AACOM, AAMC, ACGME, and ECFMG Release Transition to Residency Toolkit
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Association of American Medical Colleges, ACGME, and Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates | Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research created a toolkit to help learners transition from medical school to residency during the COVID-19 pandemic. The toolkit is designed to aid both programs preparing for incoming residents, as well as students entering residency after a challenging and potentially disrupted final year of medical school.
Created by a work group that included medical students and residents, the toolkit is divided into three main sections, questions to review, a matrix of possible activities, and a comprehensive list of additional resources. The toolkit’s recommendations should not be viewed as requirements.
The toolkit includes key topics and questions program leaders should consider to meet the needs of incoming residents; resources and recommendations for program curricula, assessing and advising residents, and guidance to eliminate bias and inequity; and an extensive collection of resources from the partnering organizations on a variety of related and relevant topics.
Access the toolkit from the Transition to Residency web page on the ACGME website.
Email questions and comments to umegmetoolkit@acgme.org.
Access the ACGME's COVID-19 Section
Visit the COVID-19 section of the ACGME website for access to a range of materials, including ACGME Guidance Statements, Frequently Asked Questions, institutional and well-being resources, and more.
Register for On-Demand Conference Content!
On-demand content for dozens of presentations from the 2021 Annual Educational Conference on topics important to the graduate medical education community are available in the virtual conference platform through June 1, 2021. For those unable to attend the live event, registration is still available. Those who attended with standard registration can upgrade for extended access: email registration@acgme.org.
Save the Date!
2022 Annual Educational Conference
February 24-27, 2022
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida
Registration for the 2022 Annual Educational Conference will open late fall.
COMING SOON! The Basics of Accreditation Workshops
The Basics of Accreditation for New Program Coordinators workshops will be held virtually in May and June! Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. (Central) on Monday, April 12. Space is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.
This two-part, specialty-specific workshop series assists new program coordinators in understanding the basics of ACGME accreditation of residency and fellowship programs.
For details, visit the Basics of Accreditation web page on the ACGME website.
ACGME Program Requirements for Review and Comment
The following Program Requirements and Recognition Requirements and accompanying Impact Statements are posted for review and comment, here:
Comment Deadline: April 7, 2021 - Deadline Wednesday!
Pediatric Hospital Medicine
NEW! Resources from GME Stakeholders Congress for Opioid Use Now Available
Videos and resources from last week’s GME Stakeholders Congress on Preparing Residents and Fellows to Manage Pain and Addiction are now available to the public free of charge. To access this content, sign up for a Learn at ACGME account or log into an existing account.
The GME Stakeholders Congress was held March 29-30, 2021, and brought together experts from across the medical education spectrum to discuss training and resources to effectively treat opioid use disorder, including behavioral techniques and medication-based therapy. This assembly supports the ACGME’s mission to support proper and equitable physician training and the requirement that all programs “provide instruction and experience in pain management if applicable for the specialty including recognition of the signs of addiction.” (Common Program Requirement IV.C.2.).
Over the course of the two-day meeting, attendees identified strategies to effectively prepare residents and fellows to confront the challenges of recognizing and treating pain and addiction through live Q and A sessions, breakout group discussions, and pre-meeting presentations, some of which are now available in Learn at ACGME. A forthcoming proceedings paper will memorialize the Congress’s deliberations.
If you have any questions related to accessing the materials, email de@acgme.org.
NEW! Milestones Year-End Reporting Open April 19 to June 25
The reporting window will be open Monday, April 19-Friday, June 25, 2021. Milestones assessments can be submitted via the Accreditation Data System (ADS) at any point during this time. A list of specialties that have or soon will transition to Milestones 2.0 can be found on the Milestones section of the ACGME website.
Email technical questions to ADS@acgme.org.
Email content questions to milestones@acgme.org.
Review and Comment on Milestones 2.0 - Deadlines This Week!
New drafts of the Milestones listed below are available for review and comment. The Milestones reporting data, along with other survey results and comments, informed the changes. The Work Groups also created Supplemental Guides to enhance understanding of the Milestones.
Deadline: Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
Deadline: Sunday, April 11, 2021
Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Email questions to milestones@acgme.org.
NEW! CLER Visit Blackout Weeks Reporting Window Open
The window for submitting CLER visit blackout weeks is open through April 26, 2021. Sponsoring Institutions can submit up to four blackout weeks during this period.
Remaining 2021 Dates for Entering Blackout Weeks (four weeks permitted per window):
- April 1-26 - Submit requests for July-September
- July 1-26 - Submit requests for October-December
CLER blackout weeks are intended to block scheduling of CLER visits for dates when institutional leaders and staff members are unavailable. The DIO and CEO of the site being visited must be available to remotely participate in an initial and exit meeting for the CLER visit.
NOTE: Sponsoring Institutions with a status of Initial Accreditation will not have a CLER visit until their status is changed to Continued Accreditation, and do not need to enter blackout requests.
