Graduate Medical Education Committee & Subcommittees
The UW Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) is the standing committee with authority and responsibility for the oversight and administration of each ACGME-accredited program, review and approval of non-ACGME accredited programs, and ensuring overall compliance with the Institutional Requirements and ACGME Specialty/Subspecialty-specific Program Requirements.
Responsibilities include:
- Development and review of policies and procedures that affect both ACGME-accredited and non-accredited clinical training programs and their trainees
- Maintain oversight of and liaison with clinical program directors
- Conduct regular reviews of ACGME-accredited clinical training program in accordance with the Common Program Requirements and Review Committee Program Requirements
- Review and approve non-ACGME accredited clinical training programs to insure that they meet equivalent standards to those required for accredited programs
- Review and approve changes to training programs which could affect educational quality or require ACGME approval
- Provide a forum for exchange of information among all parties involved in graduate medical education
- Review Letters of Notice and Special Reviews concerning all ACGME-accredited clinical training programs and monitor action plans for correction in areas of non-compliance
Please see the GMEC Charge for full details.
Chaired by Byron D. Joyner, MD, MPH; Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education; Designated Institutional Official
Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month, 3-5pm, via Zoom. When possible, resident/fellow members will be released from regular duties so they may attend. GMEC members may access the GMEC SharePoint for GMEC packet access via the Outlook meeting invitation.
Membership includes the Designated Institutional Official (DIO), who serves as the Chair of the GMEC, selected representation from residents and fellows, hospital leadership, clinical chairs, ACGME program directors and other members of the UW faculty, GME administration, program administrators, UW Medicine Compliance, and a quality improvement/safety officer. Resident and fellow members should include the Resident and Fellow Physician Union-Northwest (RFPU-NW) President, the Network of Underrepresented Residents and Fellows (NURF) President, the Housestaff Quality and Safety Committee (HQSC) co-chairs, and other peer-selected residents and fellows that represent a broad range of programs. Resident and fellow members serve one (1) year terms, and may be re-nominated. Faculty and other administrative members should serve a term of two (2) years, and may be reappointed. Each voting member of the Committee, including the Chair, has one vote and all votes are equal. All actions of the GMEC must be by a majority vote of those present and those voting must reflect a broad representation of faculty, resident and fellows.
Please see AY24 GMEC & Subcommittee Roster for the full membership list of the GMEC and respective GMEC subcommittees.
Relevant Resources/Links:
- ACGME Institutional Requirements
- The GMEC oversees resident and fellow health and safety. See the Workplace Health and Safety webpage for further information and access to related reports.
Questions and requests for agenda items should be submitted to Olivia Frederiksen (ofred@uw.edu). All agenda items and supporting documents are due the first Wednesday of the month.
GMEC Subcommittees and Taskforces
The GMEC will appoint subcommittees and taskforces to accomplish portions of the Committees’ responsibilities. Subcommittees that address required GMEC responsibilities will include peer-selected residents and fellows.
GMEC CLER Subcommittee
The GMEC CLER Subcommittee oversees the learning and working environment for housestaff at UW Medicine as pertains to the pathways outlined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educations’ (ACGME’s) Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) program within the domains of Patient Safety/ Quality /Supervision/Teaming (PQST).
Responsibilities are to improve UW Medicine housestaff’s clinical learning and working environment in the following domains: Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Supervision and Teaming.
- Develop and monitor action plans to address opportunities for improvement identified during CLER Site Visits, including defining meaningful metrics that can be tracked on, at least an annual basis.
- Facilitate and monitor the implementation of new policies, procedures, operational practices, or educational initiatives pertaining to the above CLER KPAs, partnering with other medical center groups including but not limited to nursing, pharmacy, and other entities within the GME community whose work supports these KPAs;
- Ensure critical representation of the GME community in the development of patient safety and quality improvement policies and projects at the medical center, including groups such as housestaff, hospital leadership, nurses, pharmacists and patients;
- Foster housestaff participation in quality improvement and patient safety work, as well as encourage interdisciplinary teaming, both at the program and medical center level;
- Assist GME and hospital leadership in preparation for the CLER Site Visit through data collection, education of housestaff, nurses and administration on the CLER process, documentation of requirements, and potential outcomes;
- Investigate potential deviations from hospital and/or GME policies or protocols that impact the learning environment, and work with the hospital and GME leadership to resolve such concerns;
Please see the charge for full details.
Chaired by Lindee Strizich, MD, MSc, Director, GME Quality and Safety
Meetings occur the first Wednesday of the month from 3:30 – 4:30pm
Membership is based on a rotating basis and must consist of at least 2 and up to 4 ACGME-accredited housestaff (at a minimum one of these representatives must be peer-nominated), 2 and up to 3 program directors (or a faculty member designee, such as an APD for quality and patient safety), one (1) program administrator, one (1) quality officer, a compliance officer, one (1) member from the GME Office and at least one of the following: medical director, nurse, or GME educator.
Please see roster for full membership list.
Relevant Resources & Links
Questions? Contact Jenn Johal (jenjohal@uw.edu)
GMEC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee
Responsibilities
The GMEC EDI Subcommittee is authorized to provide advice and make policy recommendations to the Chair of the GMEC in association with its members within its described duties and the framework of this charge.
Please see the charge for full details.
