CFAS: Talk a little about the work you’ve done in CFAS related to connecting family medicine faculty. How has that been useful and effective?

Dr. Pipas: I’ve been with CFAS through its transition from CAS and I represent the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM). My society’s goals include collaboration across academic medicine professionals, and working within CFAS and the AAMC provides an opportunity to realize that goal. Family medicine goals also include prioritizing population health. The AAMC’s networking opportunities provide resources to support enhanced education, research, practice opportunities, and a healthy workforce – all of which are critical to creating a healthier population.

CFAS: You’re getting ready to join the CFAS ad board – what are you hoping to accomplish in a leadership role within CFAS?

Dr. Pipas: My priorities have been promoting leadership training, fostering cultures of wellness, and advancing processes of improvement. In my mind, all our work is aimed at pursuing population health. The health of the population is dependent on the health of all of its members including students and faculty members. In order to perform optimally for others and achieve the triple aim, we must achieve the quadruple aim – by first prioritizing our own health needs as Thomas Bodenheimer highlights. I am excited to play a part in changing our learning and practice environments to support health care teams as they support patients. I’ve been impressed with the expertise and commitment of CFAS leadership and I’m looking forward to bringing my passions and experiences to the table. I’m particularly interested in the work of the Faculty Resilience Working Group and defining a wellness competency and developing metrics to measure wellness at all levels form the medical student to the institution.

CFAS: What are some recent accomplishments from the Geisel School of Medicine that would be interesting to CFAS reps?

Dr. Pipas: We have revised our core competencies and curriculum to include leadership training and fostering personal wellness among students. We’re piloting programs for students and faculty using system improvement frameworks to also address individual improvement. Dartmouth is part of a national collaborative grant to better prepare students as physicians, our efforts are focused on a coaching model to enhance self-assessment of knowledge and skills in a longitudinal, four-year program. Students work in partnership with faculty coaches and maintain a portfolio to monitor and address their personal and professional needs. Additionally, I’m excited to be a consultant to Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business as they roll out their wellness series titled, “Heath is Everyone’s Business.”

CFAS: What do you like to do in your free time?

Dr. Pipas: I love to read, write, and journal and have had more time for these as a recent empty nester. Having just published my book, I’m trying daily to “walk the walk” and model wellness strategies in my own life. I’ve enjoyed doing more speaking and am committed to promoting my vision of healthy individuals contributing to healthy communities.