Now that the public comment period has closed for the proposed ACGME Program Requirements, we want to offer our reflections on where we’ve been—and where we must go together.
CORD’s mission is guided by a commitment to our community. Our path has been focused on clarity over noise, unity over escalation, and listening over judgment. We know this moment has stirred strong and deeply held beliefs that are challenging. For many, the proposed changes, especially the possibility of a required four-year training structure, feel like a threat to the identity, autonomy, and legacy of programs built with pride and purpose. We want to say this directly: We recognize how difficult this process has been, and we honor the remarkable work that ALL programs have done for decades. You have trained exceptional physicians. You have advanced emergency medicine through scholarship, service, and innovation. You are the foundation on which our specialty has been built. The strength of emotion expressed during this comment period speaks to how much we all care—about our programs, our trainees, and the future of emergency medicine. While the perspectives within our community vary, the passion is shared. That passion must be what brings us together, not what drives us apart.
We remain committed to working collaboratively to advance our shared goals, particularly considering the potential changes that will impact our community and the way we deliver education. As always, we remain resolute in supporting our members, strengthening our programs, and fostering excellence in educational environments across emergency medicine.
When the final program requirements are ultimately presented, CORD will convene additional workgroups to help our members. As a board, we are already strategizing methods by which we can share resources and develop new educational materials for our members.
Let us move forward together—with humility, courage, and care for one another.