Leadership in National GME Policy

 

APCCMPD Responds to ABIM Pilot Pathway to Certification: IMGs, Completing Residency Outside the U.S.
January 31, 2024

The Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD) responded to the ABIM’s request for input on a pilot program that would provide an alternate pathway for International Medical Graduates (IMG) trained in Internal Medicine (IM) outside of the United States to become ABIM-certified. Click here for more background information.

Based on the feedback of the APCCMPD membership, the APCCMPD submitted a response to the ABIM survey. Click here to review the response.

The APCCMPD thanks our membership for their engagement when responding to surveys on national GME policy issues. Learn more about all the ways APCCMPD advocates for you!  

APCCMPD Recommendation on the MyERAS®Application for the 2023-2024 Recruitment Cycle
July 18, 2023

The Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD) consists of program leaders from Critical Care Medicine (CCM), Pulmonary Medicine, and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM). It represents 98% of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited fellowships in these subspecialties. The APCCMPD’s mission is to foster excellence in training and mentor future pulmonary and critical care medicine educators. In addition, the APCCMPD provides a communication channel among fellowship programs and stakeholder organizations.

As part of our mission, the APCCMPD takes a vested interest in all aspects of fellowship recruitment. In June 2023, the APCCMPD assembled an ERAS Signaling Task Force to provide recommendations on the MyERAS®Application for the 2023-2024 recruitment cycle. For the 2023-2024 application season, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) made some important changes to the MyERAS® application. This includes the opportunity for fellowship applicants to indicate potential geographic preferences for programs of interest and a revised template for applicants to describe their most meaningful past experiences. In return, the hope is that program directors and fellowship selection committees can use the available information to complete a more holistic review of applications they receive while better identifying those applicants who will contribute to their program’s goals and mission. 

Read the full recommendation here.
Learn more about additional recruitment resources and APCCMPD advocacy on recruitment issues. 


APCCMPD Recommendation on Interviews for the 2023/2024 Recruitment Cycle

June 13, 2023

The Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD) consists of program leaders from Critical Care Medicine (CCM), Pulmonary Medicine, and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM). It represents 98% of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited fellowships in these subspecialties. The APCCMPD’s mission is to foster excellence in training and mentor future pulmonary and critical care medicine educators. In addition, the APCCMPD provides a communication channel among fellowship programs and stakeholder organizations. 

As part of our mission, the APCCMPD takes a vested interest in all aspects of fellowship recruitment. In March 2022, the APCCMPD assembled an Interview Task Force to make recommendations for fellowship interviews for the 2022-2023 recruitment cycle. The Interview Task Force comprised 11 volunteer APCCMPD members representing training programs in CCM and PCCM, with diverse geographic distribution and program size. Task Force members included Program Directors, an Associate Program Director, two fellows-in-training, and a Program Coordinator to ensure broad representation.

In May 2023, the APCCMPD Board of Directors approved the recommendation for the 2023-2024 recruitment cycle, adapted from 2022-2023 recommendation for fellowship interviews.

APCCMPD Recommendations:

  1. The APCCMPD recommends that CCM, Pulmonary, and PCCM fellowship interviews be virtual only for all applicants, including local applicants, in the 2023-2024 interview cycle.

Read the full recommendation.

Resources for Your Program

To ensure that applicants understand the rationale for not offering in-person interviews or site visits, the APCCMPD encourages you to place the following language and link on your Fellowship Program's websites where applicants will visit: 

"In alignment with the Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD), our national professional society, and to ensure a uniform interview process equitable to all applicants, our fellowship interviews for applicants in 2023-2024 will be held exclusively virtually. We will not offer in-person site visits. The full recommendation is available here.


2023/24 Recruitment Cycle Timeline

  • July 19, 2023: Fellowship programs may begin reviewing applications
  • August 23, 2023: Match Registration Opens
  • September 27, 2023: Ranking Opens
  • November 1, 2023: Quota Change Deadline
  • November 15, 2023: Rank Order List Certification Deadline
  • November 29, 2023: Match Day
  • July 1, 2024: Training Begins

Learn more about additional recruitment resources and APCCMPD advocacy on recruitment issues. 