Chaired by Byron Joyner, MD, MPA & Cindy Hamra, JD, MA
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month from 4:00 – 5:00pm.
Membership is based on a rotating basis and must consist of at least 2 and up to 4 ACGME-accredited housestaff (at a minimum one of these representatives must be peer-nominated) and at least one member from the Resident and Fellow Physician Union – Northwest (RFPU-NW); 1 and up to 3 non-ACGME-accredited fellows; 2 and up to 3 program directors (or a faculty member designee, such as an APD for quality and patient safety), one (1) program administrator, one (1) quality officer, a compliance officer, one (1) member from the GME Office and at least one of the following: medical director, nurse or pharmacist.
Relevant Resources
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion webpage
- GME Commitment to EDI
Questions? Contact Amanda Easton (amandae@uw.edu)
GME Position Allocation Committee (GMEPAC)
Policy Committee
Responsibilities include the review and revision of current GME-related policies and development of new policies to be proposed to the GMEC for consideration, in accordance with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Institutional Requirement I.B.2.b) (“Subcommittee actions that address required GMEC responsibilities must be reviewed and approved by the GMEC”). This includes revising and/or adding applicable requirements to policies as outlined in the ACGME Institutional Requirements, ACGME Common Program Requirements, and UW Housestaff Association (UWHA) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). If necessary, the committee may conduct additional review and/or revisions to policies as requested by GMEC to formalize policies and applicable guidance addressing UW Medicine, hospital, and other regulatory requirements. All recommendations of the GME Policy Committee are presented to the GMEC; policy changes approved by GMEC are binding between the UW School of Medicine, residents/fellows, program directors and departments.
All recommended changes to the RFPA will be presented by the GME Policy Committee Chair (or designee) to the GMEC for review and consideration starting in December annually, though major changes to sections requiring time for analysis and review by the GMEC may be submitted beginning in July. The agreement must be approved by GMEC and finalized by January 15th each year.
Please see the charge for full details.
Chaired by Troy Johnston, MD
Meetings occur monthly on the fourth Thursday of the month from 4:30 – 6:00pm.
Membership includes a a faculty member chair who is appointed for a renewable term of two (2) years by the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) and is a standing member of the GMEC. Committee members include a minimum of: two (2) faculty (to include program directors and/or program faculty); two (2) peer-selected residents/fellows; the RFPU-NW president (or designee); two (2) program administrators; and representatives from the GME Office. Terms are renewable for one year.
Please see roster for full membership list.
Relevant Resources/Links
- GME Policies and Procedures webpage
Questions? Contact Gabrielle Pett (nathangl@uw.edu)
GMEC-Approved (Non-ACGME Accredited) Fellowship Programs Committee (GAF)
The GMEC Approved (Non-ACGME Accredited) Fellowship Programs Committee (GAF) is a subcommittee of the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) and is charged with ensuring the educational quality of UWSOM non-accredited training programs defined in the GMEC Approved (Non-ACGME Accredited) Program Policy and Procedure.
Responsibilities include:
- Maintain a formal application and review process for new non-ACGME accredited clinical fellowship programs. Recommend approval of programs to the GMEC.
- Support the Sponsoring Institution’s oversight of Non-Standard Training (NST) programs, including ensuring compliance with the ACGME’s Recognition Requirements for Sponsoring Institutions with NST Programs.
- Develop and maintain Educational Standards for Non-ACGME Fellowship Programs which address minimum standards for all non-ACGME clinical fellowship programs and applicable requirements specific to NST programs.
- Conduct annual surveys of all non-ACGME clinical fellowships and graduating fellows to ensure compliance with the UW Educational Standards for Non-ACGME Programs. Present survey results to the GMEC annually.
- Identify and develop required resources for non-ACGME program (e.g., program orientation resources, evaluation support, recruitment guidelines, curriculum development). Identify existing programs that do not meet the minimum requirements for GMEC approval and inform them of areas for improvement to bring them into compliance.
- Review and propose revisions to GME policies impacting non-ACGME accredited fellowships and trainees in order to ensure appropriate organizational structure and support.
- Monitor ongoing compliance of GMEC approved programs with relevant GME policies.
Please see the charge for full details.
Chaired by Lia Halasz, MD
Meetings occur monthly on the third Wednesday of the month from 4:00- 5:00pm
Membership of GAF includes a faculty member chair who is appointed for a renewable term of two (2) years by the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) and is a standing member of the GMEC. Committee members include at a minimum one (1) non-ACGME and one (1) ACGME-accredited program director, one (1) peer-selected non-ACGME fellow and one (1) ACGME resident/fellow, one (1) non-ACGME program administrator, one (1) ACGME program administrator, one (1) vice chair for administration and finance or designee), and GME administration. The committee is staffed by a non-voting member of the GME Office. Each voting member of the committee has one vote and all votes are equal.
Please see roster for full membership list.
Relevant Resources/Links
Questions? Contact Gabrielle Pett (nathangl@uw.edu)
Taskforces
The GMEC may appoint ad hoc taskforces to accomplish specific, time-limited projects that are essential to the work of the Committee, and reflect the evolving GME landscape. The GMEC will give each Taskforce a clear charge. Any actions or recommendations by a Taskforce will be presented to and approved by the GMEC.
