The Department of Surgery is pleased to announce that Stephanie Carter, MD, a general surgery resident, has been elected by her peers to serve a second term as president of the Yale Minority Housestaff Organization (MHO) for the 2026–2027 term. Her reappointment shows the trust of fellow trainees and recognizes her leadership in advancing MHO's mission to support underrepresented-in-medicine (URiM) residents and fellows through mentorship, recruitment, professional development, community engagement, and pipeline programs. As she begins her second term, Carter reflects on the impact of MHO's work, the growth of its community, and her priorities for the year ahead.
Q+A
Stephanie Carter, MD: Continuing Leadership as Yale MHO President
Congratulations on your reappointment as MHO President. What does it mean to be elected to serve a second term?
I am incredibly honored to continue serving as MHO President. Over the past several years, I've had the privilege of working alongside an amazing group of residents and fellows who care deeply about supporting one another and building community. Their trust means a great deal to me, and I'm excited to continue creating opportunities for connection, mentorship, and professional growth while helping strengthen MHO's impact across Yale.
For those who may be less familiar with MHO, how would you describe its mission and role within Yale's graduate medical education community?
At its core, MHO is about community. We support URiM residents and fellows through mentorship, recruitment, professional development, advocacy, and service while creating spaces where trainees can connect and thrive. Whether it's a recruitment event, networking opportunity, outreach initiative, or social gathering, MHO helps foster a sense of belonging across Yale's training programs and strengthens connections among trainees from different specialties.
Looking back on your first term, what accomplishments or initiatives stand out as points of pride?
I'm particularly proud of the breadth of programming we were able to offer and the engagement we saw across specialties. We hosted recruitment initiatives, professional development opportunities, and social events that brought trainees together in meaningful ways. At the same time, we continued our Medical Specialty Exposure Pipeline (MSEP) program with local high school students, which remains one of the most rewarding aspects of our work. Seeing both trainees and students benefit from these efforts has been incredibly fulfilling.
One of MHO's strengths is creating a sense of community among URiM trainees. How have you seen that community grow over the past year?
The growth has been remarkable. I've enjoyed watching residents and fellows from different departments connect at events, often meeting for the first time outside of the hospital. Many of those initial introductions have developed into lasting friendships, mentorship relationships, and support networks that extend into daily clinical work. Building those connections is one of the most important ways MHO contributes to the trainee experience.
MHO places a strong emphasis on outreach and pipeline programming. Why is this work so important?
Pipeline work is one of the areas I am most passionate about because representation matters. Through programs like MSEP, we introduce local students to a wide range of healthcare careers and specialties while helping them envision themselves in those roles. Beyond inspiring future healthcare professionals, these efforts help improve health literacy and strengthen connections between the medical community and the communities we serve.
As you begin your second term, what are your top priorities for the coming year?
My primary goal is to continue expanding opportunities for mentorship, recruitment, and community engagement. We hope to strengthen our pipeline initiatives, deepen partnerships with local organizations and vendors, and continue attracting outstanding trainees through our recruitment efforts. I also hope to increase MHO's collaboration with student organizations such as SNMA and LMSA and expand our presence at regional conferences. Most importantly, I want MHO to remain a welcoming and supportive community where trainees can connect, grow, and succeed together.