Update on the NRMP’s Proposed Voluntary Rank Order List (ROL) Lock Functionality

June 2023

Background
In March and April 2023, the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) solicited feedback through a call for public comment about the proposed Voluntary Rank Order List (ROL) Lock functionality for programs. This functionality would allow programs to certify their ROL when they have completed their ranking decisions and then “lock” the certified ROL when ready to show applicants that no other changes would be made. The APCCMPD responded to this survey based on feedback from our membership. Read our response here (Link to https://apccmpd.memberclicks.net/correspondence-on-training-issues#NRMP_VOL_ROL).

Update
At the NRMP May 2023 Board of Directors meeting, the NRMP Board of Directors reviewed the survey results and the feedback from the public comment process, as well as input gained via listening sessions with stakeholder groups and student and specialty group statements solicited by the NRMP. Given the complexities outlined in the comments from constituents and stakeholders, the NRMP has decided to continue community discussion on the ROL Lock option to understand better how such a proposal could be enhanced and modified to move forward without negatively affecting the process or Match stakeholders. The NRMP will convene a Match Innovations Summit with key stakeholder groups to further examine the proposal and discuss other Match innovations, including a two-phase Match. The APCCMPD intends to represent the Pulmonary, Critical Care, and PCCM Fellowship Communities at this stakeholder summit


Proposed ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Interventional Pulmonology Disease

May 2023

On May 24, 2023 the APCCMPD submitted comment to the ACGME Review Committee for Internal Medicine regarding the proposed ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Interventional Pulmonology Disease.
 

The APCCMPD submitted a letter jointly with sister societies: American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and American Thoracic Society (ATS). Feedback from APCCMPD Program Directors were used to inform the comments in APCCMPD's response to the ACGME. Read the joint letter

Additional Resources: 
Proposed ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Interventional Pulmonology
ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Interventional Pulmonology Summary and Impact of New Specialty Requirements


NRMP Proposed Rank Order List (ROL) Lock Functionality
April 2023

The APCCMPD was been asked to respond to The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) regarding the utility of a proposed Rank Order List (ROL) Lock functionality for programs. The APCCMPD’s response to the NRMP was be based on our member’s collective feedback. 

The APCCMPD submitted two joint letters:

  • One letter with Program Director representatives from the IM-Subspecialties: Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD); Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism; Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program Directors Council, American Academy of Sleep Medicine; American College of Rheumatology, Committee on Rheumatology Training and Workforce Issues; and the Education & Training Committee of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA); Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Click here to review.
  • One from the APCCMPD. Click here to review.

Click here for more background information on this issue.

ABIM MOC Fees to Obtain Subspecialty Certification Exam Score Report
March 2023

In January 2023, the membership brought to the attention of the APCCMPD Board of Directors that some fellows-in-training who paid for and completed their Subspecialty Certification exam could not obtain their exam score report without first enrolling in and paying for their MOC certificate fee.

As a result of APCCMPD’s prior correspondence with ABIM, fellows enrolled in an ACGME-accredited fellowship program were to receive a MOC fee waiver that is automatically applied. Further, fellows participating in a non-accredited year between residency and fellowship who do not qualify for a fee waiver can remain certified without enrolling in MOC. 

On behalf of the APCCMPD Membership, the APCCMPD corresponded with the ABIM requesting that:

  • ABIM should determine which diplomates inappropriately paid the MOC fee to receive their score report and to remedy the situation.
  • Ensure every fellow who completed the Subspecialty Certification Exam receives their final score report.
  • Ensure the cost of the initial Subspecialty Certification Exam for in-training members includes the resulting score report without first requiring an additional MOC fee.

Email ABIM Response:

  • More subspecialty initial certification score reports for exams administered in 2022 were released in 2023 than in recent years.  ABIM’s systems were designed to assess whether any MOC fees were due before allowing portal functionality, including access to score reports. In January of 2023, this was not appropriately applied to the accounts of 286 individuals in multiple disciplines, specifically, in Critical Care Medicine (101 of the 286, 35%), Medical Oncology (86, 30%), Pulmonary Medicine (79, 28%) and Hematology (20, 7%).
  • Each affected diplomate received a letter apologizing for the error and was offered a refund of the fee they paid. If they did not wish to receive the refund, the credit for the amount they paid would remain on their account to use for future ABIM fees.
  • ABIM has now removed the functionality to check whether fees are due before diplomates may see their score reports. Any diplomate taking an ABIM certification or MOC exam can see their score report when available, regardless of whether fees are due for that diplomate.


Major Revisions to the ACGME Program Requirements for GME in CCM, Pulmonary, and PCCM 
February 26, 2023

On February 26, 2023 the APCCMPD submitted comment to the ACGME Review Committee for Internal Medicine regarding the major revisions to the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, and Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine.

