By: DoM Communications
In this month’s Chair Spotlight, we feature Elizabeth Murphy, MD, associate professor of medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine.
Growing up, Dr. Murphy envisioned a career in medicine, with plans to specialize in pediatrics. However, as she progressed through medical school, she discovered a passion for internal medicine.
“I found that internal medicine contained all the things that were really important to me,” said Dr. Murphy. “I loved the variety of patients and conditions treated, as well as the academic and clinical challenges; I felt at home with the internal medicine doctors.”
Dr. Murphy earned her MD from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, before completing her internal medicine residency at UMass Chan Medical School, where she later served as a chief medical resident.
Currently, Dr. Murphy is a physician in the Division of General Internal Medicine at UMass and serves as the Inaugural Program Director of the Internal Medicine Primary Care Residency Track. Since launching the program in 2019, she has successfully recruited seven classes of interns and developed an innovative primary care curriculum for residents. In addition, she helped recruit 11 of the program’s first 18 graduates into primary care positions, many of whom now or will practice within the UMass Memorial Health system.
“We really personalize the training for each resident,” explained Dr. Murphy. “There are core requirements that they must meet, and through different specialty clinics and projects, they find their niche. I really want to make sure that they are prepared for the primary care career that they want. We also emphasize celebrating both their professional accomplishments and personal joys.”
Dr. Murphy has also collaborated with residents to establish a Women in Medicine Group, which provides residents and faculty with an opportunity to connect and discuss topics including parenting, pregnancy, residency, and other shared experiences. In addition, she is part of the inaugural group that established the Department of Medicine Gender Equity and Advancement Committee. In this group, colleagues support each other in academic promotion efforts and can participate in social events and conversations about their career growth and advancement opportunities.
Among her many clinical and educational responsibilities, Dr. Murphy finds the personal connections she builds with patients to be one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.
“Being a primary care physician is a privilege and a blessing,” said Dr. Murphy. “I have cared for many of my patients for more than 25 years. I feel so privileged to be able to use my knowledge and training to help them through challenging times but also congratulate them when they have done something wonderful for their health.”
Dr. Murphy also finds her connection with the internal medicine residency program to be one of the most rewarding aspects of her career at UMass. “I feel so incredibly blessed to have been involved in the residency ever since I was a resident and chief resident myself,” shared Dr. Murphy. “The residency leadership team is extremely dedicated to the well-being and training of our residents. Personally, I have also had many incredible opportunities to build educational programs and then hand off to more junior colleagues and watch them do amazing things.”
As she reflects on her time at UMass since arriving in 1995, Dr. Murphy shared what she is most grateful for at the institution.
“I feel very lucky to have spent my entire professional career here. UMass is a very special place. I cannot imagine going anywhere else,” said Dr. Murphy. “I really feel blessed to be part of the Benedict GIM family and the IM residency program. I have felt very supported, both personally and professionally, since the moment I arrived here.”
We thank Dr. Murphy not only for her dedication to her patients, but also for the endless support and mentorship of our students, faculty, and department!