As the accrediting body for US graduate medical education (GME) programs and institutions, the ACGME understands and prioritizes the need for robust support to ensure that everyone in GME can thrive in their professional development. This post is part of the Resources to Support GME series, which highlights tools and resources available for various roles.
Coordinators are critical to the operational and educational success of GME programs and Sponsoring Institutions. The ACGME considers coordinators part of the GME leadership team, both at the institutional and program levels. While coordinators’ job titles can vary and are institution-specific, the role is an essential part of the administrative structure in GME, with clear responsibilities and qualifications specified within the Institutional and Program Requirements. As such, coordinators must possess skills in leadership and personnel management and are expected to develop in-depth knowledge of the ACGME and its Requirements, including policies and procedures. Coordinators assist their institutional and program leaders in meeting accreditation requirements, creating educational programming, and supporting residents and fellows.
To assist coordinators across GME, the ACGME provides resources to support their work and professional development. This post highlights just some of those resources and opportunities; courses, materials, and references are continually developed and updated, so refer regularly to the ACGME’s website, Learn at ACGME, the weekly e-Communication, and the ACGME’s social media accounts for the latest information.
Coordinator Advisory Group
Recognizing the importance of the coordinator role in GME, the ACGME established the Coordinator Advisory Group in 2016. Composed of coordinators from Sponsoring Institutions and programs around the country, the Coordinator Advisory Group serves as a consultative body to the ACGME administration concerning coordinator, GME, learning environment, and accreditation matters. The Coordinator Advisory Group was instrumental in developing several of the resources outlined in this post.
For coordinators interested in joining the Coordinator Advisory Group in the future, the Call for Nominations for the 2026-2029 cohort will begin in early- to mid-2025 and will be announced on the ACGME website, in the weekly e-Communication, and on the ACGME’s social media accounts.
Program Coordinator Handbook
Published in 2024, the Program Coordinator Handbook serves as a guide for both new and experienced program coordinators seeking to expand their knowledge of specific topics, tasks, and responsibilities associated with their role. It covers a variety of topics, such as the Accreditation Data System (ADS), Program Requirements, accreditation statuses, complement changes, resident/fellow recruitment and onboarding, evaluations, and coordinator well-being and professional development. Each section includes notes about how the topic is relevant to coordinators, and, as applicable, the time of year the section is most likely to be pertinent. For coordinators working with programs with Osteopathic Recognition, three specific chapters address Osteopathic Recognition, and guidance on recognition is integrated throughout the handbook as appropriate.
Learn at ACGME
An interactive learning path was developed alongside the Handbook in Learn at ACGME, entitled Program Coordinator Handbook Companion: Paving Your Path to Success. Modules may be completed in any order, and can be useful for new program coordinators just getting acclimated to their role, as well as for seasoned coordinators brushing up on a particular area as it becomes relevant during the course of the annual accreditation cycle.
Beyond the companion learning path, Learn at ACGME offers a range of other content specific to coordinators and applicable across many GME roles; browse by role or topic, or search for particular content. Note that a free account is required to access most of the content in Learn at ACGME.
Coordinator Timelines
Developed by the Coordinator Advisory Group, these customizable timelines summarize the types of tasks, events, and deadlines that coordinators manage in a typical academic year. They are intended to help coordinators organize and prioritize their daily, weekly, and monthly projects, regardless of experience in the role. Separate timelines are available for residency, fellowship, and institutional coordinators, tailored toward the specific needs of each.
Conferences and Workshops
The ACGME Annual Educational Conference includes the Coordinator Forum, a Full-Day Course dedicated to learning and networking opportunities for program and institutional coordinators. The Coordinator Networking Reception follows the educational programming, giving coordinators the opportunity to strengthen the connections made during the course. Many sessions throughout the rest of the conference are also of interest to coordinators. Read about the 2024 Coordinator Forum and sign up to be notified when registration for the 2025 ACGME Annual Educational Conference opens.
The ACGME periodically offers workshops for coordinators, including the Institutional Coordinator Workshop and Self-Empowerment Workshop for Coordinators. (Note: Registration for the 2024 sessions is now closed.) Visit the Courses and Workshops page of the ACGME website for information about upcoming offerings, and keep an eye on the ACGME e-Communication and social media accounts for announcements about future workshops.
Additional Resources
The Guide to the Common Program Requirements, for which there is a Residency and a Fellowship version, is a resource to assist programs with meeting ACGME accreditation requirements. By providing an easily accessible reference with useful information and tools, the Guide is intended to help reduce the burden of fulfilling accreditation requirements. While not specifically targeted to coordinators, the guide is a useful source of information, with sample templates, screen shots, and step-by-step instructions for completing documentation in ADS, examples of how to meet requirements and complete required tasks, and references to additional relevant resources.
The ACGME Blog, Newsroom, and e-Communication frequently contain content specifically geared toward coordinators. Browse the Coordinators topic to find content that is tagged for coordinators.
The Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME), which is editorially independent from but operationally managed by the ACGME, welcomes manuscripts from coordinators, and in particular seeks submissions from coordinators about developing a working relationship with residents, fellows, and administrators; the coordinator role in promoting resident/fellow well-being; and coordinator well-being. View the JGME for Coordinators page for a collection of articles that may be of particular interest to coordinators.
Finally, the Additional Resources for Coordinators page on the ACGME website contains links to many of the resources noted above, as well as to other content and helpful information relevant to the entire GME community. To explore more from the ACGME, we invite you to regularly visit our website and Learn at ACGME, where you’ll find current and valuable information, educational resources, and more.