As the interim DIO, Blair-Elortegui guided USA Health through its most recent graduate medical education (GME) program and institutional review cycle. USA Health maintains full accreditation as a sponsoring institution by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), with its most recent renewal of accreditation in 2022.
The GME program is tasked with developing the clinical competency, medical knowledge and professional attributes of physicians, promoting the safe and effective care of patients, and advancing the art of healing through quality improvement and medical research. Residents and fellows in the training programs are integrated into USA Health, the region’s only academic health system.
“As an academic health system, USA Health is committed to providing the optimal experience for the residents and fellows that we train,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., vice present for medical affairs and dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. “Dr. Blair-Elortegui brings valuable experience in graduate medical education and leadership to this position, and she can take the programs to the next level.”
USA Health maintains 12 residency and 11 fellowship programs, which includes 318 positions for physicians in training. Blair-Elortegui has served as internal medicine residency program director since 2016 and was the internal medicine-pediatrics residency program director from 2005 to 2011.
“One of our roles is equipping the next generation of physicians with the skills and experience they need to be successful in the medical field,” said Owen Bailey, M.S.H.A., F.A.C.H.E., chief executive officer and senior associate vice president for medical affairs for USA Health. “Judy’s experience and dedication will ensure that we continue to produce excellent physicians to serve in our region and beyond.”
Blair-Elortegui received her medical degree from the former USA College of Medicine and completed a residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of South Alabama. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. In addition to serving as DIO for USA Health, she was named associate dean for graduate medical education at the Whiddon College of Medicine.
