The 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place February 19-21 in San Diego, California, promises to be an extraordinary gathering for the graduate medical education (GME) community. Each year, the conference includes a deep lineup of educational sessions, courses, workshops, networking opportunities, enriching activities, and more. On Friday, February 20, after the President’s Plenary, attendees can select from one of four plenaries on timely and thought-provoking topics, and to cap off that day, a Sunset Session will provide insights into the Common Program Requirements Major Revision process. These Featured Plenaries are designed to spark dialogue, challenge assumptions, and provide actionable insights for educators, leaders, and learners alike.
The Featured Plenary sessions are more than presentations—they are opportunities to engage with pressing issues shaping medical education today and tomorrow. This year’s program reflects themes central to the ACGME Mission: professionalism, well-being, innovation, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving health care landscape.
What to Expect
Choosing among the Featured Plenaries, included as part of attendees’ conference registration, will be a challenge, as the range of topics covered will appeal to all, regardless of role in GME.
- SES001 – Professionalism Lapses in Graduate Medical Learners: Myths, Realities, and Remedies
This session, led by remediation and professionalism experts, will explore strategies for identifying, addressing, and preventing professionalism concerns, fostering cultures of accountability and integrity across programs. - SES002 – Developing a Sustainable Approach to Well-Being: Lessons from an Award-Winning Program
Presenters will dive into evidence-based approaches to support resident and faculty member well-being, emphasizing resilience and systemic solutions, based on one program’s approach to establishing and maintaining a “culture of wellness.” - SES003 – Harnessing AI Agents in the GME Office: Innovations and Future Directions
In this session, panelists will examine how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming clinical education and training, assessment, and patient care—and what educators need to know to prepare for this future. In particular, one institution will share their experience introducing specific AI agents to enhance work efficiency and strategic planning. - SES004 – Serving the Public and GME Community: A Decade of Single Accreditation
This plenary will look back on the last decade, since the transition to a single GME accreditation system for US GME began in 2015. Presenters and attendees will reflect on the impact of unified accreditation for allopathic and osteopathic GME, and how this partnership has elevated standards and expanded access to high-quality patient care across the country. The session will also preview a forthcoming summit to be held in 2026. - Sunset Session: Common Program Requirements Major Revision – Work Hours Focus
Conclude the day with a forward-looking discussion on the major revision process underway for the ACGME Common Program Requirements. ACGME leadership and Common Program Requirements Task Force representatives will share results from extensive data gathering to date and talk about the next steps in this revision process, with a specific focus on evolving perspectives on work hours.
These sessions complement the conference’s dynamic schedule, which includes Full-Day Courses, Keynote Addresses, networking opportunities, and much more, creating a comprehensive experience for attendees committed to advancing GME.
Join the Conversation
Whether you’re a program director, coordinator, faculty member, learner, or institutional leader, the Featured Plenaries at #ACGME2026 will offer insights you can bring back to your organization. They’re designed not only to inform but to inspire action—helping to shape environments where learners thrive and patient care excels.
Learn all about the conference offerings and register today on the conference website. Early Bird pricing is available through December 18, 2025 – so don’t wait!