Finding Meaning in Medicine Through “Mentoring Moments” – Q and A with Dr. Susan Day
The ACGME launched Arts and Humanities in Medicine at its 2026 Annual Educational Conference. The initiative aims to spotlight creative expression, celebrating the powerful intersection of creativity and the lived experiences of the graduate medical education (GME) community. For #ACGME2027, Arts and Humanities in Medicine will feature the visual arts.
Through the photography contest focused on “Mentoring Moments,” the ACGME invites members of the GME community to capture the relationships, experiences, and connections that make mentorship so meaningful. We asked Susan Day, MD, former ACGME Board Chair and Advisor for Arts and Humanities in Medicine, to share insights and highlight key information about the initiative.
ACGME: What inspired the selection of “Mentoring Moments” as the subject for the photography contest?
Dr. Day: The overarching theme of ACGME Annual Educational Conference, Meaning in Medicine, reminds us of the importance that relationships play in helping people find purpose in their work. Mentorship is one of the most powerful and universal experiences in GME. Whether formal or informal, mentoring relationships shape careers, inspire confidence, and influence how physicians learn to care for patients and support one another. We hope the contest will encourage people to pause and recognize those moments of guidance and connection.
ACGME: Why is mentorship such an important part of the GME experience?
Day: Medical education is not only about acquiring knowledge and skills, it is also about becoming a physician and educator. Mentors help learners navigate challenges, develop professional identity, build confidence, and envision future career pathways. They model values, provide perspective, and create opportunities for growth. Many people can trace important milestones in their careers back to someone who took the time to teach, encourage, or believe in them.
ACGME: Do submitted photographs need to reflect a clinical setting? If so, why is that important?
Day: Not at all. We intentionally wanted a broad interpretation of mentorship. A mentoring moment might occur in a clinic, but it can also happen in a classroom, simulation center, conference hallway, research meeting, or community setting. We hope participants will capture the many ways people learn from and support one another throughout the GME experience.
ACGME: Why is it important for the ACGME to include arts and humanities programming as part of the Annual Educational Conference?
Day: The arts and humanities create space for reflection in a profession that is often fast-paced and highly technical. They help us examine experiences from new perspectives, explore meaning, and engage with the human dimensions of education and health care. Including arts and humanities programming alongside educational sessions signals that creativity, reflection, and human connection are valuable components of professional development.
ACGME: Last year’s Arts and Humanities in Medicine focus was on music and creative writing; why the shift to photography this year?
Day: We hope that Arts and Humanities in Medicine can address many topics in future years. Photography offers a uniquely accessible form of creative expression. Nearly everyone carries a camera and has the opportunity to capture meaningful moments in everyday life. Unlike some art forms that may feel intimidating, photography allows participants from across the GME community to contribute their perspectives regardless of prior artistic experience. In addition to photography, we will also feature a session this year that centers on the use of visual arts in GME.
ACGME: What impact do you hope the “Mentoring Moments” photography display will have?
Day: The contest aims to celebrate the often-unseen acts of generosity, encouragement, and teaching that occur every day in GME. I hope the opportunity to submit a photograph stimulates many people to reflect on mentoring. Then, when selected photographs are displayed at the Annual Educational Conference, I hope all of the attendees are reminded about those who have helped shape their journey. If attendees leave having thought about a mentor who influenced them—or recognizing the impact they can have on others—this feature will have been a success.
ACGME: Anything else you’d like to add that we haven’t asked about?
Day: One thing I appreciate about this initiative is that it invites gratitude. Medicine often focuses on what comes next—the next learner, the next challenge, the next milestone. This contest encourages us to pause and recognize the relationships that helped us get where we are today, relationships that are often central to finding meaning in medicine. We look forward to highlighting them at the 2027 Annual Educational Conference.
Finally, I would encourage conference attendees to stop by the Arts and Humanities in Medicine kiosk in the ACGME Hub in the conference’s Exhibit Hall. We would love to connect and hope you’ll share your thoughts and ideas with us about the initiative!
The ACGME thanks everyone involved in planning and selection for this year’s Arts and Humanities in Medicine photography contest.
Submit a photo to the Arts and Humanities in Medicine photography contest, focusing on “Mentoring Moments,” by filling out this form. The deadline to submit is August 26, 2026.
Email questions to artsinmedicine@acgme.org.