Simiao Li-Sauerwine, MD, MSCR

Institution: Ohio State University

Current Title: Associate Residency Program Director, Director of Medical Education Fellowship

Reasons for wanting to join the CORD Board of Directors & Opinions and Priorities for the Board: In every step of my academic journey, I have felt immensely privileged to be where I have been: having accessed higher education from a first generation lower income household, as a medical student and trainee, and now, as faculty in an academic medical center. I have always felt compelled to contribute to my community and to organizations I am a part of; to build, to make better. In my role in EM program leadership, I have taken pride in helping to build the best possible EM training program; in my service in national organizations, to advocate through consensus building for the things I care about: equity, learner and physician well-being, and joy in our work. I know that despite the challenges of our field, the future of EM and EM education is bright. As a member of the CORD Board of Directors, I will work tirelessly to advance the goals of the organization and to bring my perspective and hard work to its mission.

Special Skills, talents, and perspectives that you would like to share: My academic and research interests include physician well-being, gender in academic medicine, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. I hold a Master’s in Clinical Research and aim to answer questions and make decisions with a data-driven approach.

Outside of work, I am a parent to three kids six and under, am an avid foodie (I am the go-to person for food recommendations when traveling to conferences), and am perennially curious about other worldviews and enjoy expanding my own (reading non-fiction when I can).

Previous CORD Experience: I currently serve as Chair (2023-24) of the CORD Well-being Committee. Within the Well-being Committee, I spearheaded the creation of well-being education resources for trainees for use across residency programs and supported the creation of well-being toolkits for use by residency program leadership (Curriculum sub-committee lead 2021-22, Vice-Chair 2022-23).

I have been an active attendee at the CORD Academic Assembly since 2017 (with the exception of 2022 due to maternity leave) and have been consistently selected to deliver research and didactics (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2021 regional conference, 2023).

History of Program Leadership Experience: I joined Ohio State University in 2018 as an Assistant Professor, Assistant Residency Program Director, and the inaugural Director of the Sam Kiehl III Resident Wellbeing Endowment. I was promoted to Associate Professor and Associate Program Director in 2022 on the basis of my impact within the Department of EM in the areas of curriculum development, clinical teaching and mentorship of trainees, and departmental service including advocacy for equity and inclusion. In 2023, I was additionally appointed to the position of Medical Education Fellowship Director.

Leadership Experience: I am in my sixth year of program leadership as an APD in the Department of Emergency Medicine at OSU and am the inaugural Director of the $2M Sam Kiehl III Resident Well-being Endowment. As the lead for the Endowment, I successfully designed and operationalized an evidence-based comprehensive well-being program for trainees which has been highlighted by the National Academy of Medicine and in national presentations. I am the founder and a faculty lead for OSU EM’s women in EM program (Resident and Faculty Females Together), a recurring monthly professional development curriculum with demonstrated impact. I also serve as an elected Member at Large on the OSU EM Board of Directors, am the EM representative to the OSU Wexner Medical Center Faculty Physician Well-being Committee, and play an active role on the OSU Women in Medicine and Science Advocacy Subcommittee.

I am the current Chair (2023-24) of the CORD Well-being Committee. Innovations during my tenure include active engagement in #StopTheStigma month including leadership of a webinar panel to highlight resources supporting mental health and a subsequent publication in progress. In prior years within the Well-being Committee, I spearheaded the creation of well-being education resources for trainees for use across residency programs and supported the creation of well-being toolkits for use by residency program leadership (Curriculum sub-committee lead 2021-22, Vice-Chair 2022-23). Other national leadership experiences include Academic Life in Emergency Medicine (ALiEM), where I founded the Education Research Lab and Incubator and served as the Chief Academic Officer for the Wellness Think Tank, and where I have served as Core Mentor, Alumni Mentor, and Research Consultant in the Faculty Incubator for a number of years.

My leadership has been recognized with the following awards:

• Women in Medicine and Science Emerging Leader in Healthcare Award, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
• Diane L. Gorgas, MD Fund for National Leadership in Emergency Medicine, The Ohio State University Department of Emergency Medicine
• Clotilde D. Bowen Women of Excellence Faculty Award, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Knowledge or experience with large/complex organizations or other non-profits beyond CORD: My experience as Director of OSU EM’s $2M Kiehl Resident Well-being Endowment has provided me with both administrative and financial experience in running a program with a sizeable annual budget and the need to engage stakeholders at various levels (donor, chair, vice-chairs, program leadership, clinical leadership, and residents). As a voting Member At Large for the OSU Department of EM Board of Directors, I have gained an administrative and financial understanding of running an academic department of EM.