As the physician residency-training calendar approaches the academic year’s halfway point, midyear reviews represent a universal milestone of import to residents of all training stages and specialties.
Reviews are required twice annually by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). They are aimed at, among other things, measuring a resident’s progress in meeting the six ACGME milestones that represent a road map for growth and development as they advance in clinical skills, knowledge and attitudes.
While expectations and takeaways may differ widely by circumstances, the value of these check-ins for residents is to have a measuring stick of where they stand and gaining targeted feedback on how they can continue their growth. Drawing on insights from seasoned physician faculty, here are practical tips residents can use to make their midyear review as productive as possible.
The dialogue should be ongoing
Midyear reviews may be requisite, but if you are working to understand your strengths and weaknesses by engaging with faculty members on a regular basis, residents should have some idea where they stand.
Angela Debo, DO, directs the family medicine residency program at Bayhealth, which is part of the AMA Health System Member Program that provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
“The goal with feedback nowadays is that it's given in real time and it's readily available to the residents.” said Dr. Debo, an AMA member. “Our residents here get monthly evaluations from their rotations and so they're able to see that in real time, but nothing should be a surprise at the midyear evaluation.”
Going into reviews, Dr. Debo said reflection about where you think you stand and even conversations with faculty members, can put you in the right headspace.
Don’t take it personally
The goal of any feedback provided during your midyear review is improvement, according to Gary Siegelman, MD.
“Most faculty are here because they want to be part of a process that helps train really excellent physicians,” said Dr. Seligman, designated institutional official for graduate medical education at Bayhealth, in Dover, Delaware.
If any of the feedback is negative, some residents might naturally get defensive rather than receptive.
“It can sting and it can hurt a little bit, but it's really helpful to listen to it and sort of take a big breath and process it,” Dr. Seligman said.
Ask for specifics
During midyear reviews, you should both understand your areas for growth and how the reviewer believes you can improve. If the comments you are getting are too broad, ask for precise, actionable suggestions.
It’s also important to understand that an action plan might not be entirely clear in a single meeting.
“If you do get that specific feedback, understand steps one through five and just take it a step at a time because it can be overwhelming,” Dr. Seligman said. “For some of them, it can just seem like it's too much."
There’s nothing wrong with taking time to really process what was said and following up to get clarity on what steps toward improvement look like—but you do have to make sure you follow up.
Advocate for yourself
While it’s important to be accountable and receptive to the feedback offered during the midyear review, if you feel there are things that your program can do to help you reach your goals and exceed expectations, there is no need to be shy.
"Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself,” Dr. Debo said. “If you don't feel like you're getting the support that you need, that's a great time to talk with your program director about your experience and what additional support that you think you would benefit from."
