Member Spotlight

Come say hello and get to know Olivia Coiado (she/her/hers)! We're excited to highlight her valuable contributions this month! 

OLIVIA COIADO, PhD

Professor and Assistant Dean for Student and Resident Research 

Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine - Washington State University 

Why do you think engaging in the AAMC Virtual Community is important? 

Engaging in the AAMC Virtual Community is important for several reasons including networking and collaboration. It provides opportunities to connect with peers, mentors, and experts in the medical field, facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing.

AAMC Virtual Community is a valuable opportunity for professional growth, collaboration, and staying connected with the broader medical community. 

Do you have a professional skill or expertise that might interest your peers in this community? Are you the “go-to” person at your institution for advice or expertise in a particular subject? 

I serve as the primary advisor regarding extracurricular research for medical students, graduate students, and residents. I collaborate with units across the college and develop partnerships both locally and globally to support our learner’s research endeavors. I have a robust research background with interests in cardiovascular studies, acoustics, bioinstrumentation, medical devises, and medical and engineering education. 

What should people in the virtual community contact you about?  

My goal is to provide guidance, support, and encouragement, helping medical students and residents to navigate their academic and professional journeys. I'm happy to connect and share my expertise as a faculty, mentor and researcher and how to engage with undergraduate and graduate medical education. 

What was the best book you most recently read (or TV show/movie) that you watched? 

The Happiness Curve by Jonathan Rauch 

What’s the best piece of professional advice you have ever received? Why? 

Have fun, most of the people forget that we all do things that we like and dislike in our jobs or life, but you should never forget to find the joy and have fun with the things you work on. 

What’s the worst piece of professional advice you have ever received? Why? 

Non-specific feedback, it can be unhelpful or counterproductive because it may not help someone understand what needs to change. 

What do you think is the best, most challenging, or most unique thing about working in academic medicine (or your field or specialty specifically)? 

The best part of my job is to teach and mentor medical students, residents, and fellows that allow for significant influence on the next generation of healthcare providers and impact future generations of physicians. The most unique is that academic medicine often involves working on interdisciplinary teams, integrating insights from various fields to tackle complex medical problems. 

What do you hope to gain from this online community? 

Engaging with a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds and expertise areas can provide fresh perspectives and deepen my understanding of different topics. 

Did you have an unusual path to your current career? Tell us about it. 

As a woman in engineering, my journey has led me to an exciting and somewhat unconventional role in medicine. This unique position allows me to combine my engineering skills with medical science, creating innovative solutions that enhance healthcare. My engineering background equips me with the tools to develop new medical devices, improve diagnostic methods, and streamline healthcare processes, ultimately contributing to better patient outcomes. Working in the medical field allows me to collaborate with healthcare professionals and researchers, conducting impactful research that can lead to real-world applications and improvements in patient care. 

Thinking about all conferences, workshops, webinars you have attended in the last few years, was there a speaker or session topic that stands out as your favorite? Who? Why? 

I'm always interested in learning more about AI in medical education, I have been fascinated by recent discussions in some of the conferences that I have attended. AI in medical education is revolutionizing how future healthcare professionals are trained, enhancing both the learning experience and the quality of healthcare delivery. Also, we are encountering a new generation of leaners and us as educators will have to adapt and transform the way we teach. 

How do you prefer to start your day? 

Coffee, workout and reading. 

How do you prefer to end your day? 

Cooking my dinner and taking a walk. 

What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position? 

Many people might assume that my role is largely administrative, focused on paperwork, meetings, and enforcing policies. While administrative duties are certainly part of the job, the reality is much more dynamic and impactful. A significant portion of my role involves mentoring students and residents, guiding them through their research projects, and helping them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I can say I play a crucial role in shaping their academic and professional growth. 

You’re throwing a dinner party and can invite 3 people (alive or dead). Who do you invite? 

Albert Einstein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Marie Curie. 

How did you maintain your wellness and resilience during the pandemic? Any tips to share with others? 

It was important to keep a heathy routine, I worked out a lot, cooked my own meals and tried to connect with friends and family via Zoom or outdoors. 

