Closing the Communication Gap: Assessing the Alignment Between UME and GME Competencies

This study identified a method for assessing the alignment between undergraduate medical education program learning objectives and graduate medical education program competencies. Using a modified Delphi approach in which the number of rounds (3) and consensus (70% agreement) were determined a priori, the study sought to align objectives and competency measures between the programs. The authors invited panelists from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University to independently respond to a questionnaire via an email invitation. In the questionnaire, panelists made 46 decisions about the alignment between the undergraduate medical education program learning objectives and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Harmonized Milestones subcompetencies. Approximately, 57% (26/46) of the decisions reached a consensus that there was an alignment between the objectives and the subcompetencies. By aligning the objective and subcompetencies, this study provided a first step toward closing the gap in the communication of student competencies.