MD Competencies and Subcompetencies for Graduation

Each of the competencies are headers followed by a definition of the competency domain.

1. PATIENT CARE: Provide patient-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health and treatment of health problems

• PC 1.1 Gather a history and perform a physical exam (EPA 1)

• PC 1.2 Prioritize and justify a differential diagnosis following a clinical encounter (EPA 2)

• PC 1.3 Recommend and interpret common diagnostic and screening tests (EPA 3)

• PC. 1.4 Enter and discuss orders and prescriptions (EPA 4)

• PC 1.5/ICS 4.3 Document a clinical encounter in the patient record (EPA 5)

• PC 1.6/ICS 4.4 Provide an oral presentation of a clinical encounter (EPA 6)

• PC 1.7 Perform general procedures of a physician, including informed consent (EPA 12)

• PC 1.8 Recognize a patient requiring urgent or emergent care and initiate evaluation and management (EPA 10)

• PC 1.9 Give or receive a patient handover to transition care responsibility (EPA 8)

2. KNOWLEDGE FOR PRACTICE Demonstrate knowledge of and critical thinking about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and health systems sciences, as well as health humanities, and apply this knowledge to patient care.

• KP 2.1. Apply biomedical, clinical, health systems sciences and health humanities to clinical decision-making

• KP 2.2. Contribute to research

3. PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT: Demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate one’s care of patients, to appraise and assimilate evidence and emerging research, and to improve patient care through a practice of being reflective and engaging in life-long learning.

• PBLI 3.1 Engage in continuous self-assessment and identify and perform appropriate learning activities

• PBLI 3.2 Form clinical questions, retrieve evidence, and critically appraise and synthesize information to advance patient care (EPA 7)

4. INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication skills that show respect for and result in effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals

• ICS 4.1 Communicate effectively with patients and families (EPA 11)

• ICS 4.2/SBP 6.1 Collaborate as a member of a team, including members of one’s profession or interprofessional teams (EPA 9)

• ICS 4.3/PC 1.5 Document a clinical encounter in the patient record (EPA 5)

• ICS 4.4/PC 1.6 Provide an oral presentation of a clinical encounter (EPA 6)

5. PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS: Demonstrate professional behavior with patients and families, teams, health systems, and society

• PB 5.1/HH 7.2 Act with honesty, integrity, accountability, reliability self-regulation, and emotional awareness, adhering to ethical norms and principles

• PB 5.2/HH 7.4 Demonstrate cultural humility

6. SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE: Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and public health, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care

• SBP 6.1/ICS 4.3 Collaborate as a member of a team, including members of one’s profession or interprofessional teams (EPA 9)

• SBP 6.2 Incorporate considerations of value-based care in decisions about patients and/or populations

• SBP 6.3 Identify system failures and contribute to a culture of safety and improvement (EPA 13)

• SBP 6.4/HH 7.1 Analyze social determinants of health and other sociocultural factors affecting the health outcomes of patients, populations and communities

6. HEALTH HUMANITIES: Approach patients as whole persons, demonstrating compassion, humility, and respect.

• HH 7.1/SBP 6.4 Analyze social determinants of health and other sociocultural factors affecting the health outcomes of patients, populations and communities

• HH 7.2/PB 5.1 Act with honesty, integrity, accountability, reliability self-regulation, and emotional awareness, adhering to ethical norms and principles for the practice of medicine

• HH 7.3 Employ humanities tools and concepts

• HH 7.4/PB 5.2 Demonstrate cultural humility

*Note: EPA=AAMC’s Entrustable Professional Activity

Related Documents and References

Adapted from:

Obeso V, Brown D, Aiyer M, Barron B, Bull J, Carter T, Emery M, Gillespie C, Hormann M, Hyderi A, Lupi C, Schwartz M, Uthman M, Vasilevskis EE, Yingling S, Phillipi C, eds.; for Core EPAs for Entering Residency Pilot Program. Toolkits for the 13 Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency. Washington, DC: Association of American Medical Colleges; 2017.

Englander R, Cameron T, Ballard AJ, Dodge J, Bull J, Aschenbrener CA. Toward a common taxonomy of competency domains for the health professions and competencies for physicians. Acad Med. 2013; 88(8):1088-94.

DATE REVIEWED: April 17, 2025

MOST RECENT CHANGES: April 17, 2025; Consolidated or deleted a subcompetencies, made slight changes to a few others.

REVISION HISTORY:

• N/A

DATE APPROVED: April 17, 2025

DATE PUBLISHED: June 12, 2025

POLICY’S INITIAL DATE: October 26, 2015

CONTENT REVIEWERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

• Committee for Undergraduate Medical Education (CUMED)

• Associate Dean for Evaluation and Assessment

• Associate Dean for Medical Education