Hartmann to Retire after 20 Years of Dedication to GME Programs

Diane Hartmann (MD ’87), whose two-decade tenure as senior associate dean for graduate medical education saw dramatic growth in our residency programs, is stepping down.

“Diane was never content just to meet the standard—she wanted to set the standard, and she did,” said SMD Dean Mark Taubman, MD “She brought increasing structure and visibility to our programs. Her national profile and credibility was never more evident than when she led the effort that resulted in URMC being one of only a handful of institutions nationwide chosen to participate in the ACGME’s Pursuing Excellence initiative, which will help ensure the prestige of our programs for years to come.”

Under Hartmann, the number of accredited training positions for residents and fellows rose from 598 to 930. The number of ACGME-accredited residencies and fellowships rose from 49 to 93. Collaboration deepened between her office and our hospitals, as did an emphasis on wellness, quality, and safety.

“Our program has evolved with the times to remain a national leader,” Hartmann said. “We’ve worked quickly to adapt to changing technologies and incorporate them into our programs, to make wellness an essential part of our residency and fellowship experiences, and to remain on the cutting edge as education has shifted from time-based requirements to a greater—and very welcome—emphasis on competency and work quality.”

Hartmann considers the Pursuing Excellence grant, which was awarded in 2018, one of her biggest contributions to URMC. The resulting initiative, which operates under the aegis of the Quality Institute, focuses on building better teams, integrating residents and fellows directly into performance-improvement and qualityimprovement teams.

“Pursuing Excellence is transforming medical education through an increased emphasis on experiential, team-based learning and patient care—with an increased emphasis on quality, safety, and continuous improvement,” said CMO Michael Apostolakos, MD (Res ’90, Flw ’93), who, with Hartmann, serves on the Pursuing Excellence executive team. “Diane has led the way on both fronts and has been a key part of our successes, which include both decreased length of stay and readmissions.”

A national search will be conducted for her successor.

“One day in GME is never like the next,” she said. Things are always changing, and they have to for medical education to grow and to allow the physicians of the future to gain the skills they will need in practice.”

Ania Majewska Named Co-Director of UR-IDDRC

Ania Majewska, PhD, professor of Neuroscience, has joined John Foxe, PhD, as co-director of the University of Rochester Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (UR-IDDRC). Majewska is also the director of the Cell and Molecular Imaging core of the Center.

Her research, focused on developmental neuroscience, recently showed that the toxin the consumption of meat, dairy products, and fish, can cause the brain’s immune system to go awry later in life, potentially damaging important brain circuits and potentially contributing to disorders such as autism and ADHD.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Dr. Majewska in this role,” said Foxe. “She is a leader in IDD research at the Medical

Center. Her research is transforming what we understand about the developing brain. Coupled with her storied history of being an outstanding mentor, she will help continue to support and leverage the IDD research underway across the University and Medical Center.”

The University of Rochester is one of 16 institutions to receive IDDRC designation.

Majewska received the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) 2022 Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship. In 2021, she received the Peter Shrager Award for her successful leadership of the Neuroscience Graduate Program, dedication to science, and compassion.