The APCCMPD submitted two joint letters:

  1. One letter with Program Director representatives from the IM-Subspecialties: The Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (APDEM); American Gastroenterological Association (AGA); American College of Rheumatology (ACR); Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA); and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
  2. One letter with our sister societies: American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), and Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)

Feedback from APCCMPD Program Directors were used to inform the comments in APCCMPD's response to the ACGME.

Additional Resources: 

ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Critical Care Medicine Summary and Impact of Major Requirement Revisions

ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Pulmonary Disease Summary and Impact of Major Requirement Revisions

ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in PCCM Medicine Summary and Impact of Major Requirement Revisions

APCCMPD Statement on Future Meetings and Conferences
September 30, 2022

The Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD) is opposed to legislative actions that compromise the patient-physician relationship.

The recent US Supreme Court decision that removes protections of a patient’s access to reproductive freedom has led to states enacting laws that limit a physician’s ability to discuss evidence-based treatment options with their patients and puts the lives of patients at risk in certain situations. 

Physicians have a duty to advocate on behalf of their patients. As an organization focused on training the next generation of physicians, APCCMPD encourages its members to speak against any action or legislation that inhibits the ability of a patient to discuss all reasonable medical options with their physician and to receive appropriate medical care without delay or interference. 

The APCCMPD will work to plan future conferences and meetings in locations in which the board feels all of their members will feel welcome and safe, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, racial/ethnic background, national origin, religion, or disability.  
 

APCCMPD Recommendation on Interviews for the 2022/2023 Recruitment Cycle
May 26, 2022

The Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD) consists of program leaders from Critical Care Medicine (CCM), Pulmonary Medicine, and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), and represents 96% of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited fellowships in these subspecialties. The APCCMPD’s mission is to foster excellence in training as well as to mentor future educators in pulmonary and critical care medicine. In addition, the APCCMPD provides a communication channel among fellowship programs and with stakeholder organizations. 

As part of our mission, the APCCMPD takes a vested interest in all aspects of fellowship recruitment. In March 2022, the APCCMPD assembled an Interview Task Force to make recommendations for fellowship interviews for the 2022-2023 recruitment cycle. The Interview Task Force was composed of 11 volunteer APCCMPD members, representing training programs in both CCM and PCCM, with diverse geographic distribution, and program size. Task Force members included Program Directors, an Associate Program Director, two fellows-in-training, and a Program Coordinator to ensure broad representation.

APCCMPD Recommendations:

  1. The APCCMPD strongly recommend CCM, Pulmonary, and PCCM fellowship interviews be virtual-only for all applicants, including local applicants, in the 2022-2023 interview cycle.
  1. The APCCMPD strongly recommend against CCM, Pulmonary, and PCCM fellowship programs offering optional in-person (“second-look”) visits to applicants in 2022-2023.

Read the full recommendation.

Resources for Your Program

To ensure that applicants understand the rationale for not offering in-person interviews or site visits the APCCMPD encourages you to place the following language and link on your Fellowship Program's websites where applicants will visit: 

"In alignment with the Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD), our national professional society, and to ensure a uniform interview process that is equitable to all applicants, our fellowship interviews for applicants in 2022-2023 will be held exclusively virtually. We will not offer in-person site visits. The full recommendation is available here.

Learn more about additional resources and APCCMPD Advocacy on Recruitment Issues. 

 

APCCMPD Comments on ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education Focused Revisions in Critical Care Medicine; Pulmonary Medicine, and Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine
February 22, 2022

The ACGME announce actions taken at the February ACGME Board of Directors Meeting. The Focused Revisions to the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Internal Medicine are effective July 1, 2022.

With feedback from the APCCMPD and the Internal Medicine fellowship community, the ACGME has harmonized of the requirements across nearly all of the Internal Medicine (IM) Subspecialities pertaining to Program Director dedicated time and support, Associate Program Director dedicated time and support; core faculty dedicated time and support; and Program Coordinator dedicated time and support. Review the focused revisions here: Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine.

October 17, 2021
The ACGME recently opened a call for review and comment on Focused Revisions to the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Critical Care MedicinePulmonary Medicine and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine. Learn more

With these focused revisions the ACGME proposed harmonization of the requirements across nearly all of the Internal Medicine (IM) Subspecialties pertaining to Program Director dedicated time and support, Associate Program Director dedicated time and support; core faculty dedicated time and support and Program Coordinator dedicated time and support.

