What drew you to this role and to Emory at this point in your career?

I absolutely loved my role building a new medical school as a founding faculty member at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville and subsequently leading a curricular refresh and other new programs there over the last few years. This position at Emory was attractive to me because I love feeling connected to an undergraduate campus and seeing students thrive in all aspects of health professions, in addition to the MD program.

Everyone I met made me feel so welcome during the interview process, and I saw Emory as a place to grow professionally and a place where I could also bring new ideas to further enhance the medical education program. 

What do you find most exciting about the field of medical education? What do you view as our greatest challenge?

Medical education is constantly evolving, as we look for new ways to support the learning of our students, given the surplus of third-party resources available. Yet, there is really no substitute for learning to take an excellent history, perform a thorough physical exam, develop critical thinking skills, and enhance communication to provide patient-centered care other than deliberate practice with patients and faculty. Curricula are constantly transforming and refreshing to augment these skills for our learners and being part of this process is exciting. Sometimes the greatest challenge can be supporting learners through the rigorous educational process, especially when additional stressors happen with their health, family, or other. They are always going 24/7 and taking a break to recharge and refresh is important, and we need to convey that priority as part of the practice of medicine.

What advice do you have for students navigating the demands of medical education today?

I would recommend that you always keep the patient at the center. In addition, I would say that you must care well for yourself to provide compassionate, attentive, and high-quality care for others.

Tell us one interesting thing about yourself that we won’t find on your CV.

I absolutely love to be outdoors whenever I can – running, hiking, cycling, snow skiing, playing pickleball or tennis, or just exploring new areas. I have also been an avid soccer mom for many years.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Buchanan as she continues her work to innovate and transform our education programs. I am grateful for her leadership and look forward to the impact she will have on our learners, faculty, and educational programs.

My best,

Sandra

Sandra L. Wong, MD, MS
Dean, Emory University School of Medicine
Chief Academic Officer, Emory Healthcare