ACGME Answers: The ACGME's Collaborative Partnership with its Member Organizations

This post is part of an ongoing “ACGME Answers” series, expanding on questions the ACGME often receives directly or sees online. To learn more about the ACGME and graduate medical education (GME), review the ACGME FAQs on our website.

As the accreditor of GME programs and institutions, the ACGME plays a pivotal role in health care and shaping medical education across the US. One of the organization’s core commitments is convening experts and collaborating with other health care organizations to ensure that resident and fellow physicians receive the highest standard of education and that patients receive the highest standard of care. In this post, we’ll delve into the structure of the ACGME and its Member Organizations and how we work together to advance health care to meet those commitments.

The five founding organizations were instrumental in shaping the ACGME's Mission, Vision, and Values. And in 2014, this collaborative effort was enhanced when the American Osteopathic Association and American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine joined as Member Organizations. This expansion of the Member Organizations of the ACGME occurred as part of osteopathic educational tradition into the ACGME accreditation system, unified graduate medical education, and created more consistency in evaluation and accountability standards across programs.

The ACGME operates as an independent, not-for-profit entity and Member Organizations do not engage in accreditation activities, pay dues, or contribute monetarily to the ACGME.  Instead, their primary responsibility lies in nominating qualified individuals to serve on the ACGME Board of Directors, contributing valuable insights and guidance. These key stakeholders from across the medical education continuum and beyond offer critical perspectives in support of the ACGME's Mission to advance GME. The ACGME is proud to convene these leaders to foster collaboration and innovation within health care.

The ACGME's Board of Directors, currently comprised of 44 members, reflects a diverse spectrum of expertise and perspectives. The Board meets three times a year to implement the ACGME’s strategic plan, approve budget proposals, review accreditation decisions, and more.

The collaborative partnership between the ACGME and its Member Organizations is crucial to the organization's success in shaping the future of graduate medical education. By leveraging the expertise of diverse stakeholders, the ACGME assures that accreditation standards remain robust, relevant, and responsive to the evolving US health care landscape.

We hope this post sheds some light on the ACGME’s relationships with its Member Organizations. Find more information on the ACGME website, and answers to other questions on our general Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you have questions or potential topics you’d like to see explained in more detail in a future post in this ACGME Answers series, email social@acgme.org.