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AAIM Member Spotlight

Frederick K. Williams, MD, FACP

How long have you been a member of AAIM?

I joined the Alliance (APDIM) 18 years ago when I became an associate program director. This year marks 15 years in the program director role.

Describe your typical day.

I’ve been with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine since 2009. We have two regional campuses—one in West Palm Beach and one in Fort Lauderdale. Currently I am the Program Director and the Designated Institutional Official at Holy Cross Hospital. My day is heavy on the administrative side and teaching as we build new resident programs at this campus. I still enjoy my clinical time precepting in our outpatient practice one to two days a week.

What is your favorite part of the job?

I get most satisfaction watching residents grow and mature over years of training. At graduation it’s a time to reflect and remember what they were like as first month interns.

How has the AAIM membership been of value to you and your career?

My experience has evolved over the years. Initially as a new APD there was a lot of learning and workshops were great opportunities. As I moved into leadership roles, I did a lot of work with APDIM Publications Committee and was editor of the Chief Resident Text Book. I recently edited the Textbook for Medical Education Programs 12th ed. that just came out last year. I am a new member of the APDIM Program Planning Committee and look forward to continuing to contribute to the APDIM/AAIM community. Meetings are still a great opportunity to catch up with people I’ve known over the years. I find I do my best thinking at meetings away from the day-to-day challenges of being a PD.

What's your favorite moment of your career so far?

This is my third resident program as program director and first as DIO. I enjoy building new and transforming existing residency programs. It is the moment when you look back and feel a sense of accomplishment and compare where it was to where it is now.

What was your childhood dream job?

I was going to be an architect. I enjoyed painting, drawing and music and wanted to do something creative. It was an odd path. I took my psych 101 class and decided I wanted to be a psychiatrist. It was then when I switched to premed. In medical school became more interested in internal medicine and primary care. I completed a General Internal Medicine Fellowship after residency in order to pursue a career in academic medicine. I have been able to use my psychology background exploring adult learning theory and how it applies to medical education.

How do you spend your free time?

I live in South Florida and spend my time with my husband of 24 years and our two French bulldogs. We enjoy the beach, spending time with family and friends, and working in the yard. We also like to travel.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

The general consensus is that I always look very serious, strangers stop me on the street and tell me to smile, but I really have a good sense of humor.