AAIM Member Spotlight

The Alliance turns the spotlight on members to highlight how they are making a difference and how they have benefited from AAIM membership. Share your story! To be highlighted on the AAIM website and in AAIM Connection, submit your (or a colleague's) story online or fill out this pdf nomination form and submit it by email.

Current Spotlight

Kelli A. Corning, MSEd

Associate Director

University of Washington School of Medicine

How long have you been a member of AAIM? 
I joined APDIM in 1999 and attended my first meeting in Washington, DC that fall. Since then, AAIM has been a consistent professional home where I have been able to stay connected to colleagues and evolving practices in internal medicine education.

What is your favorite part of your job?  
What I value most is the variety: no two days are the same. The work continually presents new challenges and opportunities to problem-solve. I also appreciate the people; collaborating with residents, faculty, and staff brings different perspectives and keeps the work meaningful. Equally important is the opportunity to keep learning and growing, both in educational practice and in how we support trainees.

How has the AAIM membership been of value to you and your career?  
AAIM has provided a steady forum for shared learning and collaboration. Through meetings and committee work, I have had access to practical strategies, peer perspectives, and evolving best practices in graduate medical education. The ability to connect with colleagues across institutions has been particularly valuable for benchmarking, problem-solving, and sustaining professional growth over time.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in the medical field? 
I stumbled into academic medicine during my junior year of college, answering an ad in the student newspaper. I was simply looking for spending money, and the position was for an office assistant at the county hospital. I haven’t left UW Medicine and often joke that one of these days I should probably grow up and get a “real job.”

What or who inspires you and why? 
I’m inspired by people who live authentically and unapologetically: those who love deeply, laugh loudly, and move through life with a sense of joy. I admire individuals who aren’t afraid to be fully themselves, who show up with openness, warmth, and a genuine connection to others. That kind of energy is contagious; it reminds me to stay present, to find joy in the work and the people around me, and to bring that same spirit into my own life.

What advice would you give to those who wish to pursue a career in this industry?
Seek out opportunities to understand both the educational and operational aspects of academic medicine. Strong programs depend on thoughtful systems, clear communication, and continuous improvement. Building relationships and learning from experienced colleagues are also critical. Remaining open to change and grounded in the needs of learners and patients will help guide effective decision-making.

What is your favorite book or movie?
I am a voracious reader, and choosing a single favorite is impossible. Books that have made a lasting impression on me include: Duck for President and Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert, the Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel, So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, and Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver. And for the record, I started reading Julia Quinn in 2000, when The Duke and I was first published: long before Shonda Rhimes brought the Bridgertons to Netflix.

Previous Spotlights

Mentoring

Share Your Story!

To be highlighted on the AAIM website and in AAIM Connection, submit your (or a colleague's) story.

Submit Your Story