Dr. Marcy Mintz: 2020 Program Director of the Year Award recipient
Dr. Marcy Mintz is director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. Over many years in this key role, Dr. Mintz has distinguished herself in myriad ways, including as an innovator and leader in residency education, compassionate and humanistic director devoted to resident wellness, and inspirational role model.
Ahead of the curve
Dr. Mintz was the program’s driving force in its transition to competency based medical education (CBME), which she initiated at least one year ahead of schedule when she foresaw the many changes that the transition would entail for curriculum, residents and faculty. Being ahead of the curve enabled the IM program to pilot CBME for two years before implementation, including starting a competence committee, designing a platform for a simulated e-portfolio, and entering hundreds of EPAs ahead of schedule.
Far-reaching work
Dr. Mintz’s work reaches far beyond her own program. She worked with the Cumming School’s Department of Emergency Medicine to create a joint internal medicine/emergency room committee that improves collaboration and communication between the two city-wide departments. She also established a working group with the Department of Cardiac Sciences to create innovative ways to improve respectful relationships.
Nationally, Dr. Mintz served on the Internal Medicine Royal College Exam Committee for six years, during which the committee redeveloped the exam databank and set questions for the yearly written certifying examination. Since 2012, she has served as an examiner for Royal College oral exams. She also serves on the Canadian Internal Medicine Program Director Committee.
Committed to her residents
In the area of resident wellness, Dr. Mintz’s contribution has been exemplary, and her program has a reputation for being among the friendliest and most collegial in Canada. She spends hundreds of hours per year in one-one-on meetings with trainees, giving advice on major life decisions, supporting them through crises and helping them decide on fellowship paths. Dr. Mintz’s residents have mandatory holiday time, and a resident wellness committee keeps a close eye on resident health, life balance and collegiality within the program.
Dr. Mintz’s commitment to her program appears to have no limits. This award from the Royal College complements the many she has won from the Cumming School of Medicine since 2004 – for everything from excellence in small-group teaching to the school’s sweeping Department of Medicine Professionalism Award.
Dr. Mintz will be recognized and celebrated during the virtual ICRE series on December 9, 2020.
