Making the Transition from Student to Resident: A Method to Individualize a PGY1 Program

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Resident Training Assessment

Background:

• Self-assessment of resident strengths and limitations relies on insight.
• Program directors face challenges in pinpointing early resident knowledge deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of a standardized resident examination for early identification of knowledge gaps.
• To assess the impact of using examination results for tailored resident development plans.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of sixty-two PGY1 residents underwent a standardized examination.
• Examinations were administered pre- and post-training over a five-year period.

Main Results:

• Resident scores demonstrated improvement across most core disciplines annually.
• The five-year timespan showed consistent knowledge gains throughout the PGY1 year.

Conclusions:

• Standardized examinations effectively identify resident limitations early in training.
• Utilizing examination scores enables customized development plans to address specific knowledge gaps.