The ACGME's Developing Faculty Competencies in Assessment course in Chicago, as well as a growing number of regional courses based on it, teach practical and effective applications of multiple assessment methods and tools; guidance for creating effective assessment programs; and techniques to most effectively use the Milestones and Entrustable Professional Activities for professional development.

Dr. Lynne Kirk joined the ACGME staff in September 2019, following a 30-year career in internal medicine and geriatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. We recently asked Dr. Kirk to outline her goals as the ACGME’s first Chief Accreditation Officer.

With 145 sessions, 300+ speakers, and numerous networking and learning opportunities, we want to be sure to highlight key must-attend sessions. Two of these are the Marvin R. Dunn Keynote Address on Friday and the new Closing Plenary on Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Lee Francis' recent Baldwin Seminar, Training the Next Generation at Community Health Centers: Does the Apple Fall Far from the Tree?, discussed how educating residents in community health settings offers an exceptional opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of social determinants of health.

Outstanding medical skills are not the same as leadership skills, and many newly appointed chief residents find a gap between their education and training and their new leadership role. To bridge that gap, the ACGME offers the Leadership Skills Training Program for chief residents.

This week's e-Communication includes information on a webcast on the Annual Update, news about Milestones, ACGME Requirements available for Review and Comment, and calls for resident and public members.

This edition of the ACGME e-Communication includes Review and Recognition Committee news, information on Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) Site Visits, and nomination solicitations for public and resident Review Committee members. 

This edition of the ACGME e-Communication includes information on the Sponsoring Institution Emergency Categorization for institutions managing an increase in COVID-19 cases; on the 2021 Annual Educational Conference going virtual, and more.

2021 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Awardee David Barnes, MD is the program director for emergency medicine at the University of California (UC) Davis Medical Center, UC Davis School of Medicine, UC Davis Health in Sacramento, California.

2021 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Awardee Julie B. McCausland, MD, MS is the program director for the transitional year program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Medical Education in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She specializes in emergency medicine.