class of 2026 at Fall Session

Last week, we welcomed our new class of ELAM and ELH fellows as they met for the first time in Philadelphia for the Fall Session. From completing their Ann Preston Case presentations and leaning into learning modules, to posing for class photos and with Rocky and the LOVE sign, the fellows were hard at work while making meaningful connections.  

Kimberly Blasius, MD, MBA (ELAM ‘26), wrote and shared a poem with the current class to mark the completion of the Ann Preston Health Sciences University (APHSU) case.

Twas the night before APHSU, and all through the hotel,

Not an ELAM was stirring, not even an ELH as well.

The binders were stacked in the boardroom with care,

In hopes that a margin would soon be there.

The CFO nestled all snug with spreadsheets,

While visions of greater-than-zeros danced in their seats.

All the leaders in blazers with strategy maps,

Had just settled budgets for fiscal-year gaps.

When what to our wondering eyes should appear,

But a pathway to surplus at the end of the year.

With the Dean and CEO’s bold strategic vision, so lively and quick,

We knew in a moment this plan just might stick.

More rapid than turnarounds our proposals they came,

And we whistled and shouted and called them by name:

“Now Quality! Now Safety! Now Service and Mission!

On Research! On Teaching! On Academic Vision!

To the top of the boardroom, present to them all—

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!”

Our initiative clear: a bold transformation,

From red into green—our financial salvation.

With Nancy Spector to guide us, our compass and light,

We will make the ELUMs proud with our strength and our might.

For the boardroom has never yet witnessed, it seems,

Such an executive leadership team so well-dreamed.

And we heard them exclaim as they wrapped up the night,

“Happy APHSU to all, and to all a good night!”

EVENTS

Join us at the

Learn Serve Lead 2025: The AAMC Annual Meeting

Visit us at booth #1013!

Swing by and say hello while you stock up on some ELAM swag.

Register for the ELAM Reception

November 2, 2025

7-9 p.m. CT

Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk (Texas Ballroom A)

San Antonio, TX

Register Here

Program remarks will begin at 7:45 p.m., allowing guests time beforehand to attend the GWIMS, COD, CFAS, and GFA joint poster session.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Be a Part of the ELAM Speakers List

The ELAM and ELH community holds a remarkable depth and breadth of knowledge. We invite ELUMs and fellows to join our Speakers List. This is an opportunity to share your expertise with fellow ELUMs and with organizations seeking speakers on a wide range of topics.

If you're interested in being included, please complete this survey. 

SPECIALTY LISTSERVS

Join one or more of our ELAM/ELUM specialty listservs for these areas/affinity groups:

Listserv Requests

To join a specific listserv or if there is a specialty listserv you would like us to create, please contact Joyce Collins at jml575@drexel.edu.

Wondering how ELAM listservs work? 

Click the ELAM Specialty Listservs 101 button below.

ELUM & FELLOW NEWS

Emilyn Alejandro, PhD (ELAM ‘26), was promoted to Full Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology in the UMN Medical School. Dr. Alejandro also received the Marvin and Hadassah Bacaner Chair in Cardiovascular Physiology.

Andrea Anderson, MD, MEd, FAAFP (ELAM ‘25), is an inaugural member of the National Academy of Medicine Standing Committee on Primary Care. She recently co-authored a number of publications including, the recently published "Response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies Proposed Rule." Other publications include "Developing and Sustaining Effective Interprofessional Primary Care Teams" (2025), and "Improving Primary Care Valuation Processes to Inform the Physician Fee Schedule" National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2025).

Leslie Appiah, MD (ELAM ‘22), has been appointed chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the School of Medicine, and executive director of the Center for Women’s Health Research at Meharry Medical College.

Linda Chaudron, MD, MS (ELAM ‘14), is the 2025 recipient of the Established Individual Leadership Award, presented by the AAMC GWIMS Individual and Organization Leadership Awards.

Heather Fagan, MD (ELH ‘25), has been named chair of the Department of Pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief for Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida. Dr. Fagan will also serve as chair of the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine - Nemours Children’s Health Department of Pediatrics. She will retain her role as the hospital’s Designated Institutional Official for graduate medical education.

Karen Friedman, MD, MS (ELAM ‘23), received the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine Special Recognition Award in April 2025. Dr. Friedman was also promoted to vice president of Education for the Medicine Service Line at Northwell Health in September 2025.

Maya Iyer, MD, MEd, FAAP (ELAM ‘26), is the 2025 recipient of two awards presented by the AAMC GWIMS Individual and Organization Leadership Awards: The Emerging Individual Leadership Award and the Established Organization Leadership Award (Widening Impact in Medicine and Science, of which Dr. Iyer directs at Ohio State).  

Candice Klug, PhD (ELAM ‘24), has been named the 2025 Graduate School Alumna of the Year by the MCW/Marquette Medical Alumni Association.

Monica Lypson, MD, MHPE (ELAM ‘13), and Nancy Spector, MD (ELAM ‘10), were both featured speakers at the 2025 Power of Women in Medicine Summit^TM. See the full agenda.  

