Join us for the 2025 Annual GME Conference on Friday, September 12 at Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins. This full-day event brings together program directors, administrators, and medical education leaders for expert-led sessions, interactive discussions, and regional networking. Enjoy practical strategies, catered meals, and opportunities to connect and grow in the evolving field of graduate medical education.
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CONFERENCE DETAILS
Oak Ridge Country Club
700 Oak Ridge Road Hopkins, MN 55305
* For Non-MMCGME Members please note there will be a $80 registration fee for attending. Click here to view the MMCMGE member organizations. Please  email [email protected] or via the contact form below with any questions or concerns. ​

MEET THE EXPERTS GUIDING US INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER

Insights and sessions shaping the future of GME

We are proud to feature this group of experts who will lead engaging sessions throughout the 2025 GME Conference. Each speaker brings valuable insights and experience in GME, contributing to a dynamic and informative program. Speakers are arranged chronologically, following the sequence of their scheduled presentation times.

In this section, you will find:
  • Session Descriptions
  • Speaker Biographies
  • Presentation Materials
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Download the GME Conference Program here! 
breakfast with colleagues
Start your morning with coffee, conversation, and connection.
Join us for Breakfast with Colleagues, an informal, roundtable-style gathering where you can grab a bite to eat and engage in meaningful conversations with GME experts and peers. Each table will feature a different topic, hosted by experienced colleagues who are ready to share insights, answer questions, and hear your ideas. Choose a topic that sparks your interest—or rotate between tables to get a little bit of everything!

Table Topics: 
  1. GME Office Connection: Stop by to connect on all things GME office-related—discuss communication strategies, compliance support, accreditation processes, and how the office can better support your program’s needs.
  2. Best Practices: Join this table for a collaborative exchange of practical ideas and proven strategies that improve teamwork, streamline workflows, and enhance the daily experience for faculty, staff, and learners alike. 
  3. New Roles, New Journeys: New to GME? This table is your starting point. Join a supportive conversation where we’ll break down acronyms, policies, and MMCGME basics—no question too small, no jargon too tricky. Whether you're a new coordinator or director, this is your space to ask, learn, and connect - in a no-judgment zone. 
  4. New Developments & Streamlining: Explore emerging trends in medical education and share ways to cut through inefficiencies, from tech tools to process improvements, that can make your work smoother and smarter.

Resources:
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kelly frisch, md
OPENING REMARKS | ANCHORING THE NARRATIVE
KELLY ​FRISCH, MD
DESIGNATED INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIAL,
​MMCGME BOARD CHAIR
hEALTHPARTNERS INSTITUTE
Dr. Kelly Frisch trained at the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed her residency with the University of Minnesota Internal Medicine residency program. Kelly was an Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine residency for over ten years and then moved into central Graduate Medical Education. She has been the Designated Institutional Official for HealthPartners Institute for over four years and practices focused internal medicine, caring for patients with diabetes. She is currently the MMCGME Board Chair.
Meghan Walsh, MD
navigating the fog: LEADING THROUGH UNCERTAINTY IN GME
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ​THE PRESENTATION
MEGHAN ​WALSH, MD
Chief Academic and Research Officer, Associate Dean for Affiliate Hospitals
​Hennepin Healthcare
Dr. Walsh earned her medical degree in 2001 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1997. She completed her residency and Chief Residency in internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in 2005. Dr. Walsh is the Chief Academic and Research Officer at Hennepin Healthcare; the Associate Dean for Affiliate Hospitals; and Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. She has worked as a hospitalist for 20 years.
 
She has championed wellbeing for physicians in training and helped to create the RISE program at Hennepin Healthcare. This program aims to provide wrap-around wellbeing support for residents and fellows in training.  She was awarded the National Parker J Palmer Courage to Lead Award in 2021 for this work. In Spring of 2023, Dr. Walsh was awarded the Health Care Heroes Award by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal for her inspiring work in improving the physical, mental and financial wellbeing for physician trainees. She is passionate about Leadership Development and has led several physician development programs at Hennepin Healthcare.
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​jeffrey berns, md
NAVIGATING HOUSE STAFF UNIONIZATION
CLICK HERE TO VIEW  THE PRESENTATION
JEFFREY BERNS, MD
VICE PRESIDENT & Associate Dean of gme, 
President of nadio
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Jeffrey Berns is Professor of Medicine (Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension) and Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he served until recently as Vice President and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education. He is Associate Chief of the Renal, Electrolyte, and Hypertension Division at Penn and President of NADIO (National Association of Designated Institutional Officials). A nationally recognized leader in nephrology, Dr. Berns is a past President of the National Kidney Foundation and current Council Member-at-Large of the American Society of Nephrology. His academic interests include chronic kidney disease, anemia of CKD, nephrology trainee education, and the impact of health policy on patient care.
mary becker, phd & marchion hinton, phd
THE POWER OF PRESENCE: ​SUPPORTING LEARNERS through perspective, relationship, and intention
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRESENTATION
MARY BECKER, PHD
RISE  pROGRAM
​Clinical Psychologist
​HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE
MARCHION HINTON, PHD
Clinical Psychologist,
Director of Curriculum
​HeNNEPIN HEALTHCARE
Mary Becker, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with the Resident Integrated Support Environment (RISE) at Hennepin Healthcare. With a background in integrated primary care psychology, she developed a passion for supporting the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. In addition to providing individual psychotherapy, she develops systems that support medical learners through transitions and challenges, with the goal of promoting integrated, values-based wellbeing. Her work includes launching a universal wellbeing screening and consultation program for all incoming residents, guiding peer support groups, and partnering with residency leadership to foster a more supportive and growth-oriented learning culture.

