Many OBHG clinicians volunteer in leadership roles within their program hospitals, communities or professional organizations. In the Leadership in Action series, OBHG hospitalists share how they choose to serve others.
Dr. Becky Graham cares about education. The Tyler, TX hospitalist has served on multiple professional committees over the years, and was recently named co-chair of the 2018 American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) Fall Conference.
Former teacher Graham says she contributes her time to the ACOOG CME committees because she is a dedicated educator. In addition to her medical degree, she holds a master’s degree in Special Education and a B.A. in Music.
Lifelong learning
“Education is important to me and important in our specialties,” says Graham. “We have to be up to date on the latest research so we don’t have clinicians who become out of date with their practice habits and unknowingly harm people.”
When she first started, Graham worked with physicians who hadn’t read a journal in 20 years. “It was very apparent in the things that they did,” she says.
“When I became a fellow in our college, one of the first things I did was volunteer because I didn’t want to be one of those doctors.”
Making connections
In 2018, Graham will co-chair the ACOOG fall conference alongside fellow Texas OB/GYN Dr. Joseph Bottalico. She will schedule speakers and select session topics, including gynecology, obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, and ethics.
She had previously served on the ACOOG bylaws committee and is serving on the CME committee this year.
In addition, nearly a decade ago she co-founded a successful networking/social event for her alma mater’s OB residents who were attending ACOOG.
The event has grown in scope each year and medical students are now able to take part as well.
Elevating care for all
Graham followed her passion for education in serving on the CME committee and encourages other hospitalists to participate in committees or other leadership roles.
“The more input we [hospitalists] have on the local level, the more people understand,” says Graham.
“It increases your ‘street cred.’ When you participate, your hospital colleagues know you really want to be a team player. And you want to help make their hospital the best it can be, not just your program. It’s about trying to elevate care all the way around.”
Photo: Dr. Graham with colleagues–Back row: Dr. Nanci Bucy, Dr. Edie Rogers, and Dr. Becky Graham; front row: Dr. Rob Pearl and Dr. Gina Dietrich