New technologies, shifts in policy, heightened inequities, and increased demand have transformed health care over the past two decades. As a result, it is paramount that the education and training of future physicians also evolve. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a guiding light for academic health institutions during these unpredictable times. Dr. David Skorton, president and CEO of the AAMC, and Dr. Alison Whelan, chief academic officer of the AAMC, join Dean Henri Ford to discuss their individual journeys, how we can better prepare for the next pandemic, and strategies to strengthen medical education. Listen to part one of this fascinating conversation with the leaders of our nation’s academic medicine community.