Making the transition from Chief Resident to Assistant Professor enables new faculty member to fuel her passion for medical education
On August 17, 2022, Stephanie Wick, DO, MBA, MS, made the transition from Chief Resident in the U of M Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department to Assistant Professor. “I had a great experience during my residency and developed a passion for medical education and leadership,” she said. “I feel connected to the mission of the department and wanted to stay on to contribute to the education and success of future psychiatry residents."
Wick’s contributions to resident education will be made through her new role as an Associate Program Director for the residency and as the University of Minnesota Medical Center site director for the medical student psychiatry clerkship. “I’m hoping to expand on my previous roles and continue to advocate for medical trainees, providing a positive learning environment, and training the next generation of psychiatrists,” she said.
In addition to her medical degree from DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, TN, Wick (pictured here) holds two masters degrees from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate – one in business administration and the other in biomedical science. She completed her BA in biology and psychology at Luther College in Decorah, IA.
Leadership skills
She built her leadership skills at the U during a two-year American Psychiatric Association/American Psychiatric Association Foundation Leadership Fellowship and by participating in the Resident Leadership Academy. Wick completed Master Educator courses through the American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency, won a three-year Nissan Scholarship that enabled her to attend professional conferences, and was given the Gold Touch Humanitarian Scholar Award for receiving honors in all medical school rotations and completing more than 100 hours per year of community service. At DeBusk, Wick developed and directed an outreach program to educate rural communities about fundamentals of health and wellness.
Her new role on the clinical side will be as an adult inpatient provider. “In that capacity, I hope to provide quality, inclusive, trauma-informed care while creating a supportive environment for medical training,” Wick said. “I will be working primarily with patients who have acute psychosis and mood disorders and I also have a special interest in trauma and PTSD."
Improving inclusivity
On the academic side, her focus will be on continuing to improve the inclusivity of the residency program and structure of the inpatient academic teaching teams. “I hope to help further develop our residency recruitment practices and contribute to the mission of inclusive excellence,” she said. “I recognize that as a white woman, I come with a lot of inherent privilege and want to use that privilege to advocate for, listen to, and amplify the voices of others."
An active researcher, Wick has presented during national and regional medical meetings and had articles published in journals. Medical education and curriculum development will be the focus of her ongoing research. “We’re working on some really exciting things within the residency program and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the field of academic medicine," she said.
In her spare time, Wick enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, refurbishing wooden furniture, and hiking with her husband and two dogs, Oakley and Koda.
