Interdisciplinary Ethics Certificate Program for Graduate Medical Education Trainees

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Bioethics
• Professionalism

Background:

• Ethics education is crucial for physician competency and professionalism.
• Structured ethics education is often lacking in graduate medical education (GME).
• Prior studies indicate high interest and need for ethics training among residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a 1-year certificate program offering a Distinction in Biomedical Ethics.
• To provide advanced biomedical ethics education to trainees at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
• To offer this program at no additional cost or training time for participants.

Main Methods:

• The program has been offered annually since 2017-2018.
• Curriculum includes case-based seminars, ethics consultation service rotation, hospital ethics committee participation, and a capstone project.
• Outcomes were assessed via post-course evaluations.

Main Results:

• 65 trainees from 19 specialties participated in the first 4 years.
• 58 participants (89.4% response rate) provided strongly favorable evaluations.
• All participants felt the program enhanced their ethics knowledge and its applicability to future practice.
• 98.3% would recommend the course.

Conclusions:

• A Distinction in Biomedical Ethics program was successfully designed and implemented.
• The program provides advanced clinical bioethics training.
• Participant feedback indicates the program is favorably received and beneficial.