In 2021, the CLER Program will also avoid scheduling visits on these dates:
- January 18 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- May 31 (Memorial Day)
- June 21-25
- June 28-July 2
- July 5 (Independence Day observed)
- September 6 (Labor Day)
- November 25-26 (Thanksgiving)
- December 20-24
To request blackout weeks, designated institutional officials (DIOs) or institutional coordinators should log into ADS and click on "Blackout Weeks" under "CLER" in the right-hand navigation menu. The CLER Program will make every effort to comply with requests but cannot guarantee visits will not be scheduled during requested blackout dates.
CLER blackout week requests for July 2021 to September 2021 must be submitted by April 26, 2021.
Email questions to CLER@acgme.org.
NEW! Accreditation Data System (ADS) News and Updates: Selected Codes Area Redesigned for Desktop Users
With valuable input from the Case Log Resident/Fellow Feedback Group, the Selected Codes area for users in CPT-based specialties has been completely updated. Selected Codes will now always be visible on the right side of the Case Entry, Edit and Copy screen, instead of within its own tab.
Users are also able to remove all codes from a case with one click by selecting "Clear All" at the top of Selected Codes. In addition, for codes with longer descriptions, users will see a "Read More" option.
ADS News and Updates: Case Log Mobile App Enhancements
The Case Log app for residents/fellows has been enhanced to include the ability to view, edit, copy, and delete submitted cases. The Case Log app is only available to resident/fellow users, and can be downloaded from the Google Play and iOS app stores.
Android users, open the Google Play Store and search for "ACGME Case Logs."
iPhone users, open the App Store and search for "ACGME Case Logs."
ADS News and Updates: Graduate Case Log National Specialty Reports on ADS Public
The National Specialty-Level Case Logs Graduate Statistics Reports have been moved to the Reports section of the ADS Public site and will be maintained there. In the upcoming months, these reports will be removed from their current location under the Data Collection Systems tab on the ACGME website. Users should update existing bookmarks to the new URL: https://apps.acgme.org/ads/Public/Reports/Report/25.
ADS News and Updates: Sponsored Program Graduate Case Log Reports
Sponsoring Institutions can now access Case Log Graduate Statistics Reports for their accredited programs from a single location within the institutional account, including national, program, individual resident, and minimum reports (applicable both for specialties for which the use of Case Logs is required by the ACGME and specialties for which use is available, but not required). The "Program Case Log Graduate Statistics" page is located under the Reports tab in ADS, and reports can be accessed by selecting an "Academic Year" and then clicking "Reports" for each program. Note: reports are available for previous academic years.
Email questions regarding these changes to ads@acgme.org.
Award Renamed to Barbara Ross-Lee, DO Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
The ACGME is proud to announce its Diversity and Inclusion Award will now be known as the Barbara Ross-Lee, DO Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award in honor of Dr. Ross-Lee’s illustrious career, contributions to GME), and expertise in health policy. In 1993, Dr. Ross-Lee became the first African American female dean of a United States medical school when she accepted the position at Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is currently the President Elect of the American Osteopathic Foundation. Read more about Dr. Ross-Lee.
The award recognizes ACGME-accredited Sponsoring Institutions and programs, and specialty organizations working to diversify the underrepresented physician workforce and create inclusive workplaces that foster humane, civil, and equitable environments.
Apply for the 2022 Barbara Ross-Lee, DO Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
2022 ACGME Awards Nominations Open
Deadline Extended to April 28!
Now accepting nominations for the 2022 ACGME Awards!
The ACGME recognizes notable DIOs, program directors, residents and fellows, and institutional and program coordinators for their outstanding work and contributions to GME through its Awards Program.
Nomination materials are available in the Awards section of the ACGME website.
The deadline for nominations has been extended to April 28, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Central.
Updated Verification of Graduate Medical Education Training (VGMET) Form Now Available
The ACGME, National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS), American Hospital Association (AHA), Organization of Program Director Associations (OPDA), and others created the VGMET form to standardize the training verification process and alleviate the burdens placed on hospitals, medical services professionals, and program directors. The form has recently been updated and the current version is now available. A valuable resource designed to streamline and standardize the residency verification process and meet hospital credentialing needs, the template letter and form provide the necessary information to meet credentialing needs while reducing the need for programs to complete multiple requests for information.
ACGME Seeks Resident Members
The following Review Committees are seeking their next resident member for terms beginning July 1, 2022. A resident member serves on the Review Committee to share the resident/fellow perspective, foster accountability to the needs of residents and fellows, enrich the work of the committee through outside expertise, and create transparency in the work of the Review Committee. Selected nominees will be presented to the ACGME Board of Directors for approval. The membership term is July 1, 2022-June 30, 2024.
ANESTHESIOLOGY
Details: The resident member must have a minimum of one year of residency education remaining after July 1, 2023. Additional information and nomination form available upon request.
Contact: Aimee Morales
Deadline: July 1, 2021
RADIATION ONCOLOGY
Details: The resident member must have a minimum of one year of residency education remaining after July 1, 2023. Additional information and nomination form available upon request.
