CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2008 – The ACGME Institutional Requirements currently allow Fifth Pathway eligibility for residents. The ACGME itself does not and has never provided administrative support for Fifth Pathway students. The ACGME requirement exists only because the Fifth Pathway itself has been in existence. With withdrawal of administrative support by the AMA, effective July 1, 2009, the ACGME Institutional Review Committee will determine the future status of Fifth Pathway eligibility. The Institutional Review Committee has not yet made its recommendation to the ACGME regarding the disposition of this requirement. Any additional questions should be directed to Julie Jacob, manager of communications.

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The ACGME is a private, non-profit organization that accredits 8,200 residency programs in 126 specialties and subspecialties that educate 103,000 residents. Its mission is to improve the quality of health care in the United States by assessing and advancing the quality of resident physicians’ education.