Evolution of Accredited Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship Training in the United States: A Step in the Right Direction.

Pediatric cardiac anesthesiology has developed as a subsubspecialty of anesthesiology over the past 70 years. The evolution of this specialty has led to the establishment in 2005 of a dedicated professional society, the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society (CCAS). By 2010, multiple training pathways for pediatric cardiac anesthesia emerged. Eight programs in the United States offered advanced pediatric cardiac anesthesia with variable duration, ranging from 3 to 12 months. Other programs offered a combined fellow/staff position for 1 year. The need for a standardized training pathway was recognized by the Pediatric Anesthesia Leadership Council (PALC) and CCAS in 2014. Specifically, it was recommended that pediatric cardiac anesthesiology be a second, 12-month advanced fellowship following pediatric anesthesia to acquire skills unique from those acquired during a pediatric anesthesia fellowship. This was reiterated in 2018, when specific pediatric cardiac anesthesia training milestones were developed through consensus by the CCAS leadership. However, given the continuous increasing demand for well-trained pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, it is essential that a supply of comprehensively trained physicians exists. High-quality training programs are therefore necessary to ensure excellent clinical care and enhanced patient safety. Currently, there are 23 programs offering one or more positions for 1-year pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship. Due to the diverse curriculum and evaluation process, formalization of the training with accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) was the obvious next step. Initial inquiry started in April 2020. The ACGME recognized pediatric cardiac anesthesia as a subsubspecialty in February 2021. The program requirements and milestones for the 1-year fellowship training were developed in 2021 and 2022. This special article reviews the history of pediatric cardiac anesthesia training, the ACGME application process, the development of program requirements and milestones, and implementation.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's Recent Changes to Radiation Oncology Training Program Standards: Raising the Bar for Postgraduate Training Quality to Better Reflect Our Specialty and Better Serve Our Patients.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's Review Committee for Radiation Oncology recently made a number of significant changes to the required institution specialties and program participating sites for radiation oncology programs, in addition to requiring procedure minima for specific disease sites for residents. This article outlines the change process and essence of the changes made.

The single graduate medical education accreditation system.

In 2014, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding, which creates a single accreditation system for graduate medical education. The present article outlines the history of the agreement and the 5-year transition process, which begins July 1, 2015, and ends June 30, 2020.

Osteopathic Continuous Certification: it's here--are you prepared?

The authors explain Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) as mandated by the American Osteopathic Association Board of Trustees. Implemented on January 1, 2013, OCC is the process wherein osteopathic physicians certify their training and expertise in their chosen specialty and maintain the standard of excellence begun with the initial American Osteopathic Association certification. In contrast to one-time examinations, OCC is intended to be an ongoing, lifelong process for osteopathic physicians.

AOA specialty board certification.

The authors details information related to the 2012 certification processing activity of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists, which oversees the work of the 18 specialty certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association.

Osteopathic specialty board certification.

The Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists continually assesses the skills of osteopathic physician specialists in response to the growth of specialization in the osteopathic medical profession. Most recently, the Bureau has mandated that all osteopathic specialty certifying boards fully implement Osteopathic Continuous Certification no later than January 1, 2013. The authors discuss communication efforts related to this change, including a survey to assess physician needs in light of the new requirement. Also reported are rates of osteopathic specialty board certification and recertification for 2010.

American Osteopathic Association specialty board certification.

Specialty board certification is an important tool in recognizing physicians who take extra measures to establish their skills in any number of specialty areas. The American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists, which oversees the 18 specialty certifying boards, continues to amend existing policies and implement new policies to improve the certification process. Among these policies, the authors describe new collaboration efforts, the development of the osteopathic continuous certification process, and revisions to board eligibility. An update on AOA certification awards, including certificates of added qualifications, is also provided.

Osteopathic specialty board certification.

Specialty board certification, though voluntary, has become an indispensable designation for many osteopathic physicians. The authors report rates of osteopathic specialty board certification and recertification. On the recommendation of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists--and as a result of recent action by the American Osteopathic Association Board of Trustees--a new osteopathic continuous certification model will be used by all 18 member boards. This model firmly establishes osteopathic specialty board certification as an ongoing process that helps to ensure patient health and safety by measuring and monitoring physician competence. In addition, time limits on board eligibility have been established for certification candidates. As the healthcare environment continues to evolve, the American Osteopathic Association, the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists, and the 18 osteopathic specialty boards continue to adapt to meet the professional needs of osteopathic physicians.