NEW! Frequently Asked Questions
With the start of the new academic year, the ACGME is reviewing the currently posted Frequently Asked Questions and will have updates available soon.
New Question: Can the due date for the Accreditation Data System (ADS) Annual Update be delayed?
Answer: No. The Annual Update is an important way for programs to provide the most up-to-date program information to allow the Review Committees to understand their activities related to educating their residents/fellows, especially in light of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Delaying the collection of this information is not possible because of the processing necessary to deliver it to the Review Committees to use in making accurate and timely decisions regarding the accreditation status of every program, starting at their winter meetings.
The ACGME appreciates that programs in many areas of the country may be significantly affected by the care of COVID-19 patients at any time. The ACGME has made many modifications in the past several months to ADS to make data entry easier this year, including:
- There are fewer questions in the Annual Update this year; specifically, there are significantly fewer narrative questions relative to last year
- The narrative questions that remain auto-populate with the response from the last academic year.
- The instructions for the Faculty Roster have been edited to more clearly stipulate who should be listed in ADS.
- Programs are required to provide a preliminary response to every question in ADS during the Update Window, but they can add and edit the response through the end of academic year.
The changes in ADS were highlighted during webinars for coordinators and program directors held in early June. The webinars can be viewed in the ACGME’s online learning portal, Learn at ACGME.
Read more FAQs about the Annual Update in the ADS Help Center.
NEW! ACGME Resident/Fellow Portal Update
Launched in early 2020, the new ACGME Resident/Fellow Portal in ADS was developed as a tool for residents/fellows, giving them additional access in ADS. The Portal gives residents/fellows access to:
- Milestone evaluations
- Program-level aggregated results of their Resident/Fellow Survey reports
- Edit personal information
In specialties and subspecialties that do use the ACGME Case Log System, residents and fellows already have access to these features and do not need to sign up separately. For programs in specialties and subspecialties that do not use the Case Log System, residents and fellows must be added to their program’s roster prior to creating a Portal account. Once added, residents/fellows can go to https://apps.acgme.org/ads/public/residentportal/search, or click Resident/Fellow Portal from the ADS login page, and enter their relevant information.
Email questions or feedback regarding the Portal to ads@acgme.org.
NEW! CLER Site Visit Update
While all CLER site visits are currently suspended, the CLER Program is actively developing a specially-designed CLER site visit to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the clinical learning environment. Visits will be piloted later in 2020 and fully implemented in 2021. These visits—to be conducted via teleconferences and surveys—will be designed to inform the executive and GME leaders of clinical sites and the GME community at large as they examine and adapt their systems to optimize learning and patient care in both the near- and long-term in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also provide the ACGME with timely information on the new needs of Sponsoring Institutions and their clinical learning environments resulting from these adaptations. More information will be available soon.
Common Program Requirements Update
All specialty/subspecialty-specific Program Requirements have been updated to incorporate the focused revision to the Common Program Requirements, effective July 1, 2020. The updated Program Requirements are available on the Program Requirements and FAQs and Applications page of each respective specialty section.
Remote Site Visits
The ACGME is conducting accreditation and recognition site visits using secure remote technology. Remote accreditation and recognition site visits will be scheduled using standard processes, including solicitation of blackout dates. Visit the new Remote Accreditation and Recognition Site Visit web page for more information and FAQs.
ACGME Diversity and Inclusion Award - Nomination Deadline Extended!
The ACGME is accepting nominations for the Diversity and Inclusion Award, a new award to support efforts to achieve diversity and inclusion in graduate medical education (GME).
The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced data showing that underrepresented minorities are the victims of systemic inequality. Eliminating disparities in health care requires a commitment from all-even, and especially, during times of crisis. This annual award will highlight the most innovative and exemplary initiatives that drive diversity in GME.
Read more about the award, including instructions for submitting a nomination
The nomination deadline is extended to Friday, July 31, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. Central.
