This interview is one in a series of interviews with recipients of the 2026 ACGME Awards. The awardees join an outstanding group of previous honorees whose work and contributions to graduate medical education (GME) represent the best in the field. They will be honored at the upcoming ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place February 19-21 in San Diego, California.
The dermatology residency program at Wayne State University School of Medicine is the 2026 Barbara Ross-Lee, DO Award winner. Anne Messman, MD, MHPE, FACEP will receive the award on behalf of the team at Wayne State.
ACGME: Tell us a little bit about your institution.
Dr. Messman: The Wayne State University School of Medicine sponsors eight residencies and two fellowships in the metro Detroit area. Because we are a small Sponsoring Institution, our GME has a family feel to it and all of the programs work cooperatively together and with the GME office to provide superior residency education and training.
ACGME: What does it mean to you and your organization to receive this award?
Messman: Receiving the Barbara Ross-Lee, DO Award is particularly special because Dr. Ross-Lee is a Wayne State University alumna and her sister, Diana Ross, is a Motown legend! Given the Ross family's deep connections to the city of Detroit, we feel particularly honored to receive this award and for the dermatology program to be recognized for their hard work and dedication.
ACGME: Can you briefly describe the work being recognized by the award?
Messman: Our work includes longitudinal pipeline programs for underrepresented students from K-12 through medical school, a comprehensive health disparities curriculum, structured mentorship for underrepresented trainees, and national outreach initiatives.
ACGME: What advice or guidance would you offer to others striving to make a meaningful contribution in their educational or professional communities?
Messman: Use quality improvement principles, collect data, and revisit initiatives regularly to ensure they are effective and sustainable. Most importantly, involve learners and community partners directly; meaningful change happens when the people most affected are actively engaged in designing and refining solutions.
ACGME: Is there anything else you would like to share or add that we haven’t addressed?
Messman: We view this award not as a culmination, but as encouragement to continue the work. Our success reflects the collective effort of residents, faculty members, students, and community partners who share a commitment to fairness in medicine. We are grateful for the opportunity to disseminate what we’ve learned and hope our approach can support other programs working to build a [better] future for graduate medical education.
Learn more about the ACGME Awards on the ACGME website. Nominate a deserving colleague, program, Sponsoring Institution, or organization for a 2027 award today! The nomination window closes March 18, 2026.