Learning portfolios in radiology residency education: how do I get started?

As medical education and continuous professional development shift toward an outcomes-based model, there is increasing focus on the documentation of physician self-assessment and a commitment to lifelong learning. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education is helping prepare trainees for these changes by increasing the focus of graduate medical education on outcomes through the development of the 6 competencies. As part of this process, the learning portfolio is a new component of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education radiology residency program requirements. The purpose of this article is to familiarize the reader with the role of portfolios in medical education and to discuss strategies for the implementation of learning portfolios in a residency education program.