How to Build a Program Residents Want to Stay In

In this episode of PDs @ SEA, newly appointed residency program director Dr. Erik Romanelli sits down with his mentor’s mentor, Dr. Adam Levine of Mount Sinai, who has led his residency program for nearly three decades. The conversation traces how a PD grows into the role, why the work matters beyond administration, and what sustains a career in residency leadership over time.

Dr. Levine reflects on the lessons that shaped him, the value of assuming nothing, and the core belief that program directors are first and foremost educators and advocates. The discussion touches on resident culture, recruitment in the virtual era, the balance between clinical presence and administrative leadership, and the importance of building an environment where people want to stay, train, and later return as colleagues.

This is a candid, generous exchange between two program directors at different stages of their journey. For anyone considering stepping into residency leadership, or reflecting on what it means to shape a training culture, this episode offers perspective, grounding, and a reminder of why the work is worth doing.

This episode was originally published January 17, 2024 on YouTube