Updated May 9, 2012
Timeline of requests by the AOA to address the ACGME's proposed common program requirements:
May 8, 2012 – A follow-up meeting between AOA and ACGME leadership has been tentatively scheduled for May 25. Additional updates will be available after the meeting.
March 27, 2012 – The AOA continued its advocacy to withdraw or amend the ACGME’s proposed Common Program Requirements by hosting ACGME leadership for a meeting at AOA Headquarters. Officials from each organization discussed the ACGME’s Next Accreditation System (NAS) and how osteopathic and allopathic accreditation systems might better relate to each other.
Jan. 23, 2012 – The AOA and AACOM leadership met with ACGME leadership to discuss the proposed Common Program Requirements changes. ACGME leadership stated that they will follow their process of having comments submitted in November go to the Council of Review Chairs for consideration in February. That Council’s recommendations go forward to the Committee on Requirements in June. The Requirements Committee’s recommendations go to the ACGME Board of Directors in June or September. The AOA is working with the ACGME to make the proposed Common Program Requirements more palatable. We also urged the ACGME to send a letter to their program directors stating that the proposed requirements are just that – proposed. We hope this will reduce the number of withdrawn interviews.
The ACGME indicated that they would respond to student and resident concerns. Students and residents who have questions regarding the proposed Common Program Requirements should contact Marsha Miller, Associate Vice President of Resident Services, at (312) 755-5041 or mmiller@acgme.org. If you have a complaint about a withdrawn interview, you may also contact Marsha Miller or fill out a complaint form available on the ACGME website.
Note that there is no uniformity in ACGME standards regarding DO graduates. Some specialties allow it; others have an established policy against it. Just because a specialty says “no” does not necessarily mean they have violated their policies, but it is always good for you to check.
Please use these mechanisms to answer your questions or file complaints. ACGME leadership encourages their use. We continue to vigorously oppose the Common Program Requirement and are working with ACGME leadership to that effect.
Dec. 21, 2011 – AOA Executive Director John B. Crosby, JD, spoke with Thomas Nasca, MD, ACGME CEO, and came to an agreement to hold a meeting of the AOA-AACOM-ACGME leaderships to discuss the proposed policies. The leadership meeting is scheduled for the fourth week in January.
Nov. 23, 2011 – Comments formally submitted to ACGME from AOA and osteopathic specialty colleges.
View Comments Submitted by the AOA
View Comments Submitted by Specialty Colleges
Nov. 14, 2011 – The Daily Report informs all members about the proposed Common Program Requirements and the AOA’s actions to date.
Nov. 11, 2011 – The AOA sent e-alert messages to students, ACGME-trained DOs, OPTIs, state affiliates, and specialty colleges apprising them of the situation and asking them to contact MD program directors to support rescinding the proposed policies. Several specialty colleges are submitting comments directly through the ACGME comment process.
Nov. 10, 2011 – 21 osteopathic organizations sent a joint letter to Dr. Flynn, ACGME Board Chair, requesting withdrawal of the common program requirements and arrangement of meetings to work through the issues. No reply as of yet.
Nov. 10, 2011 – AOA Executive Director John Crosby, JD, and Stephen C. Shannon, DO, MPH, AACOM CEO and President, sent a letter to Timothy Flynn, MD, Chair of the ACGME Board of Directors, requesting withdrawal of the common program requirements and arrangements of meetings to work through the issues. No reply as of yet.
Oct. 10, 2011 – President Levine wrote to Dr. Nasca requesting a meeting to discuss faculty credentialing and the proposed common program requirements. Dr. Nasca responded by encouraging the submission of public comments and declined the request for a meeting.
Sept. 8, 2011 – AOA President Martin S. Levine, DO, wrote a letter to the ACGME Preventive Medicine Residency Review Committee requesting reconsideration of Section III, A, 1, that requires at least 12 months of clinical education in an ACGME residency program prior to appointment in the preventive medicine program. The letter asks the Preventive Medicine Residency Review Committee to accept 12 months of training in an AOA-approved postdoctoral training program as meeting the requirements of the new policy. No response was received.
July 28, 2011 – COPT Chair Michael I Opipari, DO, sent a letter to Thomas Nasca, MD, CEO of the ACGME, requesting cessation of the unusual application of the ACGME faculty credentialing policy in Radiology, General Surgery, and Psychiatry. No response was received