You live/work in [city]. What’s your favorite restaurant there? Is there something special we should check out next time we visit? 

I love sushi and Asian food. You should try UMI at Kendall Yards in your next visit to Spokane.   

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

I wanted to be a professor like my dad. He has always been my inspiration. 

What do you do to turn things around when you’re having a bad day? 

I play some music and I dance. 

If you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which would you pick? 

LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Instagram. 

What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten? 

I eat everything but I don't eat oyster because I don't understand the concept. 

Do you have pets? 

No pets. 

Is there anything else you'd like to add? 

I thrive on collaboration and enjoy meeting new people. Engaging with diverse perspectives and working together towards common goals invigorates me. Building strong connections and fostering a team-oriented environment is something I’m deeply passionate about. Whether it's brainstorming innovative ideas, tackling challenges, or simply learning from others, I find great satisfaction in the collaborative process. 

Is there a mentor or person you particularly looked up to, who has inspired and shaped your career? How so? 

My dad was an engineer and an exceptional educator. He was also incredibly supportive of women and championed their advancement in every way he could. 

Thinking about our collective scholarly knowledge of medical education curriculum, what research question do you wish the field could address? What research area in curriculum do you think deserves more attention than its currently receiving? 

How can we systematically integrate and assess compassion in medical training, and what impact does this have on patient outcomes and provider well-being? 

Despite the growing recognition of compassion's importance in healthcare, there remains a need for a comprehensive understanding of how best to incorporate it into medical curricula. An area that deserves more attention is the development of curricula that explicitly focuses on cultivating emotional intelligence and empathy alongside technical skills. While clinical skills and knowledge are well-established components of medical training, the integration of compassion and emotional resilience into the curriculum is often underemphasized. By prioritizing research in this area, we can better prepare future healthcare professionals to deliver not only competent care but also compassionate and patient-centered interactions, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery and the well-being of both providers and patients. 

What curriculum projects are you working on and what are happening at your school? 

Currently, I’m working on several curriculum projects that focus on integrating research into medical education and enhancing extracurricular activities. One major project involves developing a framework to incorporate research skills and methodologies throughout the medical curriculum.The goal is to create a cohesive learning pathway that not only emphasizes the importance of research but also equips students with practical skills that they can apply in their clinical practice. 

What aspect, approach, or topic in your school’s curriculum are you most proud of or excited about, and why? 

Development of a mentorship programs that connect students with faculty researchers, organizing workshops and seminars on emerging research topics, and encouraging participation in research conferences. These activities aim to foster a research-oriented culture and provide students with opportunities to engage in scholarly activities outside the formal curriculum. 

How has your role in curriculum evolved, given COVID-19? 

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed my role in curriculum development, particularly with the shift to online teaching. Initially, transitioning to a virtual format presented numerous challenges, from ensuring that the curriculum remained engaging and interactive to adapting assessments and practical experiences for an online environment. 

Looking ahead, what are you most hopeful about, or most looking forward to in the next year? 

Looking ahead, I’m most hopeful about expanding research opportunities for students and fostering a deeper integration of research into their educational experience. The coming year presents exciting prospects for creating more structured and accessible research opportunities that can significantly enhance students' learning and professional development. 

What’s one thing, either medical education related or not, you learned in the past month? 

One thing I recently learned is the increasing importance of artificial intelligence in enhancing personalized learning experiences in education. AI-driven tools are being developed to create adaptive learning platforms that can tailor educational content to individual students’ needs, preferences, and progress. This personalization can help address varying learning styles and paces, making education more effective and engaging. 

What’s one word you’d like to see being used more often? 

"Empathy" is a word I'd love to see used more often. Its application is crucial in various fields, including medical education, where understanding and relating to others' experiences can significantly enhance patient care, teamwork, and overall well-being. Emphasizing empathy can help foster more compassionate interactions and create more supportive environments. 

What’s the oddest job you ever had? 

Perhaps working on the nuclear medicine department without a supervisor. Handling responsibilities and making tough decisions on your own in such a specialized field likely honed my problem-solving and decision-making skills. 

Three words to best describe you: 

Innovative, collaborative, and supportive. 

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