In response, APCCMPD BOD convened Program Director representatives from across the IM Subspecialties to respond to the proposed focused revisions. The leaders from these IM Subspecialties, including APCCMPD, drafted a joint letter to the ACGME supporting the ACGME’s effort in recognizing the dedicated time and support required to operationalize a Graduate Medical Education fellowship program. Each of the IM Subspecialties also provided comment on the focused revisions proposed to their respective ACGME Program Requirements reflecting the nuances of their individual subspecialties. Read the Joint Letter

Based on responses to surveys of the APCCMPD Membership administered in September 2021, the APCCMPD BOD provide comments to the ACGME on the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education Focused Revisions in Critical Care Medicine; Pulmonary Medicine, and Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine.  Review the APCCMPD comments to each of the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education Focused Revisions for Critical Care Medicine; Pulmonary Medicine; and Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine here.

The APCCMPD thanks our membership for your engagement to help shape national GME policy issues.

APCCMPD Responds to NRMP Survey: Syncing IM-Subspecialty and Pediatric Match Date 
January 10, 2022

The NRMP announced the first combined Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match will take place in 2022 for the 2023 appointment year with the following schedule: Learn More

Match Registration Opens: August 24, 2022
Ranking Function Opens: September 28, 2022
Quota Change Deadline: November 2, 2022
Rank List Certification Deadline: November 16, 2022
Match Day: November 30, 2022

February 1, 2021
The Council of Pediatric Subspecialties, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, Association of Pediatric Program Directors, and the National Resident Matching Program surveyed Subspecialty Match Sponsors to assess Pediatric and Internal Medicine (IM) willingness to move their subspecialty match by 2 weeks in order to develop a combined match for residents pursuing Pediatrics or IM fellowships.
Learn more and read APCCMPD's Response

APCCMPD Provides Comment: Focused Revisions to the ACGME Institutional Requirements and a Proposed New Requirement for Neurocritical Care
August 11 and 25, 2021

The APCCMPD provided comment to the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) during 2 recent open comment periods. Read the APCCMPD's comments on the focused revisions to the ACGME Institutional Requirements here, and to a proposed new requirement for Neurocritical Care here


APCCMPD Requests ABIM to Remove PAC from the Training and Procedural Requirements in Pulmonary Disease and CCM
July 21, 2021

APCCMPD requested the placement of pulmonary artery balloon flotation catheters (PAC) be removed from the list of American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Training and Procedural Requirements in the Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Polices.

Given the changing landscape of our field and changes in our ACGME requirements the APCCMPD asked the ABIM to consider removing the requirement for PAC placement from the ABIM requirements. Learn more


APCCMPD Recommendation on Interviews for the 2021/2022 Recruitment Cycle
May 28, 2021

The Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD) consists of program leaders from Critical Care Medicine (CCM), Pulmonary Medicine, and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), representing 96% of ACGME-accredited fellowships in these subspecialties. As part of our mission, the APCCMPD takes a vested interest in all aspects of fellowship recruitment. In May 2021, the APCCMPD assembled an Interview Task Force to make recommendations for fellowship interviews. As a community of  CCM, Pulmonary, and PCCM programs, we feel it is critical to have a uniform interview process to ensure equity and embody trainee-centric approaches. The APCCMPD recommends to our community that CCM, Pulmonary, and PCCM fellowship interviews should be held exclusively virtually for all applicants in 2021-2022. Read the full recommendation here.

Resources for Your Program

To ensure that applicants understand the rationale for not offering in-person interviews or site visits the APCCMPD encourages you to place the following language and link on your Fellowship Program's websites where applicants will visit: 

"In alignment with the Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD), our national professional society, and to ensure a uniform interview process that is equitable to all applicants, our fellowship interviews for applicants in 2021-2022 will be held exclusively virtually. We will not offer in-person site visits. The full recommendation is available here."

Learn more about APCCMPD Advocacy on Recruitment Issues.

APCCMPD Provides Comment to the ACGME on the Focused Revisions to the Common Program Requirements for Fellowship
March 25, 2021

The APCCMPD provided comment to the ACGME on their recent recent focused revisions to the Common Program Requirements for Fellowship. Read the APCCMPD Comments

APCCMPD Applies to the NRMP for an IM-CCM Match
March 25, 2021

In January 2020, the Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors (APCCMPD) Multi-society Uniform Match Policy Task Force convened a summit to discuss the advantages, barriers, concerns and possible ways forward toward developing a match for Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine (IM-CCM) fellowships. The discussion at the summit revealed a common desire to reduce candidate stress and to encourage a fair recruitment system that finds a good fit between program and candidate.

