Blogs

AAIM Member Spotlight

Catherine E. Apaloo, MD, FACP

Program Director,
Department of Internal Medicine
Piedmont Athens Regional

How long have you been a member of AAIM?

Forever! I went to my first APDIM Chief Residents Meeting in 1997 and intermittently until 2004. Since 2012, I’ve attended the meetings religiously. During AIMW18, I was a course director for the “Designing a High Quality Ambulatory Educational Program: From Burning Platforms to Innovations” precourse.

Describe your typical day.

My day typically starts at 7:30 a.m. and I attend resident report for about an hour, and then I go to the clinic to precept four until noon. At noon, we have a daily conference and spend the time learning along with the residents. After noon conference, I spend time on my program director responsibilities, including meeting with residents, designing curriculum, and putting out any fires that come up.

What is your favorite part of the job?

It’s never a boring day! No two days are ever the same…something always needs immediate attention and there is always a crisis! It’s so fun, so much variety.

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

The Alliance is my academic home. When I first started as chief resident I was unprepared and unsure; my program director recommended I go to the meeting to learn from chiefs from other programs. The meeting changed my life and made me interested in pursuing academic medicine and being a teacher. Throughout the years, I have found that everyone is so willing to share and are open about the struggles of the job. I have also been able to join committees and make greater connections. From meeting people in the Alliance, I know that I can pick up the phone and have a friend to talk to. No crisis has happened where I didn’t have a friend to call. I love coming to the meetings and it is nice to have a group of people with the same problems that are so willing to help!

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

My favorite moment of my career is the day that our first class of residents walked into Piedmont Athens Regional. I moved to Athens, Georgia to develop a new program, at a hospital that never previously had residents. On July 1, 2016, we welcomed our first class of residents to campus, which was the culmination of two years of hard work.

What was your childhood dream job?

To be a pilot and travel the world.

How do you spend your free time?

What free time? I do enjoy sitting at home or by my pool reading a good book.

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

I’m a Zumba fanatic and hope to become an instructor.