Pictured below L to R: Monica Lypson, MD, MHPE (ELAM ‘13), and Nancy Spector, MD (ELAM ‘10)

Alyson McGregor, MD, MA (ELAM ‘21), has been announced as chair of the American Heart Association’s Upstate 2025-2026 Go Red for Women® initiative.

Mary Mulcahey, MD (ELAM ‘26), has launched a podcast titled “Lead Change,” which shares stories from physicians in various medical specialties and those in roles that support the advancement of medicine to understand the skills necessary to be an effective leader. 

Melissa Simon, MD, MPH (ELAM ‘14), is president elect of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society (AGOS).

ELUM and Fellow News/Changes

Please submit news, announcements, accomplishments, and changes using THIS FORM.

ELUM & FELLOW ARTICLES

BMJ Open, June 6, 2025:

Studies on cognitive performance among older people living with HIV in eastern Europe and central Asia: a scoping review

Esma Imerlishvili, Deborah R Gustafson, Mariam Pashalishvili, Danielle C Ompad, Mamuka Djibuti

Journal for Healthcare Quality, June 13, 2025:

Navigating an Intravenous Fluid Shortage Crisis: A Health System's Response to a Hurricane-Induced Supply Disruption

Nahass, Thomas A.; Parikh, Payal D.; Gilligan, Christopher; O'Mahony, Stephen; Loftus, Michael L.; Holecek, Nancy E.; Andy Anderson, Ruric; Granet, Kenneth M.

Otolaryngol Clin North Am., July 22, 2025:

Mentorship and Coaching

Stacey L Ishman, Carrie L Francis

BMJ Public Health, July 31, 2025:

Depression and anxiety among people living with HIV and key populations at risk for HIV in the Eastern European and Central Asian region: a scoping review

Mariam Pashalishvili, Tamar Zurashvili, Esma Imerlishvili, Anna Salnikova, Danielle C Ompad, Mamuka Djibuti

AIDS Educ Prev. August 2025:

"It's Whack, It's Not Gonna Work": Feasibility of Sociocentric Network Recruitment for Interventions Among Black, Latine, and Caribbean Priority Populations in New York City

Cho-Hee Shrader, Courtney Robinson, Motunrayo Hassan, Brandon Brown, Ji-Young Lee, Martez Smith, Carl Latkin, John A Schneider, Danielle C Ompad, Dustin T Duncan

The American Journal of Medicine, September 2025:

Promotion Support for Women in Medicine (PSWIM) Initiative: An Innovative Approach

Neha Mittal, MD, Rakhee K. Bhayani, MD, Jillian S. Catalanotti, MD, Shobhina G. Chheda, MD MPH, MPH, Susan T. Hingle, MD, Danielle Jones, MD, Margaret C. Lo, MD, Lauren A. Peccoralo, MD, MPH, Karen A. Friedman, MD, MS

The Journal of Faculty Development, September 2025:

A Faculty Development Series to Recognize, Mitigate, and Manage Bias and Racism in the Medical School Curriculum

Alonso-Luaces, Maria; Mabachi, Natabhona; Brown, Amy Caruso; Rissler, Heather; Francis, Carrie

Have You Recently Been Published in a Journal?

Please submit direct links to journal publications using THIS FORM.

ARTICLES OF NOTE

Medical Design & Outsourcing, September 15, 2025:

Women gain ground in medtech leadership, but parity remains far off

Our analysis of Medtech Big 100 companies shows more women in C-suites and nearly double the number of CEOs compared to last year, yet women remain considerably underrepresented in medtech leadership.

McKnights, September 19, 2025:

The silent leadership skill: Ethical courage in healthcare

Healthcare leaders today are facing challenges unlike any other time. The pace of change is fast, from new technologies and digital tools to evolving regulations and payment models. These pressures often collide with financial realities, making it harder to balance budgets while still improving quality and safety.

CALLS FOR APPLICATION, NOMINATION, ETC.

Apply for the Chen Institute & Science Prize for AI Accelerated Research

Through the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute and Science Prize for Al Accelerated Research, the editors of Science and the Chen Institute will recognize innovative young researchers who apply techniques in Artificial Intelligence (Al), such as Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, or Deep Learning, to address basic research questions in the physical or life sciences.

Successful applicants will have made a fundamental advance in an empirical science that would not have been feasible without using an Al-associated technique to augment the standard repertoire of methods in that field. The results should inspire other practitioners in the discipline to likewise take advantage of Al in enabling their future research.

The prize is awarded for outstanding research performed by the applicant as described in a 1,000-word essay.

Learn more.

Please submit any calls for applications, nominations, or other relevant leadership opportunities to Joyce Collins at jml575@drexel.edu.

CAREER SERVICES

Learn about the benefits of ELAM's Institutions for Leadership Advancement membership.

JOB POSTINGS

View the latest job postings by clicking the button below.

Submit Job Postings for the Edge

Please email elamcareers@drexel.edu

THE LAST WORD

The Guardian, September 17, 2025:

‘This is the hardest I’ve ever lived’: meet the US cowgirls making it as ranchers

More women are entering the US ranching and agriculture field. Their struggles – and aspirations – defy the traditional Marlboro cowboy stereotype

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