aamc.org does not support this web browser.

Learn Serve Lead 2023: The AAMC Annual Meeting

Learn Serve Lead 2023: The AAMC Annual Meeting; Seattle, Washington, Nov. 3-7, 2023

Learn Serve Lead is the premier AAMC learning and networking event. This annual meeting is an exceptional forum where educators, students, residents, researchers, clinicians, administrators, and health system leaders can build professional connections, expand collaborations, and take part in thought-provoking discussions.

Remember: You don’t need to be an institutional leader or a physician to attend. All you need is an inquisitive mind; a passion for improving the health of all; ideas for advancing medical education; and a willingness to listen, learn, and share.

Save the Date

If you enjoyed the 2023 AAMC annual meeting, we hope you’ll join us again next year in person Nov. 8-12, 2024, in Atlanta, GA.

2023 Highlights

More than 4,500 people from the academic medicine community convened in Seattle, Washington for Learn Serve Lead 2023: The AAMC Annual Meeting. Learners and leaders were eager to reunite with like-minded peers and reignite the spark of collective learning. 

Leadership Plenary Videos

AAMC Leadership Plenary with Board Chair LouAnn Woodward, MD

AAMC Leadership Plenary with President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD

Captions are auto-generated for videos. Please excuse occasional errors.

Plenary Videos

Three musicians -- a man on drums, a man on the standing bass, and a women singer -- perform on stage during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Music in Seattle

Experience the healing effects of music with general session opening performances from Native American jazz singer Julia Keefe; American Idol singer-songwriter Elijah McCormick; retired military service member vocal quartet and America's Got Talent top 5, Voices of Service; and deaf singer-songwriter and America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer recipient, Mandy Harvey.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024)

Watch full performance

AAMC President and CEO, David J. Skorton speaking with Jacob Mchangama, Amna Khalid, D Phil, and Michael S. Roth, PhD onstage during the opening plenary at Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Under Attack: How Free Speech Became So Complicated, and What's Next

Delve into the evolving landscape of free speech and its impact on health care and education. AAMC President and CEO, David J. Skorton, MD, hosts a thought-provoking dialogue with eminent scholars Amna Khalid, D Phil, Jacob Mchangama, and Michael S. Roth, PhD, to explore the weaponization of free speech, its influence on health care professionals, learners, and the broader academic community.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Matthew Desmond, PhD, speaks on stage with a guest during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Are We Turning Our Backs on Those in Poverty?

Watch this discussion led by Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar, Matthew Desmond, PhD, as he challenges our perceptions about poverty's persistence in the United States. Desmond's research sheds light on the role affluence plays in perpetuating poverty, urging us to collectively act to abolish this crisis and enhance the well-being of all. 

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through January 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Abraham Verghese, MD, MACP, converses with Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, Suleika Jaouad, MFA, and Ryan Scoble), during the closing plenary of Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Our Calling, Our Patients: Reflections on the Patient-Doctor Relationship

Explore the intrinsic patient-centered core of academic medicine with Abraham Verghese, MD, MACP, as he delves into the need for caregivers to truly connect with their patients amidst the challenges of modern health care systems. Watch this candid conversation between Dr. Verghese and three patients (Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, Suleika Jaouad, MFA, and Ryan Scoble), as they shed light on their health care experiences and provide valuable recommendations to enhance the patient-doctor relationship.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through February 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Captions are auto-generated for videos. Please excuse occasional errors.

Voices of Medicine & Society Lecture Series

Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD, speaks to the audience while seated on stage at Learn Serve Lead 2023.

My Father’s Brain: A Physician’s Own Story of Caring for a Parent with Alzheimer’s

Access this session with Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD, as he intimately shares his personal experience confronting Alzheimer's in his family, beautifully depicted in his latest book, "My Father's Brain." Through a blend of science, emotion, and heartfelt storytelling, Dr. Jauhar guides us through the complexities of caring for loved ones grappling with dementia, offering a deep understanding of the ethical dilemmas and scientific insights that shape this challenging journey.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Dr. Joseph Sakran and Dr. Chethan Sathya speak on stage during Learn Serve Lead 2023

A Public Health Crisis: Gun Violence and How Academic Medicine Can Make A Difference

Watch this critical discussion on the pressing issue of gun violence in the U.S., a nation grappling with a surge in firearm-related incidents. Dr. Joseph Sakran, a trauma surgeon and gunshot survivor, and Dr. Chethan Sathya, lead of the Center for Gun Violence Prevention program at Northwell Health, shed light on preventive measures and socio-economic factors driving violence. Please note: This session may be disturbing to viewers. 