Subsequently, in December of 2020 the task force surveyed IM-CCM Program Directors to determine if 75% of the IM-CCM programs would agree to participating in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) allocating 75% of the total positions. The survey results indicated that the collective participation of IM-CCM fellowship programs would support these Match requirements allowing the APCCMPD to pursue and sponsor the IM-CCM participation in the Match. The NRMP has approved APCCMPD's application to sponsor IM-CCM in the NRMP match for the 2021 appointment year.  

Important Upcoming Dates

  • Electronic Residency Application System Opens: July 15, 2021 (anticipated)
  • Match Opens: August 26, 2021
  • Rank Order Lists Open: September 30, 2021
  • Quota Change Deadline: November 4, 2021
  • Rank Order Lists Due: November 18, 2021
  • Match Day: December 2, 2021

APCCMPD Responds to NRMP Survey: Syncing IM-Subspecialty and Pediatric Match Date 
February 1, 2021

The Council of Pediatric Subspecialties, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, Association of Pediatric Program Directors, and the National Resident Matching Program surveyed Subspecialty Match Sponsors to assess Pediatric and Internal Medicine (IM) willingness to move their subspecialty match by 2 weeks in order to develop a combined match for residents pursuing Pediatrics or IM fellowships.
Learn more and read APCCMPD's Response
 

APCCMPD Responds to a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register Regarding the Duration of Status for J-1 Visa Holders 
October 23, 2020

A Proposed Rule by the Homeland Security Department on 09/25/2020 in the federal register that establishes a fixed time period (or Duration of Status) for which J-1 Visa holders can stay, as well as, a process for how the J-1 Visa holder could extend their visa. On October 23, 2020 the APCCMPD provided comment on this proposed rule, requesting the physician category of the J-1 visa classification be excluded from the proposed rule. The APCCMPD encourages our membership to submit comments as members of the public. The APCCMPD's comment letter can be found here. APCCMPD members may copy the content of this letter to use in their own comment letters. 

APCCMPD Responds to ABIM's Call for Comments on Proposed Revisions to Procedural Requirements for Initial IM Certification
August 31, 2020

The APCCMPD responded to the ABIM's request of Subspecialty Program Directors of whether residents should be trained in any procedures in particular before entering fellowship in your discipline. The APCCMPD developed their response based on a surveyed the APCCMPD membership, which was conducted in March of 2020. Learn more and read the APCCMPD's response.


APPCCMPD and Uniform Match Policy Taskforce Provide CCM Updates to Match and Application Cycle 
June 10, 2020

Review a letter from the APCCMPD Board of Directors and the Uniform Match Policy Taskforce regarding follow-up steps to the Uniform Match Policy Summit, held in January 2002. The APCCMPD and Uniform Match Policy Taskforce also provide suggestions to support applicant fairness given the delayed opening of ERAS until August 12, 2020. We look forward to continuing to serve you. Review the Letter


ERAS Announces Timeline for 2021 Fellowship Application Timeline
May 20, 2020

ERAS has announced that fellowship programs will gain access to ERAS on August 12, 2020. Learn more.


APCCMPD Recommends Virtual
Interviews for Upcoming Application and Interview Season
May 15, 2020

Much uncertainty exists about how the COVID-19 Pandemic will impact this upcoming application and interview season. Shelter-in-place orders, travel bans, and work place/training demands of programs across the United States will undoubtedly change the ability of applicants to travel and of programs to host visitors.

As a community of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Pulmonary-Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Programs, we coalesce around the belief that the safety and wellbeing of our staff, faculty, and trainees are of utmost importance. With this in mind, the APCCMPD Board of Directors recommends that all programs conduct all of their fellowship interviews virtually. Review the full recommendation.


AAIM Requests APCCMPD to comment on Proposal to ERAS & NRMP Modifying Fellowship Application Dates in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Friday, April 17, 2020

AAIM requested APCCMPD's comment by April 22, 2020 on modifying 2020 application deadlines in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Given the short time to respond the APCCMPD Board of Directors convened a rapid survey of past Board Members and current board members including a fellow representative and programs affected drastically by the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City. Review APCCMPD's Response.


