Celeste Royce, MD - At-Large Board Member

Institution: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School

Statement of Qualifications and Biosketch

What was your first experience with APGO?
I first attended FDS in 2012 and was thrilled to meet people from across the country who were as passionate and nerdy about med ed as I am!

Why did you want to join the APGO Board of Directors?
I had the true pleasure of being a member of UMEC from 2018-2022. Working with that group of educators from across the country taught me so much, and I am especially proud of the work we did to ensure the quality of programming and publications for APGO members during the pandemic. After serving on UMEC, I want to continue to contribute to the mission of APGO, ensuring our trainees and students have access to the highest quality medical education in ob-gyn, and that academic ob-gyns are supported in their work and roles. From my early clinical academic role in rural Pennsylvania (where I saw the amazing and visionary work done by organizations such as Geisinger Health), to my service as the sole obstetrician-gynecologist for a wonderfully diverse, multi-cultural, predominantly immigrant patient population at Bowdoin Street Health Center in Boston, I have acquired a deep understanding of the issues facing underserved populations in rural and community health services. In my current role as an ob-gyn hospitalist working closely with students, residents, and fellows, I see firsthand the struggles our youngest colleagues face. With educational debt, demands of service versus education, balancing medical careers with family and personal obligations, and a growing need for advocacy for women’s health services, young physicians face a rapidly changing, challenging work environment. I see joining the Board as one way to help support our colleagues and learners as we all strive to provide the best care possible for our patients.

What has APGO meant to you during your career?
I can honestly say APGO has completely changed my career trajectory. Meeting up with other educators in ob-gyn allowed me to see a real career in academic medicine, and ASL gave me the tools to succeed. Serving on UMEC was the accelerant I needed for academic promotions and appointments. I am forever grateful to APGO and my UMEC friends for the support and collegiality we share.

What is one personal contribution you hope to make during your term on the APGO Board of Directors?
I have so many! Specifically, I hope to champion:

• Opportunities to engage with trainees by promoting medical education as a career track
• A formal mentorship program to pair senior APGO members (especially those with committee experience) with new or junior faculty members for personal professional development and to promote participation in APGO as future leaders
• Conducting a needs assessment of junior faculty and trainees to identify areas of professional development where APGO can successfully work to improve members’ professional satisfaction, targeting specifically populations historically under-represented in medicine and in APGO membership

I believe strongly in the value of representation, and I hope that by amplifying members’ voices and promoting transparent communication, I can help ensure all members feel valued, heard, and inspired to contribute their unique perspectives to APGO’s mission.