Structure and Governance

As stated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), "the purpose of graduate medical education is to provide an organized educational program with guidance and supervision of the resident, facilitating the resident’s ethical, professional and personal development while ensuring safe and appropriate care for patients."

In an effort to help programs fulfill this purpose, the ACGME requires sponsoring institutions to form a Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) to oversee the programs and ensure communication between the medical staff and the governing body. The following organizational chart illustrates how graduate medical education (GME) is governed at the Hospitals.

GME Organizational Chart

Graduate Medical Education Committee

GME is under the sponsorship of both the Hospitals and the Division of Biological Sciences. Mike Koetting, vice president for planning, is the Hospitals liaison for GME. Michael Simon, MD, the associate dean of graduate medical education, is the designated institutional official (DIO) for ACGME-accredited programs at the Hospitals. Dr. Simon reviews all GME program information before it is submitted to the ACGME.

Dr. Simon also chairs the GMEC, which is comprised of program directors and other faculty, residents, fellows, and hospital administrators. The committee meets on a monthly basis to develop policies, review internal and external program reviews, and vote on various issues concerning our programs. The GMEC has a number of other responsibilities to ensure all residents have a quality educational experience and all accredited programs maintain compliance with ACGME requirements.

Office of Housestaff Administration

This department of the Hospitals provides several services for about 600 residents and fellows who participate in our accredited and non-accredited residency and fellowship programs. The office helps residents and fellows obtain proper licensures, visas, training verifications, and certificates of completion. It is also responsible for new resident orientation and the allotment of on-call meal credits. Additionally, the Office of Housestaff Administration can answer questions regarding stipends, benefits, contracts, and any other matter that may affect housestaff members. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Make It Easier Committee

Created to provide a forum for residents and fellows to express any problems or difficulties they experience as a housestaff member, this committee includes faculty members, hospital administrators, residents, and fellows. As a relatively new committee, it has been very successful with resolving several issues and continues to provide an open atmosphere for residents and fellows to freely discuss any problems that may arise.