Educating Educators: Developing Faculty Competencies in Assessment Across the Globe
Launched in November 2015 as a pilot, the ACGME’s Developing Faculty Competencies in Assessment course quickly became a sought-after educational opportunity for graduate medical educators across the US. The success prompted the ACGME to expand the programming to multiple sessions held annually.
The full version of the course, held in Chicago, focuses on one of the major challenges for outcomes-based graduate medical education (GME): Designing assessment programs that facilitate the longitudinal professional development of residents and fellows. Despite its popularity, the Chicago location can present a challenge for potential attendees, ranging from travel costs to time commitment. When leaders from Vanderbilt University approached the ACGME about developing a course for faculty development locally in Nashville, Tennessee, the ACGME’s Faculty Development Hub program was born, where a modified version of the course – often tailored specifically for the hosting institution/organization and attendees – would be conducted. The success of the first Hub course led to more courses being organized at an increasing number of Hubs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel was considerably more difficult, the Hubs continued to thrive. GME professionals worldwide have given the Hubs potent praise for expanding access to quality learning in different geographic locations.
Perspective from an Educator There from the Beginning
Sandra A. Moutsios, MD is a clinician educator and Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She also serves as the Associate Program Director of Vanderbilt’s internal medicine-pediatrics residency program and has been involved in the Faculty Development Hub program since its inception. She detailed her experience:
“As a program director, I was drawn to the Developing Faculty Competencies in Assessment course to try to learn how to give better feedback, and to learn how to teach others to give better feedback. In the 10 years since our first course, there are now over 30 hub courses nationally and internationally. One unintended impact of this program has been the community of practice and learning that has organically evolved amongst the hub leaders. The support, camaraderie, sharing of best practices, and problem solving amongst the group of leaders has been tremendous. I can personally speak to the enduring friendships that have grown for me over the past decade. I have had the privilege of being part of this amazing, growth-minded group of clinician educators.”
Hubs Across the Globe, International Perspective
The success of the Faculty Development Hubs in the US spurred establishment of similar Hubs internationally. In just a few years’ time, Hubs are now set up in Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. This intercontinental expansion has allowed the ACGME to positively impact physicians and other health care professionals through quality education and professional development.
James Kwan, MBBS (London), BSc(Hons), MMed (ClinEpi), MHPE, MRCSEd, FACEM, FRCEM, FAMS, the international Hub leader for Singapore, also had some positive remarks about his experiences. “The National Healthcare Group (NHG) in Singapore is privileged to be part of this vibrant international community of practice led by [the] ACGME. We continue to grow and improve by learning from each other’s successes and shared experiences.”
The ACGME Faculty Development Hub program continues to evolve into an increasingly transformative initiative for advancing GME domestically and internationally. By decentralizing access to high-quality faculty development through tailored courses, the Hubs have removed barriers related to travel and time, enabling broader reach and participation. They have fostered vibrant communities of practice, where educators not only enhance their assessment competence, but also build enduring professional relationships and share best practices. The international expansion of the Hubs underscores their relevance and impact, empowering physician educators worldwide to elevate the quality of GME through collaboration, innovation, and shared, lifelong learning. We look forward to continuing to expand this work.
Learn more about Faculty Development here.
Explore information about the Hubs here.
This post is a part of the ACGME Blog series “Educating Educators,” which focuses on developing faculty competencies in assessment for clinical educators. The goal of this series is to share resources from the ACGME’s Developing Faculty Competencies in Assessment and related courses from its Faculty Development Hubs. The series will also share inspiring stories from Hubs, demonstrating the importance and impact of this growing initiative.