Resources Relevant to the Implementation
of Core ACGME-Required Competencies

Module VI
    Medical knowledge
          Module overview
Competency
      		 The ACGME’s Program Requirements for Residency Education in Allergy and Immunology define the competency of medical knowledge as, "about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g. epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care."

The ACGME further defines a set of Allergy and immunology-specific competencies. These competencies are subsets of the core competencies and as such, may be considered embedded in them. The A/I-specific competencies that may relate to medical knowledge include the requirements to:

• “Perform a physical examination appropriate to the specialty
• Select, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests or studies
• Assess the risks and benefits of therapies for allergic and immunologic disorders
• Counsel and educate patients about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment
• Apply basic and clinical science to the clinical care of patients
• Design, conduct, write, and present research in either laboratory-based or clinical investigation in allergy and/or immunology”


The Quadrad Report further amplifies the competency of medical knowledge by listing required skills, example components, and evaluation methods, as follows:
Required Skill Example Components Evaluation Method
Investigatory and analytic thinking
 Actively participate in designing and implementing basic or clinical research projects; present teaching conferences
 Chart stimulated recall OR
Oral examination OR
Publication of peer-reviewed papers
Knowledge and application of basic sciences
 Understand the pathophysiology of inflammation as it relates to asthma, and its treatment and progression of disease
 Allergy-immunology in-service exam OR
Oral examination
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How this module differs from the others
 Historically, medical knowledge has been the major core component of residency and fellow training. Thus, this competency is the one with which all programs are likely to be the most familiar.

A/I training programs have extensive curricula and resources designed to impart and test medical knowledge that have been developed and used successfully over many years. Consequently, programs are well-equipped to meet the ACGME requirement to demonstrate competency in this area.

Strategies and resources for acquiring the body of medical knowledge required during a fellowship will vary among institutions but might include structured didactic programs such as lectures, seminars or courses. Medical knowledge will also be gained from reading textbooks, the TPD reading list, and attendance at regional and national meetings.

This module contains a list of resources that would be useful for any program.
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