title: GME Concentrations: A Collaborative Interdisciplinary Approach to Learner-Driven Education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Graduate medical education (GME) programs may struggle to provide the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to meet trainee career interests and goals beyond a clinical focus. Sponsoring institutions can partner with programs to deliver content not included in typical clinical experiences of GME programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To perform a needs assessment and to develop, implement, and measure acceptability and feasibility of an institution-wide GME Concentrations curriculum.
  
  
  METHODS
  In response to the needs assessment, GME leadership developed 4 concentrations: (1) Resident-as-Teacher; (2) Patient Safety and Quality Improvement; (3) Law, Ethics, and Health Policy; and (4) Leaders in Medicine. We formed advisory committees that developed curricula for each concentration, including didactics, experiential learning, and individual project mentoring. Participants completed pre- and postassessments. We assessed feasibility and evaluated participant presentations and final projects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the course of 3 years, 91 trainees (of approximately 1000 trainees each year) from 36 GME programs (of 82 accredited programs) have participated in the program. The number of participants has increased each year, and 22 participants have completed the program overall. Cost for each participant is estimated at $500. Participant projects addressed a variety of education and health care areas, including curriculum development, quality improvement, and national needs assessments. Participants reported that their GME Concentrations experience enhanced their training and fostered career interests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GME Concentrations program provides a feasible, institutionally based approach for educating trainees in additional interest areas. Institutional resources are leveraged to provide and customize content important to participants' career interests beyond their specialty.
authors.forename: Alisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagler
authors.forename: Saumil M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chudgar
authors.forename: Mariah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudd
authors.forename: Shari A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Whicker
authors.forename: Jane P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: Aditee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: Mitchell T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Heflin
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Andolsek
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007858:Learning; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods