Specialty competencies for residents in aerospace medicine

The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), with sponsorship from the Health Resources Administration (HRSA), has published core competencies that are common to all preventive medicine residencies-aerospace medicine (ASM), occupational medicine (OM), and general preventive medicine/public health (GPM/PH). Further development of specialty area competencies for ASM residents was addressed by a working group comprised of representatives from each of the four ASM residency programs.

Representatives from the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright State University, University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, and the Naval Operational Medicine Institute convened to develop a set of broad competency statements for ASM residents that would encompass the breadth of ASM residency training as it is currently provided in the U.S.

A listing of six ASM resident competencies, with supporting skill sets, are presented. In combination with the ACPM core competencies, the ASM resident competencies represent a refocusing of educational objectives on skills attainment.

The ASM resident competencies identify the capabilities of graduating ASM residents as distinct from OM and GPM/PH residents. At the same time, they are broad enough to permit specific areas of emphasis (e.g., military, civil, or space) to be pursued within the various ASM residencies. This represents the first successful attempt to draft a consolidated statement of educational objectives that has universal acceptance and applicability across all U.S. aerospace medicine residencies.