Who We Are

Dr. Sarah Williams is a Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford and is also a certified executive coach. Her current focus (and Stanford Medicine Leadership Academy strategic initiative) is on scaling and adapting coaching at an institutional level to advance precision education, development, and well-being. With sponsorship from Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care, and Stanford Graduate Medical Education, Dr. Williams and her team have developed The Coaching Office: Advancing Coaching in Healthcare and Medical Education (COACHME@Stanford).

Dr. Williams academic passion has centered around medical education, program building, and mentorship. She has led several educational programs at Stanford. She was program director or APD for our emergency medicine (EM) residency for 15 years. During this time, our program grew from 24 to 60 residents, we transitioned from a 3- to a 4-year residency with an innovative individualized curriculum, and our division became a full academic department. She was the inaugural fellowship director for our EM ultrasound fellowship. Dr. Williams co-founded and now directs the Stanford Clinical Teaching Scholars (CTSS) Program. This is an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental medical education certificate program endorsed by the Stanford Teaching and Mentoring Academy. It focuses on the development of skills to support medical education research and culminates in our yearly Stanford Innovations in Medical Education Conference. Dr. Williams is also our inaugural Specialty Career Advisor for Emergency Medicine at Stanford School of Medicine.

Dr. Williams attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate. She completed medical school and her residency in emergency medicine at Stanford. Dr. Williams remained at Stanford for chief residency and was our inaugural EM ultrasound fellow. She earned her masters degree in health professions education (MHPE) from the University of Illinois, Chicago. Dr. Williams is a certified coach (ACC) through the International Coach Federation. 

On a personal level, Dr. Williams understands the challenges of combining an active academic career with family; she is a wife and mom of three sons. She was also the first member of her family to go to college and grew up in a single-parent home. Dr. Williams is happy to collaborate with colleagues around the above interests.

Dr. Rania Sanford, Director of Faculty Professional Development, returned to the School of Medicine in April 2019 after six years as the University’s Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity (2009-2013).

As the School’s internal faculty coach, she works with first-time leaders and principal investigators, mid-and late-career faculty undergoing personal and professional transition, and high-achievers working to develop their capacities to the next level. Rania conducts confidential 360s reviews, and is certified in a number of psychometric assessments used in leadership development and management training. Dr. Sanford completed the Internal Coach Intensive for coaching certification at Columbia University and the Neuro-Leadership Institute coaching program offered at Stanford. In addition to executive coaching, Rania's practice areas include developing faculty professional development programs at the School, and working with unit leaders on strategic initiatives and planning.

Ann Dohn is the Designated Institutional Official, Executive Director of Graduate Medical Education, Training Program Liaison for the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, Representative to the National Resident Matching Program and Medical School Representative to the Medical Board of California for the Stanford University programs at Stanford Health Care.  She has over 37 years of experience in medical education and oversees 125 ACGME programs with over 1500 trainees. She also holds a certificate of completion in Advanced Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from the Harvard School of Public Health and completed the Columbia University Coaching Program.

 Ann was a member of the Steering Committee of the Group on Resident Affairs (2009-2012), an invited reviewer for the AAMC, has presented at the GRA, Western GEA, ACGME and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons meetings, and published several articles and a book chapter on medical education. Ann is a recipient of the ACGME Courage to Lead Award for 2013, The Group on Resident Affairs/AAMC Outstanding Service Award for 2019 and has twice been the recipient of the House Staff Appreciation Award from Stanford’s residents. In 2012, a group of former Stanford residents founded the Ann M. Dohn Legacy, a fund to promote resident well-being.

Ann’s passion is coaching emerging leaders in Graduate Medical Education.

Newton Cheung joined OAA Academic Affairs Administrative Associate in March 2021. Newton works closely with Rania Sanford, Ellen Waxman, and Cindy Ho on Faculty Professional Development Programs and initiatives.  His projects include the biannual Faculty 360 Evaluation Process, managing the administration of faculty courses, and providing administrative coordination for COACHME@Stanford, where he also developed the office’s website.