NEW! 2020 ACGME Annual Educational Conference Session Recordings
Log into Learn at ACGME to access sessions from the 2020 ACGME Annual Educational Conference:
The Role of Psychological Safety in Improving the Learning Environment
Drs. John Byrne, Lawrence Loo, and Robert Swendiman define and describe psychological safety and its importance in the clinical learning environment; the emerging role of psychological safety in medical education; their own work linking psychological safety to burnout, well-being, learner satisfaction; and perceptions of the clinical learning environment with examples in GME settings.
Navigating the A in Program Administration: Ability, Authority, and Accountability
From the Coordinator Forum Pre-Conference, Maria DeOliveira, MEd discusses the importance of understanding the differences among ability, authority, and accountability to encourage an environment of collaboration and professional growth.
Overview of the Educational Commission For Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
Dr. William Pinsky, MD, FAAO, FACC and Tracy Wallowicz, MLS discuss how the transition to a single GME accreditation system provides opportunities for graduates from COCA-accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, LCME-accredited medical schools, and international medical schools to apply to formerly AOA-approved programs that have achieved ACGME accreditation.
The 2021 Annual Educational Conference is Going Virtual!
The health and safety of all attendees, exhibitors, and personnel remain our top priority. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be bravely battled by the GME community, the ACGME has made the difficult decision to host the 2021 Annual Educational Conference virtually.
Attendees will have the opportunity to access sessions and events on a virtual platform. As one of the largest graduate medical education gatherings in the world, the ACGME will continue to provide and share the same depth of content and innovations, as well as the opportunity to connect and network. The conference will likely take place in February 2021. Official dates will be announced later this summer. As plans for the conference unfold, and more information is available for navigating the virtual platform and registering, details will be shared through this e-Communication and via email, on the ACGME website, and on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Email questions to acgmeconference@acgme.org.
Program Requirements for Review and Comment
The following Program Requirements and accompanying Impact Statements are posted for review and comment, here:
Comment Deadline: August 26, 2020
Institutional Requirements
Pediatrics
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Clinical Neurophysiology
Epilepsy
Vascular Neurology
Comment Deadline: September 4, 2020
Internal Medicine
NEW! Review Committee News / Notices: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Complex Family Planning Application Available
The application for complex family planning is now open in ADS. The specialty-specific application is available on the Program Requirements and FAQs and Applications page of the Obstetrics and Gynecology section of the ACGME website.
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Case Log
The Review Committees for Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology have reviewed and updated the female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery index categories. Required minimum procedural experiences have been established and are effective beginning with the 2021 graduates. The Committees recognize it may take time for programs to acclimate to the new minimums and citations related to the minimums will not be issued until July 1, 2022.
The female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery Case Log System will be updated in mid-September, after all off-cycle 2020 graduates complete the program.
The document Case Log Information: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery can be found on the Documents and Resources page of the )Obstetrics and Gynecology section of the ACGME website. The document provides important guidance on properly logging procedural experiences.
Review Committee News / Notices: Ophthalmology
A memo to program directors and coordinators regarding the Program Requirements for Ophthalmology with an effective date of July 1, 2021 provides answers to common questions about the integrated ophthalmology format and joint preliminary year/ophthalmology format. Read the memo on the Documents and Resources page of the Ophthalmology section of the ACGME website.
Recognition Committee News / Notices: Osteopathic Recognition
An Accreditation Data System (ADS) Annual Update Guide for Osteopathic Recognition now available to assist programs with Osteopathic Recognition in completing their ADS Annual Update, and to ensure all necessary Osteopathic Recognition information has been reviewed and updated.
NEW! Review Committee News / Notices: Pediatrics
A new resource provides programs with the Review Committee's expectations for completing the block diagram. "The Guide to Construction of a Block Diagram for Pediatrics Residency Programs" can be found on the Documents and Resources page of the Pediatrics section of the ACGME website.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
A new resource provides programs with the Review Committee’s expectations for completing of the block diagram. "The Guide to Construction of a Block Diagram" can be found on the Documents and Resources page of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation section of the ACGME website.
