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

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Competency Assessment
• Curriculum Alignment

Background:

• Aligning undergraduate medical education (UME) learning objectives with graduate medical education (GME) competencies is crucial for seamless physician training.
• Existing gaps in communication hinder the effective progression of student competencies.
• Standardized frameworks are needed to bridge the UME-GME transition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and assess the alignment between UME learning objectives and GME competencies.
• To establish a systematic method for evaluating this alignment.
• To inform curriculum development and competency-based medical education.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi approach was employed over three rounds.
• Panelists reached consensus through 70% agreement on alignment decisions.
• Forty-six specific alignment decisions were made regarding UME objectives and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Harmonized Milestones subcompetencies.

Main Results:

• Approximately 57% (26 out of 46) of the assessed items reached consensus for alignment.
• The study successfully applied a structured method to evaluate UME-GME objective-competency alignment.
• Identified specific areas of alignment and potential discrepancies between the two educational levels.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides a valuable tool for assessing UME-GME alignment.
• Achieving alignment is a critical first step in enhancing the communication of student competencies.
• This work supports efforts to create a more cohesive and effective medical training continuum.