Communicating Your Program's Goals and Objectives

Abstract

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires programs to develop goals and objectives for each educational level and distribute them to residents and faculty. The purpose of this article is to provide program directors with operational definitions, medical education examples, and features contributing to the quality of educational goals and objectives. The terms “competency” and “entrustable professional activity” are included. Bloom’s cognitive taxonomy levels and associated action verbs for objectives are listed. Immediate and long-term steps for communicating your program’s goals and objectives are given as well as suggestions for writing clear goals and objectives.