NEW! Review Committee News / Notices: Urology
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Case Log
The Review Committees for Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology have reviewed and updated the female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery index categories. Required minimum procedural experiences have been established and are effective beginning with the 2021 graduates. The Committees recognize it may take time for programs to acclimate to the new minimums and citations related to the minimums will not be issued until July 1, 2022.
The female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery Case Log System will be updated in mid-September, after all off-cycle 2020 graduates complete the program.
The document Case Log Information: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery can be found on the Documents and Resources page of the Urology section of the ACGME website. The document provides important guidance on properly logging procedural experiences.
Block Diagram
Beginning with the 2020-2021 Academic Year, the urology-specific fillable block diagram must be used during the ADS Annual Update by urology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and pediatric urology programs. The fillable block diagram and instructions can be found on the Documents and Resources page of the Urology section of the ACGME website.
ACGME Seeks Public Members - Specialty Added!
The following Review Committees are seeking their next public member for terms beginning July 1, 2021. 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.
NEW! Allergy and Immunology
Details: Read the full solicitation
Contact: Larisa Cassie
Deadline: August 1, 2020
Anesthesiology
Contact: Cheryl Gross
Deadline: August 1, 2020
Medical Genetics and Genomics
Details: Read the full solicitation
Contact: Kate Hatlak
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Nuclear Medicine
Details: Read the full solicitation
Contact: Jenny Campbell
Deadline: October 1, 2020
Radiation Oncology
Contact: Cheryl Gross
Deadline: August 1, 2020
Radiology
Details: Read the full solicitation
Contact: Jenny Campbell
Deadline: October 1, 2020
ACGME Seeks Resident Members
The following Review Committees are seeking their next resident member for terms beginning July 1, 2021. A resident member serves on the Review Committee to share the perspective of the resident, foster accountability to the needs of the resident, enrich the work of the Committee through outside expertise, and create transparency in the work of the Review Committee. The Review Committee's selected nominee will be presented for approval by the ACGME Board of Directors at its September 2020 meeting. The new resident member's term will be from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023.
Dermatology
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited dermatology program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Read the full solicitation.
Contact: Sandra Benitez
Deadline: August 14, 2020
Emergency Medicine
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited emergency medicine program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Read the full solicitation.
Contact: Bianca Andino
Deadline: October 1, 2020
Neurological Surgery
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited neurological surgery program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Read the full solicitation.
Contact: Jennifer Luna
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Neurology
Details: Nominees must be enrolled in a residency or fellowship program at the time of the appointment, and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of residency or fellowship. Read the full solicitation.
Contact: Larisa Cassie
Deadline: August 1, 2020
Orthopaedic Surgery
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited orthopaedic surgery program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Read the full solicitation.
Contact: Jennifer Luna
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Pathology
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited pathology program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Nomination instructions available upon request.
Contact: Katherine McCue
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Preventive Medicine
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited preventive medicine program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Nomination instructions available upon request.
Contact: Katherine McCue
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Psychiatry
Details: Nominees must be enrolled in a residency or fellowship program at the time of the appointment, and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of residency or fellowship. Read the full solicitation.
Contact: Larisa Cassie
Deadline: August 1, 2020
Radiology
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited radiology program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Read the full solicitation.
Contact: Bianca Andino
Deadline: October 1, 2020
Surgery
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited surgery program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Applicants must be a current PGY-2 to PGY-4 during the 2021-2022 academic year. Nomination instructions available upon request.
Contact: Michelle Armstrong
Deadline: August 14, 2020
Thoracic Surgery
Details: The resident member must be currently enrolled in an ACGME-accredited thoracic surgery program when appointed and may not serve more than one year beyond completion of the program. Applicants must be a current PGY-2 to PGY-4 during the 2021-2022 academic year. Nomination instructions available upon request.
Contact: Michelle Armstrong
Deadline: August 14, 2020
Urology
Details: Nominees must be a resident in an ACGME-accredited urology program, or a fellow in an ACGME-accredited pediatric urology or female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery program. A nominee must be able to serve a two-year term. Read the full solicitation.
Contact: Tina Espina
Deadline: August 10, 2020