Eric Ayers, M.D., FACP, FAAP, associate professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, was the keynote speaker at the recent national conference of the National Med-Peds Residents’ Association.

The conference took place Sept. 28-29 in Orlando, Fla., during the American College of Physicians 2024 National Conference and Exhibition.

Dr. Ayers, a 1989 graduate of the WSU School of Medicine, said his remarks were designed to motivate faculty, residents and students who desire to become leaders in the field of Med-Peds, a combination of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics specialties.

“Leadership in Med-Peds begins with a genuine passion for comprehensive patient care across all age groups,” he told attendees. “Med-Peds leaders have the unique ability to see health holistically, connecting childhood health to adult outcomes.”

They also recognize health disparities and commit to being a force for positive change, as they are uniquely positioned to connect fragmented aspects of health care.

Leaders, he added, empower others by encouraging the next generation to see themselves as future leaders who can transform health care, striving to make a lasting impact that improves patient care, medical education and community health for generations to come.

In July, Dr. Ayers, who also serves as director of Mentoring and Engagement in the Office of Student Affairs, section chief of Med-Peds and associate director of Transitional Medicine, received the Jerry Yee Mentorship Award from the Michigan Chapter of the American College of Physicians. The award is presented to Internal Medicine physicians with a “demonstrated commitment to supporting the scholarly and professional advancement of their students, trainees and junior colleagues” who demonstrate “consistent and high-quality mentoring in clinical research, post-graduate scholarship or professional development.”