The New York State Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME) held a plenary session this month to discuss several GME matters. COGME is comprised of medical school and teaching hospital stakeholders and is charged with making recommendations to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) on medical education and physician workforce issues affecting the State.
Jeffrey Gold, MD, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Board Chair, described at the plenary session the ACGME’s mission and charge as well as the organization’s plans to address recent calls for increased transparency in GME. Dr. Gold informed the Council about a newly formed internal committee on GME policy and included details of ACGME’s continued efforts to tie outcomes-based assessments to accreditation.
A proposal to provide teaching hospitals with more flexibility to accept certain international medical graduates (IMGs) who completed ACGME-accredited residency programs into fellowship positions at New York hospitals was also discussed. Currently, there are DOH restrictions for IMGs who completed clerkship training outside of their home country to enter into these training positions. The Council discussed the proposal and expressed their support, following approval from the medical school deans across the State. GNYHA will continue to keep members apprised of any developments that arise from future Council meetings on this matter.