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AAIM Member Spotlight

Benjamin R. Doolittle, MD, M Div, FAAP, FACP

Associate Professor, Internal Medicine & Pediatrics
Yale University School of Medicine
Program Director, Combined Internal Medicine & Pediatrics Residency Program
Medical Director, Yale Medicine-Pediatrics Practice

How long have you been a member of AAIM?

I have been a member of the Alliance for about 12 years. I started going when I was the associate program director with the Med-Peds program.

Describe your typical day.

The most fun part of my role in this world is I get to do a lot of different things…every day is pretty unique. Today I had a meeting with program directors in the morning and am precepting in the afternoon. I have a balance between seeing patients myself and one-on-one meetings with residents, teaching sessions and other various projects. It’s a pretty fun gig!

What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part is meeting one on one with someone from the “good tribe," my residents. They are such terrific people. It is always such a rich conversation about what the gang is up to and I enjoy hearing about their lives and encouraging them as best I can.

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

I’ve appreciated it from the Meds-Peds perspective. As a new program director it was helpful to build friendships and connections that have become so supportive over the years. My colleagues in MPPDA are such wonderful people. A program director has a unique role in a department. And we tend to be like- minded folks with same challenges and joys. In particular our national meetings are so great that we spun off several small regional groups where we meet once a year to continue what the momentum from the larger national meetings.

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

A recent moment was having my residents work with a group of engineers designing medical devices. That was the most interesting, challenging, and intriguing experience. Our program collaborated with a class of undergraduate engineering students. Two ideas were picked up and we all worked together to design new devices. It was a way of getting us out of the hospital to think creatively and consider the big picture about what problems we face. We did it last year and it was so neat we are glad to continue the collaboration for the new semester.

What was your childhood dream job?

In college, I was trying to figure out if I should be an ordained minster and work in church or to be a physician. I have done both. I went to divinity school and became ordained and then I went to medical school. I approach both roles similarly. Turns out, this is my dream job.

How do you spend your free time?

I am a pretty good soccer coach of my town rec girls soccer team and play a bit of tennis with my kids.

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

I am actually secretly proud and happy to have started taking guitar lessons I can play the opening riff in the song Roundabout by the band “Yes” and opening to “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen. If I can channel my inner Bruce Springsteen in a safe conclave of a guitar lesson that is a really good day.