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Melissa Bales: Building community and leading national change
Bales’ APPD journey began with what she describes as “two simple things”: joining the organization’s mentoring workgroup and presenting a session titled “Table to Able” focused on innovative QR code use for 360 evaluations. Those early opportunities sparked connections that ultimately led her to serve a three-year term on the Coordinators’ Executive Committee as chair-elect, chair and immediate past chair.
During the challenges of the COVID era, Bales played a critical role in maintaining connections across the coordinator community by helping organize weekly virtual cafés that created support and collaboration during uncertain times. She also helped shape national APPD meetings, planning coordinator programming for both Fall and Spring Conferences, including the first in-person Spring Meeting following the pandemic in San Diego.
Bales’ influence expanded further through her role as a founding council member for Leadership Empowerment for Advancing Pediatric Education Specialists (LEAPES), where for six years she mentored scholarly projects, presented educational sessions and helped coordinators across the country grow in confidence and leadership ability. Beyond committee work, she has contributed to national webinars, publications, presentations and podcast discussions focused on graduate medical education.
“Building connections across the nation has been a huge win,” Bales said. “Being able to connect with other GME professionals at all levels has been so incredibly rewarding. I have grown in my own abilities and confidence. It feels a bit weird to know I have friends and a solid network across the country to debate issues with, seek guidance from, and to learn from daily.”
Looking ahead, Bales continues to break new ground. After transitioning into the role of pediatric residency team manager in late 2025, she now serves as chair of the APPD Spring Meeting 2027 in Indianapolis — becoming the first fellowship coordinator and only the second coordinator overall to lead planning for the national conference. Her work will place her in close collaboration with APPD leadership and the board as she helps shape the meeting’s vision, programming and experience for attendees nationwide.
Tina Cochran: Growing through leadership and connection
Over the past four years, Cochran has served APPD in multiple leadership capacities, including at-large member, chair-elect, chair and past chair of the Coordinators’ Executive Committee. Throughout her service, she has represented coordinators nationally by presenting at both Spring and Fall APPD Conferences and contributing to the Fellowship Forum Webinar Series.
“While professional growth has been invaluable, the greatest reward has been the relationships I’ve built along the way,” Cochran said. “APPD is more than an organization — it’s a community.”
Through conferences and national collaboration, she has built meaningful relationships with leaders and colleagues across the country — connections that have become both professionally and personally rewarding. She describes APPD not simply as an organization, but as a supportive network where mentorship, collaboration and encouragement thrive.
Cochran strongly encourages others to become involved with APPD, emphasizing the organization’s many opportunities for leadership development, mentorship, grants and specialized learning communities. She is especially excited for the APPD Spring Conference coming to Indianapolis in 2027, noting the unique opportunity it presents for local faculty, coordinators and trainees to experience a national conference close to home while showcasing “Hoosier Hospitality” on a national stage.
As she looks toward the future, Cochran is focused on mentorship and scholarship. She hopes to support fellow IU coordinators in developing their own leadership skills while continuing her research efforts through abstracts and peer-reviewed publication work. Her recently completed nine-month leadership development program has further strengthened her commitment to helping others grow professionally.
Lyn Terrell: Finding confidence through leadership
Terrell’s leadership within APPD has steadily expanded over the past several years. From 2021–2024, she served as the APPD Mid-America Region coordinator chair, helping lead professional development initiatives, launch a regional Speakers Bureau site and implement a coordinator scholarship program. She currently serves on the Longitudinal Educational Software Solutions and Outcomes Network (LESSON) Committee as coordinator representative, helping review and evaluate online educational curricula before publication.
As of May 2026, Terrell has stepped into a new national leadership role as chair-elect of the Coordinators’ Executive Committee while also serving on the Coordinator Workforce Workgroup. In addition, she is helping plan upcoming national programming through the APPD Fall Meeting Planning Committee.
“The most vital aspect of APPD is the supportive community it provides,” Terrell said. “It is a space where coordinators are empowered to see themselves as leaders and educators.”
One of Terrell’s proudest accomplishments has been her personal growth as a leader and presenter. Through participation in the nine-month LEAPES program and opportunities to present nationally at APPD fall meetings, she overcame her own hesitation about public speaking and discovered a new level of confidence. She credits much of that growth to the strong support system within pediatric education and the APPD community.
For Terrell, APPD’s greatest strength lies in its ability to empower coordinators to see themselves as leaders and educators. Whether through virtual engagement or in-person conferences, she believes the organization creates a welcoming space where individuals can grow, contribute and thrive.
Looking ahead: Indianapolis 2026 and beyond
The future is especially exciting for the IU School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and for APPD leadership at IU. The APPD Spring Meeting will be held in Indianapolis March 22–25, 2027, at the JW Marriott Indianapolis.
Bales, Cochran and Terrell continue to represent the department through their ongoing national service and visibility within APPD. Recently presenting at the 2026 APPD Spring Conference with two colleagues from additional institutions, they are bringing national attention to IU School of Medicine. This is yet another reflection of their expertise and leadership within pediatric graduate medical education. Their presentations will contribute to collaborative learning across institutions while bringing fresh ideas and innovation back to IU.
This momentum continues to grow. Erika Naylor, clinical education coordinator, has been accepted into the next cohort of the APPD LEAPES program for the upcoming academic year. Together, these accomplishments highlight a culture of leadership, mentorship and excellence that continues to strengthen both the IU Department of Pediatrics and the broader pediatric education community.
