Career Hospitalist Advisement and Mentorship Program (CHAMP)
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Between 2012 and 2019, the field of hospital medicine experienced rapid growth, expanding by 50%.1 From 2019 to 2021 alone, there was an additional 10% increase, signaling continued growth over the next 10 to 15 years.2 As hospital medicine becomes an established career path for trainees, new opportunities are emerging in leadership, medical education, and quality and safety. This growing interest in a rapidly expanding field highlights the need for initiatives to better guide residents through the often nebulous and competitive process of becoming a hospitalist.
Although most residents actively seek mentorship in specific domains, there remains an unmet need for comprehensive, curated, longitudinal mentorship programs during early career development. To address this gap, the Career Hospitalist Advisement and Mentorship Program (CHAMP) was launched at Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) in 2023.
What is CHAMP?
CHAMP uses a four-phase approach to guide residents through the process of entering the field of hospital medicine.
In the first phase, each PGY-2 resident is paired with a faculty advisor who aligns with their interests and helps establish career goals, such as medical education, quality improvement, and healthcare leadership. Throughout the remaining phases, the assigned career advisor continues to serve as a source of support, checking in with the resident at least quarterly.
The second phase focuses on increasing residents’ exposure to hospital medicine, primarily through a hospitalist elective rotation in which residents are given the opportunity to function as junior attendings and supervise advanced practice practitioners (APPs). Residents lead interdisciplinary rounds, attend departmental meetings, and guide decisions regarding patient management. They receive direct mentorship from their supervising hospitalist and didactic instruction on topics foundational to hospital medicine. This is supplemented by direct observation of case management and social work, as well as dedicated time learning billing and coding from the supervising hospitalist. Beyond the elective, residents attend the department of hospital medicine’s Grand Rounds, participate in residency career tracks (e.g., healthcare leadership, medical education), and collaborate with faculty on quality improvement initiatives. They are even invited to high-level leadership meetings to foster a deeper understanding of the hospitalist’s involvement in operations and planning.
The third phase provides structured guidance on securing a hospitalist position. Support includes an overview of the application timeline, curriculum vitae and cover letter review, connections with residency alumni, and developmental workshops on key topics such as interview preparation and practice. Residents also receive a comprehensive application guide, which is regularly updated by former residents and faculty.
The final phase focuses on longitudinal mentorship extending into the early career of the new hospitalist. This includes ongoing coaching for career development, assistance with scholarly projects, and collaboration across institutions. Additionally, didactic sessions focus on strategies for achieving success in a hospitalist role. The longitudinal phase is a core component, whether the trainee becomes a hospitalist at our institution or a different hospital system. Upon completing all four phases, participants are surveyed to provide feedback and improve the program for future residents.
Early implementation, expansion, and challenges
The development of CHAMP arose from a recognized gap in structured career guidance for internal medicine residents pursuing hospital medicine. This need was observed by CHAMP’s founder and director, Dr. Eric Barna, in his own transition from house staff to attending and his subsequent career as an academic hospitalist. Residents frequently sought informal guidance from hospitalist faculty on career options, job applications, and insights into the field. Having experienced both sides of this unstructured mentorship model, the importance of establishing a formal career advisement program became clear.
In 2022, this gap was addressed by designing a structured program to support residents interested in hospital medicine. After multiple brainstorming sessions, a phased approach to implementation was developed with a clear vision and concrete steps. A proposal was drafted for review by the division chief of hospital medicine and the internal medicine residency program director. Following their approval, the project team collaborated to establish goals, create tracking documents, and assemble a team of mentors. Two resident leaders from the program were recruited to support its development. CHAMP officially launched in the latter half of the 2023–2024 academic year with 17 enrollees and 10 mentors.
CHAMP operates without financial resources, driven entirely by the enthusiasm of house staff and hospitalist leaders. Two internal medicine residents serve as CHAMP leads each year, ensuring the program evolves to meet residents’ needs. These leads maintain updated resources and facilitate scholarship opportunities to enhance the program’s national visibility. A diverse group of 12 hospitalist mentors, representing various leadership roles within the institution, provides essential guidance and support. Their dedication remains integral to CHAMP’s sustainability and growth.
Following its initial success at Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH), CHAMP spread to Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West (MSMW). The expansion was led by two associate program directors, Drs. Vasundhara Singh and Krystle Hernandez, who identified interested residents through surveys and feedback from residency leadership and chief residents. After compiling a list of potential candidates, the final cohort was integrated with CHAMP at MSH. Fourteen mentors were recruited and assigned based on mentees’ interests, ensuring balance across hospital sites. Early in the academic year, 18 third-year residents were assigned, while 12 second-year residents were assigned later. Introductory emails facilitated connections and outlined expectations. Although mentors and mentees are paired at their respective campuses, CHAMP events are offered to the entire group, fostering connections and networking across the health system.
The implementation of CHAMP encountered several challenges. One significant obstacle was defining the role of junior attendings during the hospitalist elective. Initially, residents struggled to assume attending-level responsibilities alongside their mentors without reverting to traditional resident duties. To address this, a structured handoff was introduced to outline responsibilities and expectations. Emphasis was placed on participating in multidisciplinary rounds with APPs and clarifying the principles of attending oversight.
Another challenge was determining the optimal timing for second- and third-year residents to participate in the elective. Third-year residents benefited from early exposure, while second-year residents performed better when scheduled in the second half of the year. Adjusting the timeline accordingly improved the learning experience. Additionally, certain didactic sessions, such as CV preparation and interview workshops, were found to be most effective earlier in the academic year to align with the job search process. By scheduling these sessions sooner, residents were better prepared for career opportunities.
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Key Takeaways
- Addressing the growing need for hospitalist mentorship: With hospital medicine rapidly expanding, many residents face challenges in navigating career opportunities. CHAMP provides structured, longitudinal mentorship to guide residents in professional growth and career readiness.
- Four-phase approach: CHAMP’s structured model includes career goal setting, hands-on hospitalist elective experience, application preparation, and ongoing mentorship beyond residency. This approach ensures that residents receive the necessary support at each stage of their career transition.
- Measurable impact and success: Feedback from participants highlights the program’s effectiveness, with 100% of surveyed mentees expressing satisfaction. CHAMP has successfully helped residents secure hospitalist positions and provided them with critical skills in billing, documentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Scalability and future expansion: After its initial success at Mount Sinai Hospital, CHAMP has expanded to other Mount Sinai campuses and is being considered for implementation at other institutions. Future goals include further scaling the program and presenting its model at national conferences to share best practices in hospitalist mentorship.