APCCMPD Requests ACGME Postpone Fellowship Program Deadlines in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic 
Thursday, March 12, 2020

Postponement of Milestones 2.0 Implementation: During the APCCMPD 2020 Annual Virtual Conference attendees expressed their concern to ACGME regarding the upcoming July 2020 implementation of Milestones 2.0, while preparing and addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to APCCMPD Member feedback, the ACGME agreed to postpone implementation until July 2021.

Friday, March 13, 2020
Annual Survey, 2020 Self-study Deadlines, and Site Visits in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic: On behalf of APCCMPD Members, the APCCMPD requested the ACGME postpone the annual survey; 2020 self-study deadlines; and site visits.  The APCCMPD also requested the ACGME consider the current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic upon reviewing annual survey results. Consideration must be given to the lack of faculty and fellow development around the new survey and the likely impact the pandemic will have on trainee and faculty wellbeing and morale. 
See email correspondence
See ACGME's Response


APCCMPD Responds to ACGME's Revisions to the 2019 WebADS Annual Update

On August 13, 2019, the APCCMPD Board of Directors (BOD) initiated a dialog with the ACGME on the revisions to the 2019 annual WebADS update.  On behalf of the APCCMPD membership, the APCCMPD BOD has ultimately provided recommendations to the ACGME that would improve the WebADS process.

August 13, 2019: Read APCCMPD's Letter
October 11, 2019: 
Read ACGME's Response 
October 18, 2019: 
Read APCCMPD's Recommendations to Improve WebADS


Support for ABIM's Co-sponsorship of the Forthcoming ABMS NCC Certification Examination
On Tuesday, October 1, 2019 the APCCMPD led a collaboration along with the American Thoracic Society, CHEST, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Association of Pulmonary, Critical Care Division Chiefs and the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine to support American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) co-sponsorship of the forthcoming American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Neurocritical Care (NCC) Certification Examination. Learn More

ACGME Call for Comments on Revised Program Requirements in Pulmonary Medicine and  Critical Care Medicine
On September 26, 2019 the APCCMPD provided comment to the ACGME on their recent recent focused revisions to the Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Pulmonary Disease and the Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Critical Care Medicine.  

September 26, 2019: Read APCCMPD's Response and Learn More
 

ACGME Call for Comments on Proposed Paradigm Shifts Needed for IM2035
The ACGME has begun to articulate their vision for IM2035 and is considering a paradigm shift to train and meet the future needs of internists. The APCCMPD has been invited to respond to a SWAT analysis on each of the 3 paradigm shifts being considered. 

On August 29, 2019, after input from our membership the APCCMPD provided a response to the ACGME. Read APCCMPD's Response

APCCMPD Responds to Call for Comments on Proposed Changes to USMLE Score Report
On July 26, 2019, the APCCMPD responded to the proposed changes to the USMLE Score Report as outlined in a the Summary Report and Preliminary Recommendations from the Invitational Conference on USMLE Scoring (InCUS), March 11-12, 2019. 

July 26, 2019: Learn More and Read APCCMPD's Response


APCCMPD Responds to ABIM's Call for Comments on Sequencing of CCM and Pulmonary Certification Examinations
On March 11, 2019, the ABIM requested comment on a proposed change to the sequence in which the Pulmonary Board Exam and the Critical Care Board Exam are offed to trainees. 

ABIM proposes the following: Remove the requirement for having Pulmonary Disease certification prior to applying for admission to the Critical Care Medicine Examination. Allow trainees to take both the Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Certification Examinations after their final year of combined training 

April 18, 2019: Learn More and Read APCCMPD's Response


APCCMPD Responds to ABIM's Call for Comments on Proposed Revisions to Procedural Requirements for Initial IM Certification
In September of 2018 the ABIM requested input as to whether or not there should be procedural competencies required of all graduating residents to be eligible for initial certification in Internal Medicine. See the APCCMPD’s September 2018 Response

In follow-up, on March 12, 2019, the ABIM Internal Medicine Board made a recommendation about what the procedural competencies for Internal Medicine certification will be.

April 15, 2019: Learn More and Read APCCMPD's Response

ACGME Call for Comments on Revised Program Requirements in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

On March 13, 2019 the APCCMPD provided comment to the ACGME on their recent recent focused revisions to the Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine.

ACGME's revisions were in response to the September 9, 2018 join IM Subspecialty correspondence to the ACGME on the Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education for all IM subspecialties. 