Marchion Hinton, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and directs the Behavioral Science curriculum in the Family Medicine Residency Program at Hennepin Healthcare. Her expertise involves exploring the overlap among mental, emotional, social, and physical health within the primary care setting. She enjoys collaborating within interdisciplinary teams to promote health and well-being for patients and the medical team. Her main specialty area includes teaching family medicine physicians’ ways to integrate behavioral science and performance psychology into their medical practice (e.g., effective doctor-patient communication, lifestyle change strategies, giving / receiving / incorporating feedback).
kim christensen, daom
ADMINISTRATOR holistic WELLBEING
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRESENTATION & HANDOUT
KIM CHRISTENSEN, DAOM
Doctor of Acupuncture &
Oriental Medicine
Constellation Acupuncture & Healing Arts
Kim Christensen is co-owner of Constellation Acupuncture & Healing Arts in Minneapolis, MN and is on teaching faculty at the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She earned her Masters of Oriental Medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 2015 and her Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2023. As a clinician, Kim prioritizes a personalized approach rooted in transparency, empowerment, and education. Her areas of specialty include management of complex and chronic medical conditions, mental health and trauma, reproductive and sexual health. Beyond her clinical work, Kim speaks on Chinese medicine and LGBTQ+ health topics, and has contributed to medical publications and integrative medicine training programs.
​alicia belkstrom, mha
CHARTING YOUR CONNECTIONS
ALICIA BELKSTROM, MHA
CONFERENCE HOST, 
gme EDUCATION pROGRAM MANAGER
MAYO CLINIC SCHOOL OF GME
Alicia Belkstrom is a Manager in MCSGME at Mayo Clinic with a Master of Healthcare Administration and nine years of experience. She’s a proud mom of two (one about to start driving!), a hiking enthusiast (13 miles in New Zealand!), and a lover of travel—especially when her husband plans it. Born in Germany and raised with Midwestern charm, Alicia’s outgoing, food-curious (hold the spice!), and always ready to dance or do something silly to make someone smile. She’s excited to bring her energy, humor, and passion for education to the 2025 GME Annual Conference.
nedd brown, ed.d
AI REMEDIATION SIMULATION
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRESENTATION & HANDOUT
NEDD BROWN, ED.D
dEAN OF GRADUATE
​MEDICAL EDUCATION
university of south dakota - sanford
Nedd began his career as a high school science teacher and school administrator in Los Angeles, CA. He and his Minnesota-born wife had their midlife epiphany together and quit their jobs, sold their house, packed up their 3 boys and moved home to the Midwest. After earning a doctorate in Adult and Higher Education, Nedd joined the GME team at USD and eventually became the Dean of GME, a position he has held for the past 13 years. A lifelong learner, he is exploring Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the learning environment and in advancing its usage in residency training and remediation. Our faculty are being stretched thinner, and AI might just be the next tool to provide the help we need!
Navigating What’s Next
​A GME Expert Panel Discussion
KELLY ​FRISCH, MD
MARY BECKER, PHD
JEFFREY BERNS, MD
KIM CHRISTENSEN, DAOM
SUSAN CULICAN, MD
ROBERT MINER, MD
MARCHION HINTON, PHD
JESSIE ROSKE, MD
MEGHAN WALSH, MD
robert miner, md
closing reflections
ROBERT MINER, MD
DESIGNATED INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIAL,
MMCGME BOARD VICE-CHAIR
ALLINA HEALTH
Dr. Robert Miner graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. He served as the Associate Program Director for 4 years, and then IM Program Director from 2005-2016. He is currently the Director of Graduate Medical Education at Abbott Northwestern and the DIO for Allina Health. His clinical work has primarily been as a hospitalist, and he also helps out in the faculty clinic. He is the current MMCGME Board Vice-Chair.
between the lines | social hour
Let the conversation continue—meet us in the lounge or on the patio (if the weather cooperates) for Between the Lines, our social hour with a cash bar from 4 to 5 PM.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK!

Your input helps us shape future GME Conferences. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on today’s sessions and overall experience. Your feedback ensures we continue to provide meaningful and engaging programming. 

Click here to complete the feedback survey!