Committee

The SUNY Downstate Medical Center Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) has the responsibility for monitoring and advising all aspects of residency education and assuring full compliance with ACGME institutional and RRC program requirements.

Appointment and Membership--The GMEC and the GMEC Chair are appointed by the Dean of the Medical School from among clinical department chairs and program directors. Membership also includes the Clinical Associate Deans from the principal affiliated hospitals (Kings County Hospital, University Hospital Brooklyn, Veterans Administration Hospital, Long Island College Hospital, and Staten Island University Hospital). A peer-elected GMEC sub-committee of residents designates five resident representatives for appointment by the Dean to the GMEC.

Committee Meetings--The Committee meets monthly and minutes are kept. From time to time, the Committee invites guests to attend meetings for discussion of specific agenda items or topics identified by it. The committee’s meetings are conducted under Roberts Rules of Order.

Confidential GMEC Business--All GMEC discussions, decisions and written materials are privileged information and considered strictly confidential.

Semi-Annual Program Directors/Coordinators Meeting -- The DIO, Chair of GMEC and GME Office Staff meets semi-annually with the Program Directors and/or coordinators to address issues related to GME.

GMEC Responsibilities--The responsibilities of the Committee include:

1. Establishment and implementation of general policies that affect all residency programs regarding the quality of education and the work environment for the residents in each program. GMEC subcommittees for education, executive , resident affairs, internal review and research are charged to monitor and make recommendations.
2. Establishment and maintenance of appropriate oversight of and liaison with program directors and assurance that program directors establish and maintain proper oversight of and liaison with personnel of the other institutions participating in programs sponsored by the SUNY Downstate Medical Center. The GMEC has appointed a subcommittee of program directors. See GMEC Subcommittees below.
3. Regular review of all ACGME letters of accreditation and the monitoring of action plans for the correction of citations.
4. Oversight for monitoring program performance of all ACGME accredited programs including subspecialty programs to assess their compliance with both Institutional Requirements and Program Requirements of the relevant ACGME Residency Review Committee. Monitoring is done through:
   1. Annual Program Evaluation tool in New Innovations, which is part of the
   2. Annual Review of the Program by the Program Evaluation Committee, and
   3. Annual Report to GMEC, which includes documentation and oral summary.
   4. Document Audits conducted by the GME office.
   5. The following materials are used in the review process:
      1. ADS from ACGME
      2. Annual Report to GMEC with attachments
      3. ACGME resident and faculty surveys
      4. Faculty Development activities: a list of program sponsored and conducted activities to develop faculty skills, teaching, supervision and assessment
      5. Cultural Competency and Health Disparities activities: a list of program sponsored and conducted activities to address Cultural Competency, Diversity and Health Disparities
      6. Health Care Quality and Patient Safety Projects: a list of projects that residents and fellows are actively engaged in
      7. Any Performance Improvements, if applicable
   6. The Program Monitoring Subcommittee has responsibility to review programs at least annually and recommend when a Special or Focused Review is required. For details on the process for reviewing underperforming programs and for requirements for special and focused reviews that are required see section below on this subcommittee.
5. Assurance that each residency program establishes and implements formal written criteria and processes for the selection, evaluation, promotion, dismissal and due process of residents in compliance with both the Institutional and relevant Program Requirements.
6. Assurance of an educational environment in which residents may raise and resolve issues without fear of intimidation or retaliation. This includes:
   1. Establishment of a resident subcommittee with peer-elected representatives from each residency program which meets monthly to communicate and exchange information on working environment and educational programs.
   2. As directed by the GMEC, the Associate Dean for GME serves as an ombudsman for all resident concerns. Residents are also encouraged to discuss their concerns with the Chair of the GMEC.
   3. Establishment and implementation of fair institutional policies and procedures for academic or other disciplinary actions taken against residents (see Due Process Policy)
   4. Establishment and implementation of fair institutional policies and procedures for adjudication of resident complaints and grievances related to actions which could result in dismissal or could significantly threaten a resident’s career development. (See Due Process Policy)
7. Collecting of intra-institutional information and making recommendation on the appropriate funding for resident positions, including benefits and support services.
8. Monitoring of the programs in establishing an appropriate work environment and the duty hours of residents. This is accomplished by:
   1. Site visits in conjunction with Internal Reviews
   2. Regular monitoring by GMEC Resident Subcommittee and GMEC Subcommittee on Resident Affairs which is charged with monitoring working conditions.
   3. Quarterly surveys of resident working hours and compliance with ACGME Duty Hours and NYS DOH Section 405 Regulations
9. Assurance that the residents curriculum provides a regular review of ethical, socioeconomic, medical/legal, and cost-containment issues that affect GME and medical practice. The curriculum must also provide an appropriate introduction to communication skills and research design, statistics, and critical review of the literature necessary for acquiring skills for lifelong learning. The Core curriculum of each program is monitored through annual reports and a GME Office annual document audit site visit that is submitted to the GMEC.