Contact: Aimee Morales
Deadline: July 1, 2021
TRANSITIONAL YEAR
Details: The resident member must have a minimum of one year of residency education remaining after July 1, 2023. Additional information and nomination form available upon request.
Contact: Aimee Morales
Deadline: July 1, 2021
ACGME Seeks Public Members
The following Review Committees are seeking their next public member for terms beginning July 1, 2022. A public member serves on the Review Committee to share the perspective of the public, foster accountability to the needs of the public, enrich the work of the Committee through outside expertise, and create transparency in the work of the Review Committee. Nominees must not be physicians. Other health care professionals are permitted, provided they are not employed by an organization with ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship programs. The term of appointment is six years.
ANESTHESIOLOGY
Details: Additional information and nomination form available upon request.
Contact: Aimee Morales
Deadline: July 1, 2021
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Details: Additional information and nomination form available upon request.
Contact: Bianca Andino
Deadline: August 2, 2021
TRANSITIONAL YEAR
Details: Additional information and nomination form available upon request.
Contact: Aimee Morales
Deadline: July 1, 2021
Transitional Year Review Committee Seeks New Member
The Committee seeks a new member for a position that will become available July 1, 2022. The candidate should be currently certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine. The new member's term will begin July 1, 2022 and end June 30, 2028.
Additional information and the nomination form are available upon request from Senior Accreditation Administrator Aimee Morales.
Nominations due by July 1, 2021.
Meeting and Agenda Closing Dates Posted
Meeting dates are listed on the overview page for each specialty's section on the ACGME website. Most specialties have already updated their information.
Meeting dates and associated agenda closing dates for the Osteopathic Principles Committee are posted on the Osteopathic Recognition page of the ACGME website.
This process will continue through July 1, 2021.
Review Committee News / Notices: Emergency Medicine
The grace period for faculty emergency medical services board certification for all emergency medical services programs has ended. The Review Committee previously allowed several alternate criteria to satisfy the faculty qualifications requirements for the program director and other required faculty members. Since the five-year transition period has passed, the Review Committee expects all required faculty members to hold emergency medical services board certification.
The Emergency Medical Services FAQs on the Program Requirements and FAQs and Applications page in the Emergency Medicine section of the ACGME website provide additional details.
The Review Committee will assess all programs this summer to determine individual program compliance with the faculty certification requirements.
Save the Date! Review Committee News / Notices: Institutional Updates and Town Hall Webcast April 26
This webcast, scheduled for April 26, 4:30-6:00 p.m. Central, will focus on the Institutional Review Committee’s 2020-2021 accreditation review of Sponsoring Institutions, its focused revision of ACGME Institutional Requirements, and the work of the Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) Program. It will highlight ACGME actions to assist and support Sponsoring Institutions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, key findings from the CLER National Reports of Findings, and updates on the CLER site visit designed to assess the impact of COVID-19.
The webcast includes an open forum during which participants can ask presenters questions.
Registration details will be available soon. Email questions to dio@acgme.org.
Review Committee News / Notices: Family Medicine Call for Comments
Every 10 years, Review Committees are required to evaluate the specialty-specific Program Requirements to determine necessary revisions. The ACGME Board of Directors has approved a new process for all such major revisions going forward.
This new process is based in scenario-based strategic planning, and involved the Review Committee, members of the family medicine community, leaders from other specialties (surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology), advanced practice providers, public safety experts, and government agencies (Health Resources and Services Administration), rigorously and creatively thinking about what the specialty of family medicine will look like in the future (recognizing that the future is marked with significant uncertainty). From this process, the Review Committee will propose revisions to the requirements that will prepare the learners for current practice and generations to come.
The Review Committee requests feedback and asks the community to review the Summary Themes and Insights document in the Family Medicine section of the ACGME website, and to reply as instructed.
Recognition Committee News / Notices: Osteopathic Recognition-Specific Question Document Updated
The Osteopathic Recognition-Specific Question document has been updated and is available on the Osteopathic Recognition page of the ACGME website. Programs that submit an application for Osteopathic Recognition on or after July 1, 2021 will be required to complete and submit the updated version of this document. Programs that submit an application prior to July 1, 2021 can use either the updated version or the version from August 2018.
REMINDER! Update Contacts in ADS
Review information in ADS to ensure the appropriate individuals in your institution and/or program receive these e-Communication messages. This includes removing contact information for those no longer working in the institution/program (e.g., those who have retired).
Verify that email addresses for the DIO, institutional coordinator, program director, and program coordinator(s) are current in the system.
Add ADS@acgme.org and ACGMECommunications@acgme.org to your address book or safe sender list so important notifications, including Annual Update or Resident and Faculty Survey announcements, as well as these e-Communication messages are not marked as spam or junk by the institution's Internet Service Provider (ISP). Messages may need to be opened and marked as "not spam."
Contact the local (e.g., institution's) ISP or spam filter application support for assistance.
Career Opportunities
The ACGME currently has the following open position:
- ACGME International President and Chief Executive Officer
- Medical Writer
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator/Project Manager
- Senior Project Manager
Click on the position linked above for details and to complete an application.