Jennifer Maguire, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Division Chief of Inpatient Services for Pulmonary and Critical Care.
Tell us a little about how you got interested in education and your background?
I first became interested in education during my fellowship when I realized how much I enjoyed breaking down complex concepts for learners. It started with giving lectures, and from there, I was asked to take on more formal teaching roles. Over time, I moved into course leadership, starting with the first-year respiratory course and later adding the fourth-year critical care selective. Most of what I’ve learned has been through hands-on experience, curriculum development, and working alongside amazing colleagues and students rather than formal training.
How did you get involved in your current role?
My passion for quality improvement (QI) on the hospital side really opened the door to this opportunity. When the School of Medicine created the Faculty Director role for CQI and Accreditation, it felt like a natural fit. It combines my interest in systems improvement with my commitment to education. I’ve learned so much about accreditation and continuous quality enhancement—it’s been a great challenge and growth opportunity.
Tell us about you new role in undergraduate medical education?
I recently stepped into the role of Faculty Director for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Accreditation in the School of Medicine. In this position, I work with a team to make sure we maintain compliance with LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education) standards and continuously improve the quality of our programs. That means monitoring key metrics across the curriculum, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategies that align with accreditation requirements.
One of the reasons I was excited to take on this role is because it gave me the chance to learn something completely new. Accreditation and CQI are complex and dynamic—they involve understanding systems-level processes, data analysis, and strategic planning, which is very different from my previous focus on direct teaching and curriculum development. It’s been incredibly rewarding because I’m growing professionally while contributing to the long-term success of our medical school.
What advice would you give to a 1st-year medical student? A 4th-year student?
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For first-year students: Focus on building a solid foundation and give yourself permission to not know everything right away. Ask questions, stay curious, and remember that medicine is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure you take care of yourself along the way.
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For fourth-year students: Use this time to refine your clinical skills and think about the kind of physician you want to be. Relationships and professionalism will carry you far, so invest in those. And don’t forget to enjoy the process as you’ve worked hard to get here, so take pride in how far you’ve come and be excited for the future!