This interview is one in a series of interviews with the 2026 recipients of the ACGME Awards. These 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 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place February 19-21, 2026, in San Diego, California. As part of its Awards program, the ACGME also jointly presents the Jeremiah A. Barondess Fellowship in the Clinical Transaction each year in collaboration with the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM).
2026-2028 Barondess Fellow Bryan Broderick, MD, MEHP is assistant professor of Medicine and associate program director of the internal medicine program at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
ACGME: Why did you want to become a physician?
Dr. Broderick: I was initially drawn to medicine through a fascination with physiology and how the human body works. Early on, a chance relationship with a mentor helped me see that medicine combined intellectual challenge with service and human connection. I was especially drawn to the opportunity to work closely with people during moments of real uncertainty and need. That blend of curiosity, mentorship, and purpose ultimately led me to pursue medicine.
ACGME: What has been the most rewarding part of your medical education?
Broderick: The most rewarding part of my medical education has been the relationships—with patients, families, and the people I trained alongside. As a resident, forming longitudinal connections with patients and being trusted with their care was deeply meaningful. I also found great fulfillment in learning alongside peers and mentors who encouraged me to stretch my limits, sit with uncertainty, and grow through challenge. Those experiences shaped not only how I practice medicine, but how I understand my role within it.
ACGME: What has been the most challenging?
Broderick: The high-stakes nature of medicine can be taxing, particularly in critical care settings, where decisions matter deeply. Supporting patients and their families through fear, uncertainty, or loss is emotionally demanding. At the same time, it is a profound privilege—to be present, help guide decisions, and offer clarity when it is most needed. Learning to hold both of those realities at once has been one of the greatest challenges, and responsibilities, of my education and training.
ACGME: What, to you, is the most important or most meaningful part of the clinical transaction?
Broderick: For me, the most meaningful part of the clinical transaction is the quality of the connection between physician and patient. Careful listening, thoughtful examination, and transparent reasoning create trust and shared understanding. These elements may seem intangible, but they shape diagnosis, decision-making, and the patient’s experience of care. When we get that right, the encounter becomes both more effective and more meaningful.
ACGME: Can you describe your project or how will you apply the fellowship?
Broderick: My project focuses on strengthening bedside medicine through a structured, hypothesis-driven approach to physical examination and diagnostic reasoning. By embedding focused bedside assessment into routine inpatient workflows, particularly during morning hand-offs, I aim to make clinical reasoning more visible, teachable, and measurable. The fellowship will support this work through faculty development and a recurring, patient-centered bedside medicine conference, helping to build a sustainable culture that prioritizes thoughtful examination and reasoning. Modern tools, such as point-of-care ultrasound, will be used to reinforce, rather than replace, core bedside skills.
ACGME: What does it mean to you to receive this recognition?
Broderick: I’m deeply grateful for this recognition. To me, it affirms that the fundamentals of medicine—listening, examining, and reasoning with patients—still matter in modern medical education and training. It also carries a sense of responsibility: to use this opportunity thoughtfully, to learn from others doing similar work, and to contribute something lasting and shareable. I’m honored to be part of a community committed to strengthening the clinical transaction.
ACGME: What advice would you give to others looking to either replicate your project or implement an original idea in their own program or institution?
Broderick: I would encourage others to start with the part of medicine they are passionate about and build from there. Educational innovation doesn’t have to be complex—it often succeeds when it is driven by genuine interest and addresses a need. Engage stakeholders early, pilot small changes, and be open to iteration. Most importantly, don’t underestimate the impact of doing simple things well and consistently.
ACGME: Is there anything else you would like to add that we haven’t asked about?
Broderick: I would add my gratitude to the mentors who shaped how I practice medicine, to the residents who continue to challenge and inspire me, and to the patients who place their trust in us. I feel fortunate to do this work and to keep learning from the people around me.
Learn more about the Jeremiah A. Barondess Fellowship in the Clinical Transaction and consider applying in the future. The application period for the next award cycle will open in fall 2026.