Letter of Concern from the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine Regarding ACGME Proposed Changes
Hamilton, Richard J ; Becker, Lance B ; Wolfe, Richard E ; Algren, D Adam ; Arnold, Thomas ; Baumann, Michael ; Berkeley, Ross P ; Caffery, Terrell S ; Cannon, Chad M ; Corbin, Theodore J ... show 10 more
Authors
Becker, Lance B
Wolfe, Richard E
Algren, D Adam
Arnold, Thomas
Baumann, Michael
Berkeley, Ross P
Caffery, Terrell S
Cannon, Chad M
Corbin, Theodore J
Chansky, Michael E
Dhindsa, Harinder S
Emerman, Charles L
Farcy, David A
Fox, Chris
Gibbs, Michael A
Goode, Christopher S
Godwin, Steven Andy
Jehle, Dietrich
Johnson, David
Keim, Samuel M
Khazaeni, Babak
Knapp, Barry J
Hawthorne, Clint
Hoyle, John D
Kurz, Michael Christopher
Leibner, Evan
McNamara, Robert
McCormack, Robert F
Michelson, Edward A
Miller, Chadwick
Norse, Ashley
Nugent, Andrew
O'Neil, Brian J
Overton, David T
Panacek, Edward A
Paolo, William F
Pauzé, Denis R
Perez, Amanda L
Riviello, Ralph J
Rodi, Scott W
Pang, Peter S
Gonzalez Sanchez, Juan A
Seaberg, David
Schwartz, Adam
Shiver, Stephen A
Sklar, David P
Smith, Ben C
Stowell, Jeffrey R
Squillante, Marc D
Thomas, J Jeremy
Hoek, Terry Vanden
Volturo, Gregory A
Walters, E Lea
Wyatt, Thomas E
Yealy, Donald M
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UMass Chan Affiliations
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Abstract
This letter, signed by over 50 academic chairs of emergency medicine, urges the ACGME to reconsider a proposed mandate requiring all emergency medicine residency programs to adopt a four-year training model. The authors argue that current three-year programs are supported by data demonstrating equivalent educational and clinical outcomes compared to four-year formats. They criticize the flawed survey methodology underpinning the proposal, note the loss of milestone-based training flexibility, and highlight the lack of added scholarly or clinical value in the fourth year. The letter also outlines negative consequences for fellowship participation, workforce development, trainee debt, and diversity. The signatories advocate for maintaining the current flexible training model to preserve excellence, equity, and innovation in emergency medicine education.
Source
Hamilton RJ, Becker LB, Wolfe RE, Algren DA, Arnold T, Baumann M, Berkeley RP, Caffery TS, Cannon CM, Corbin TJ, Chansky ME, Dhindsa HS, Emerman CL, Farcy DA, Fox C, Gibbs MA, Goode CS, Godwin SA, Jehle D, Johnson D, Keim SM, Khazaeni B, Knapp BJ, Hawthorne C, Hoyle JD Jr, Kurz MC, Leibner E, McNamara R, McCormack RF, Michelson EA, Miller C, Norse A, Nugent A, O'Neil BJ, Overton DT, Panacek EA, Paolo WF, Pauzé DR, Perez AL, Riviello RJ, Rodi SW, Pang PS, Gonzalez Sanchez JA, Seaberg D, Schwartz A, Shiver SA, Sklar DP, Smith BC, Stowell JR, Squillante MD, Thomas JJ, Hoek TV, Volturo GA, Walters EL, Wyatt TE, Yealy DM. Letter of Concern from the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine Regarding ACGME Proposed Changes. West J Emerg Med. 2025 Jun 27;26(4):769-772. doi: 10.5811/westjem.48840. PMID: 40795015; PMCID: PMC12342429.