Blogs

AAIM Member Spotlight

Brandi McKinnon

Director of GME and UME
Internal Medicine
Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine

How long have you been a member of AAIM?

Since 2006, when I started in internal medicine as a program coordinator.

Describe your typical day.

My husband and I often joke in the morning if I should put on my fireman outfit. I put out a lot of fires, counsel residents, providing advice, and sometimes delivering stern decisions, which isn’t always easy to a group of highly educated and motivated people. My day includes a lot of problem solving and critical thinking. 

What is your favorite part of the job?

I think my favorite part is the relationships I’ve developed with people around me. In my working environment I spend enough time with my peers and the residents to find out their aspirations and dreams and get to know them personally. Contributing to their success and developing life–long friendships are what I value the most in my position.

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

Currently, the biggest role that AAIM plays in my career is professional development and networking. Early on I was a sponge, and AAIM fed me information. Over the years, AAIM has provided me the resources to train me to be the person I am today, to play a role at work that makes a difference in people’s lives and educated me about the coordinator position. At first it seemed like a routine administrative job, but the more involved I became, I realized it is a profession. I actually went back to school to tailor my education around GME. I am now working on an MBA in healthcare.

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

In 2013 a group of residents nominated me for the ACGME Program Coordinator Excellence Award. I received it, and was quite embarrassed when I had to accept it. Now they joke they will do it again. It was special because it made me realize that they value the relationship, too. Since then I review the nominations for ACGME, which is rewarding.

What was your childhood dream job?

I always wanted to be a nurse and actually was a pre-nursing major for four semesters during college. One day we went to a hospital to observe, and when I left the hospital, I realized that I didn’t have the patience to deal with sick patients. Thankfully, I figured out then that nursing wasn’t my gig.

How do you spend your free time?

Now I spend my free time pursuing my MBA. When I’m not doing that I spend a lot of time with my kids ages 15, 12, 8 and 6. Weekends are spent traveling with my older daughters’ soccer team.

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

That I have four children, and that I am working on my MBA. Also, most people are shocked when I say I lived in Canada for more than a year.