Scholarly Articles on the Effects of ACGME-I Accreditation
Multiple studies have been conducted by graduate medical education (GME) researchers and practitioners demonstrating the effects and benefits of ACGME-I accreditation.
Listed here are some useful articles for those seeking to learn more about how ACGME-I accreditation affects the evolution of GME. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated periodically.
Aligning Graduate Medical Education With the Health Care Needs of Abu Dhabi: One Decade After the Restructuring Initiative — Journal of Graduate Medical Education
”A foundational intervention in Abu Dhabi’s GME transformation was the implementation of standards from ACGME International (ACGME-I), which began with institutional accreditation in 2011 and program-specific accreditations in 2012… The adoption of ACGME-I standards improved the learning environment and established consistent procedures for all programs… This outcomes-based system emphasized continuous assessment to better prepare residents for independent practice.”
Full Citation: Alameri H. Aligning Graduate Medical Education With the Health Care Needs of Abu Dhabi: One Decade After the Restructuring Initiative. Journal of Grad Med Educ 2025 http://dx.doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-24-00750.1
International Accreditation of a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program in Guatemala: A Quantitative Assessment — BMC Education
”This study provides quantitative data on the enhancement of a PHO fellowship program in a middle-income country after the process ACGME-I accreditation based on the improvement of EPAT scores… These improvement were consistent with previous reports on the perceived impact of ACGME-I accreditation on fellowship quality.”
Full Citation: Moreira DC, et al. International accreditation of a pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship program in Guatemala: a quantitative assessment. BMC Education. 2025.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06810-x
Assessing the Impact of Adopting a Competency-Based Medical Education Framework on Educational Outcomes in a Family Medicine Residency Program in Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates — Frontiers in Medicine
”The introduction of the ACGME-I accreditation was associated with increasing the residents’ achievements… In Cohort one, before the ACGME[-I] accreditation, no significant associations were identified between residents’ graduation in-training exam and their early performance indicators, while in Cohort two, there were significant correlations between almost all performance metrics.”
Full Citation: AlKetbi LB, et al. Assessing the impact of adopting a competency-based medical education framework on educational outcomes in a family medicine residency program in Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates. Frontiers in Medicine. 2024.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1257213
The Role of ACGME International in Enhancing Opportunities of Residents for Advanced Subspecialty Training — Journal of Graduate Medical Education
”There is one value, however, that is universally noted across all ACGME-I-accredited institutions: the potential to improve and expand training opportunities for residents and fellows, both within and external to the local Sponsoring Institution… Over time, we expect that as fellowship programs in the United States and elsewhere gain experience and familiarity with ACGME-I residency graduates, educational relationships will form across institutions and the opportunities for exchange of trainees will grow.”
Full Citation: Arrighi JA, Lewis LC, Nasca TJ. The Role of ACGME-International in Enhancing Opportunities of Residents for Advanced Subspecialty Training. Journal of Grad Med Educ. 2024. http://dx.doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-24-00150.1
ACGME International: The First 10 Years — Journal of Graduate Medical Education
”The most immediate effect of ACGME-I accreditation has been felt by the trainees themselves… Much of the benefits to residents can be summarized as structure—with a road map and milestones to knowing what a person is to learn, when supervision is necessary, where to turn when help is needed, and how to resolve grievances with program or institutional leadership… Graduating from an ACGME-I accredited program has also led to eligibility, in many circumstances, for subspecialty training when not available in one's own country.”
Full Citation: Day S, Nasca TJ. ACGME International: The First 10 years. Journal of Grad Med Educ. 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-19-00432
The Positive Effects of Accreditation on Graduate Medical Education Programs in Singapore — Journal of Graduate Medical Education
”Analysis of the combined items showed significant improvement over the 7 years Singaporean programs had [ACGME-I] accreditation… Implementation of accreditation in Singapore provided educational and clinical learning environment infrastructure not present prior to 2010, with the benefits of this reflected in residents' perceptions of their learning environment.”
Full Citation: Holt KD, Miller RS, Byrne LM, Day SH. The positive Effects of Accreditation on Graduate Medical Education Programs in Singapore. Journal of Grad Med Educ. 2019.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-19-00429
The Successful, Rapid Transition to a New Model of Graduate Medical Education in Singapore — Academic Medicine
”The intellectual, material, and human resources operating in the field of medical education needed to be managed with structure and accountability. This was offered by the principles of administration in GME laid out in the ACGME-I accreditation requirements… Our experience suggests that external accreditation, if appropriately funded, led, and supported, can act as a powerful stimulus for change in GME programs.”
Full Citation: Huggan PJ, et al. The Successful, Rapid Transition to a New Model of Graduate Medical Education in Singapore. Academic Medicine. 2012.
https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0b013e3182621aec