Lisa Casinger

The Society of Hospital Medicine and Wiley are happy to announce that The Hospitalist has received an APEX Award of Excellence for its June 2025 issue. The issue was one of 10 magazines honored with an Award of Excellence for Magazines—Writing (entire issue).

Feedback is a cornerstone of medical education and professional growth, playing a critical role in shaping competent, confident physicians. Yet despite its importance, feedback often falls short. Studies show that 50% to 67% of learners find the feedback they receive unhelpful or ineffective, while approximately half of faculty report discomfort with giving effective feedback. This disconnect raises an important question: how can feedback be so essential, yet so frequently unsuccessful?

This talk focused on the role of the unit-based medical director and the skills needed to be effective in this position. Although there are some similarities to other leadership positions, such as division or department leadership, this role has key differences and requires distinct skills and attitudes to succeed. Unit-based medical directors often have a broad range of responsibilities.