AAIM Member Spotlight
Christina M. Cruz, MD
Associate Program Director for Ambulatory Care
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Internal Medicine Residency Program Assistant Professor of Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai General Medical Associates
How long have you been a member of AAIM?
It’s coming up on my six month mark. I joined when I took the position as Associate Program Director for Ambulatory Care in August.
Describe your typical day.
One of my favorite things about the position is that I don’t have a typical day. Clinically I am a primary care physician and most of my experiences with residents are in the ambulatory care setting. I am precepting residents in primary care with a mix of teaching didactics. For example, yesterday my day started with a phone meeting and then clinical practice, which was followed by a meeting where we discussed our wellness curriculum. I then taught medical students before seeing my own patients.
What is your favorite part of the job?
It is building relationships with residents and being supportive of them. I also love seeing them relate to each other, especially outside clinical space. Residency is a formative and intense experience. The experience is easier if you’re working with your friends and have people you can rely on.
How has the AAIM membership been of value to you and your career?
I haven’t gone to a conference but will be there in March. One of the first things I did when I joined was go to the Alliance website and look at the GME resources and textbook for program directors— those have been invaluable to me.
What's your favorite moment of your career so far?
It’s being appointed in this position as the Associate Program Director—it’s a realization of why I am in medicine since it will allow me to work at the intersection of medical education and social responsibility.
What was your childhood dream job?
If you ask my mom she says that I articulated I wanted to be a doctor when I was three years old. I always liked science and math and so was interested in medicine early in my childhood. Over the years, my love for medicine has just been reinforced.
How do you spend your free time?
As a New Yorker, I love theater, especially musicals. I love going to museums and checking out new restaurants.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I have a mild obsession with pop music and love going to concerts. I love Beyoncé and have been to her concert twice. Music is a big part of my life.
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