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Maria Elena Bottazzi, PhD, speaks at a podium during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Combining Science, Cultural Intelligence and Diplomacy to Achieve Global Health Equity

Embark on an inspiring journey with Maria Elena Bottazzi, PhD, an Italo-Honduran scientist, as she recounts her life experiences and transformative contributions in global health. From humble beginnings to pioneering a unique business model intertwining diplomacy and biotechnology, Maria Elena’s story sheds light on catalyzing vaccine science decolonization and forging international partnerships to combat diseases affecting marginalized communities worldwide.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address
 

Laurel Braitman speaks on stage during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

What Looks Like Bravery: How Loss and Grief Can Transform Us for the Better

Join Laurel Braitman, PhD, a distinguished writer and director at Stanford School of Medicine, as she unravels the transformative power of storytelling in the realm of medicine. Drawing from her own profound journey through grief and vulnerability, Braitman sheds light on the therapeutic impact of reflection and writing, offering invaluable tools to navigate the challenges of health care with empathy and resilience.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through February 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Joel Bervell speaks onstage with Dorian Harriston-Celler, MA, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Morehouse School of Medicine, during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

“Medical Mythbuster”—Using Social Media for the Greater Good

Medicine evolves, yet outdated racial concepts still persist within its teachings. Watch Joel Bervell, a trailblazing fourth-year medical student at Washington State University, unveil how he's merging his mission with modern communication. This session on confronting medical fallacies and promoting inclusivity in health care was facilitated by Dorian Harriston-Celler, MA, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Morehouse School of Medicine. 

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024) 

Watch Full Address

Dr. Wendy Dean, psychiatrist and health care advocate, speaks on stage during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Reframing Clinician Distress: Why Moral Injury Matters

Dr. Wendy Dean, psychiatrist and health care advocate, delves into the profound concept of "moral injury" within health care, shedding light on the distress experienced by frontline clinicians and its impact on patient care. By challenging the traditional notion of "burnout," she explores how system dynamics can conflict with caregivers' values, advocating for crucial systemic changes to prioritize patients and empower healthcare professionals.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Jasmine Brown, M Phil, speaks on stage while sitting alongside Lori Alvord, MD, during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Women Who Came Before Us: The Past and the Present

Watch Jasmine Brown, M Phil, a Rhodes Scholar and University of Pennsylvania medical student, alongside Lori Alvord, MD, a groundbreaker as the first Navajo Nation tribal member board certified in general surgery, as they unravel the inspiring journeys of Black women and Native Americans triumphing over adversity in the medical field. Their remarkable stories serve as powerful beacons of resilience and progress, reinforcing the importance of storytelling in challenging stereotypes and fostering an inclusive, empowered future for aspiring physicians and scientists.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Stanley Andrisse, PhD, MBA, James Earl Harris Jr., MD, and Antwione M. Haywood, PhD, on stage during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Deeply Personal: Unlikely Paths to Science and Medicine and the Importance of Hope and Mentorship

Watch this powerful session featuring Stanley Andrisse, PhD, MBA, and James Earl Harris Jr., MD, as they share their incredible personal journeys from facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieving remarkable success. Led by the inspiring Antwione M. Haywood, PhD, this session sheds light on resilience, determination, and the transformative power of education, offering hope to countless young individuals striving for a brighter future. 

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through May 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Legal historian Mary Ziegler, JD, gestures while speaking during Learn Serve Lead 2023.

Roe v. Wade is Gone: What's Next? Can History Be Our Guide? 

Legal historian Mary Ziegler, JD, dives into the intricate realm of reproductive choice, highlighting its multidimensional aspects beyond a binary view. Exploring its historical context and profound implications, she addresses the complexity surrounding abortion rights, advocating for productive discussions, equitable access to care, and safeguarding fundamental rights amidst a divisive landscape.

(Sign-in required to view; recording available through February 20, 2024)

Watch Full Address

Highlighted Stories

Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, FAAP, speaks with sociologist Matthew Desmond, PhD, about ways to alleviate poverty in America at Learn Serve Lead 2023 on Monday, Nov. 6.
AAMCNews

Sociologist and author Matthew Desmond, PhD, says we must divest from the policies that exploit the poor to the benefit of the affluent.

  • Nov. 6, 2023
Reproductive justice advocate Anitra Beasley, MD, MPH, left, speaks with legal expert Mary Ziegler, JD, about the implications of the Dobbs decision on reproductive rights in America at Learn Serve Lead 2023 on Monday, Nov. 6.
AAMCNews

The fallout from the Supreme Court decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion will continue to challenge patients and providers for years.

  • Nov. 6, 2023
AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, and AAMC Board Chair LouAnn Woodward, MD, speak at the leadership plenary of Learn Serve Lead 2023 on Sunday, Nov. 5.
AAMCNews

AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, and AAMC Board Chair LouAnn Woodward, MD, express optimism that academic medicine can overcome adversity.

  • Nov. 5, 2023
Author Laurel Braitman, PhD, talks about how storytelling can help physicians process grief and improve communication during a session at Learn Serve Lead on Sunday, Nov. 5.
AAMCNews

Author and teacher Laurel Braitman, PhD, shares how writing can help medical professionals cope with loss and grief.

  • Nov. 5, 2023
AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton discusses free speech with Jacob Mchangama, Amna Kahlid, DPhil, and Michael S. Roth, PhD, during the opening plenary of Learn Serve Lead 2023 on Nov. 4.
AAMCNews

Amid rising efforts to ban certain views on campuses, students must be exposed to diverse and even offensive opinions in order to grow.

  • Nov. 4, 2023
Trauma surgeons Joseph Sakran, MD, center, and Chethan Sathya, MD, right, discuss a public health approach to firearm deaths with violence-prevention expert and moderator Ashley Hink.
AAMCNews

Academic medicine has a duty to join the fight against firearm deaths, physicians say.

  • Nov. 4, 2023

Questions about Learn Serve Lead?

CONTACT US