March 13, 2019: Read APCCMPD's Response and Learn More

ACGME Call for Comments on a New Specialty in Neurocritical Care
On December 18, 2018 the APCCMPD provided comment to the ACGME on their recent proposal for form a new speciality in Neurocritical Care. Learn More

December 18, 2019: Read APCCMPD's Response and Learn More


APCCMPD initiates an IM-subspecialty request for focused revisions to the Program Requirements in Graduate Medical Education for the Internal Medicine Subspecialties as they relate to protected time and salary support for Program Directors and Associate Program Directors.  

The APCCMPD initiated a letter to the ACGME requesting focused revisions to the Program Requirements in Graduate Medical Education for the Internal Medicine Subspecialties as they relate to protected time and salary support for Program Directors and Associate Program Directors.  

The APCCMPD invited Program Directors’ group from all IM Subspecialties to provide comment and to join together with other Program Director organizations by signing a letter addressed to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Internal Medicine Residency Review Committee (IM-RRC). 

The final letter was sent on behalf of the APCCMPD, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Cardiology, American College of Rheumatology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society and Association of Directors of Geriatrics Academic Programs, Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, American Society of Hematology, American Society of Nephrology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Infectious Diseases Society of America.

September 4, 2018: Review the final letter and ACGME's Response

ABIM Internal Medicine Procedural Requirements and Their Communication

The American Board of Internal Medicine requested the APCCMPD’s input on their current Internal Medicine procedural requirements and how they are communicated. The APCCMPD BOD responded based on the results of an APCCMPD Member.

September 6, 2018: Read APCCMPD’s response to the ABIM

The APCCMPD sincerely thanks all member programs for their continued response to surveys that inform issues such as this and for their support of the organization. Together we shape the future of GME. 

ACGME Call for Comments: IM 2035: Internal Medicine Requirements within Proposed Common Program Requirements

The ACGME Resident Review Committee in Internal Medicine (IM-RRC) will soon begin a major revision of the Common Program Requirements for Internal Medicine. Unlike past revisions, the IM RRC requested a different approach, to include the scenario-based strategic planning executive summary. The review period closed on July 1, 2018 and asked for two things:

  • Provide feedback on the insights and themes from IM2035
  • While considering IM2013, review and provide the IM RRC comments on which current IM specialty requirements should be edited or removed, and what new requirements should be introduced.

July 1, 2018: Review the APCCMPD Comments

ACGME Call for Comments on the Common Program Requirements Sections I-V, Phase 2

The ACGME Board of Directors initiated this second and final phase of the Common Program Requirements Sections I-V review. To address inherent differences in specialty and subspecialty training, the Phase 2 Task Force developed two sets of Common Program Requirements - one specific to residency programs, and a separate set for fellowships. The fellowship version applies to all subspecialty programs, regardless of program length, and will replace the separate One-Year Common Program Requirements.
March 2018: APCCMPD Comments

ACGME Call for Comments on the Common Program Requirements Section VI

Section VI of the CPR addresses: Professionalism, Personal Responsibility, and Patient Safety; Transitions of Care, Alertness Management/Fatigue Mitigation; Supervision of Residents; and Clinical Responsibilities in areas of Teamwork and Resident Duty Hours. 

December 2016: APCCMPD Comments 
 

ACGME Call for Comments on Common Program Requirements I-V, Phase 1
November 2016: Issue Brief and Correspondence

Proposed Changes to ABIM AQI MOC Pathway
June 2016: Issue Brief and Correspondence

Duty Hours

April 2009: Correspondence to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
February 2016: Letter

March 2016: Testimony Transcript

ABIM MOC Fee Credit Component of MOC for Fellows-in-Training

Issue Brief
June 2015: Correspondence with Alliance of Academic Internal Medicine

Modification of ACGME Requirement Regarding Additional Training Programs for PCCM and CCM Fellowship Programs

Issue Brief
APCCMPD Member Survey Response on Issue
September 2014: Correspondence to ACGME
May 2015: APCCMPD/CCSC Task Force Correspondence to ACGME 
Full ACGME Response


Comments on Training Program Requirements

April 2010: Correspondence to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education


Proposed Pathway to Certification in Emergency Medicine - Critical Care Medicine

December 2009: Correspondence to the American Board of Internal Medicine

Proposed Revisions to NRMP Internal Medicine Specialty Match Timeline

November 2009: Correspondence to the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine