Kaylin Swoboda, MPH, education administrator in the UAB Department of Urology, has been selected to serve on the UAB Program Administrator and Coordinator (PAC) Leadership Team, a group within Graduate Medical Education that mentors residency and fellowship coordinators across the institution.
Swoboda applied for the position with the support of Adam Klein, M.D., assistant professor and residency program director in the Department of Urology. PAC leaders are chosen based on leadership experience and time in graduate medical education. Swoboda was one of only two coordinators within UAB selected to serve on the team.
Swoboda sees the difference in size between programs as part of what makes the seat valuable. Collaborating with coordinators from larger programs will bring valuable insight into managing residency programs in a fast-paced environment with many moving parts.
For Swoboda, who came to UAB Graduate Medical Education in 2024, the appointment is a leadership position she had been working toward.
“Being a part of the PAC Leadership Team is a huge honor for me,” Swoboda said. “Residency programs can do just fine when we go through the motions, but to me, this job is more than just showing up. I take pride in creating solutions, improving workflows, and contributing positively to the culture and success of the Urology residency program.”
UAB has 106 ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs. PAC leaders work to improve resident and fellow education, focusing on well-being initiatives, resident appreciation, accreditation processes, and collaboration between programs.
When asked which areas of PAC's work matter most to her, Swoboda named accreditation and collaboration between programs.
“Accreditation is the wheel that drives residency programs and holds the utmost importance to me because it serves as the foundation of Graduate Medical Education,” she said. “ACGME requirements provide the framework that guides program quality, accountability, and resident success. While accreditation work often happens behind the scenes, it is essential to ensuring programs remain compliant and equipped with the resources to provide exceptional training experiences.”
Collaboration, she said, is what makes that work sustainable.
“I am always looking for new ways to improve processes within the Urology residency program, and through collaboration with other UAB programs, I can gain useful knowledge and skills to build on our own processes and work environment,” Swoboda said. “Strong leadership thrives on teamwork, and being part of a network of PAC leaders would encourage meaningful discussion, innovation, and the sharing of best practices across programs.”
“The intersection of collaboration and accreditation is where I feel I can have the greatest impact,” she added, “helping programs lean on one another while maintaining the excellence and integrity that accreditation promotes.”
Swoboda’s experience has also shaped the kind of mentor she hopes to be for other coordinators. She said she has learned to slow down, consider the full situation, and ask questions before making a decision.
“I hope to encourage them to approach challenges with curiosity, patience, and critical thinking,” Swoboda said. “Simultaneously, I want to help create an environment built on trust and respect. When people feel trusted and valued, they gain the confidence to do their best work, take initiative, and continue growing both personally and professionally.”
Swoboda thanked Marissa Keppley, MBA, executive administrator for the Department of Urology, for her support and mentorship, along with her fiancé, Madison Brogan, M.D., and her mother.
Looking ahead, Swoboda hopes to bring what she learns through the PAC Leadership Team back to Urology. Her first major event as a PAC leader will be the PAC Program Coordinator Retreat in February or March 2027.