Happy second birthday to the "Purple Book"

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Graduate Medical Education

Background:

• The Association for Hospital Medical Education (AHME) recognized a need for standardized information regarding preliminary year (TY) residencies.
• Diversity in TY program structures presented challenges for program directors and prospective trainees.

Framework:

• The Council of TY Program Directors was established under AHME to address the need for program uniformity.
• Development of a comprehensive directory, the "Purple Book," was initiated to catalogue TY residency programs.

Implementation:

• The first edition of the "Purple Book" was published in August 1985.
• This directory served as a crucial resource for specialty program directors and trainees.

Implications:

• The "Purple Book" aimed to enhance the guidance provided to future trainees by offering a uniform overview of TY programs.
• This initiative represented a significant step in standardizing graduate medical education information.