UNMC’s Rowen Zetterman, M.D., has been appointed the chair of the governing board of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Dr. Zetterman, who has been on the ACGME board for five years, was nominated by the Association of American Medical Colleges, one of several nominating institutions, for his position on the board. He has previously served as vice chair and chair elect, and before that was a member of the ACGME board’s executive committee. He will serve two additional years as the chair.
UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., praised Dr. Zetterman for his “extremely prestigious” appointment.
“I am proud to see Dr. Zetterman, who has accomplished so much for his UNMC family, named to this key national leadership role,” Dr. Gold said. “He deserves our congratulations.”
As the chair, Dr. Zetterman will lead several initiatives that the ACGME is currently exploring. One of the most important is the drive to create a single accreditation system for both allopathic and osteopathic residencies. (Allopathic medical training awards the M.D.; osteopathic training awards the D.O.)
“Until two years ago, there were no osteopathic residencies only accredited by the ACGME,” he said. “To this point, the osteopathic residencies have been accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).”
But from 2015 to 2020, AOA representatives will be added to the ACGME board, and after 2020, both allopathic and osteopathic residencies will be accredited just by the ACGME.
Another initiative is to review the common program requirements for residencies. The common program requirements cover issues such as how many hours residents can work in succession, resident wellness issues, educational requirements and similar concerns.
“Then in addition, there’s a set of review committees that report to the board that can add additional responsibilities, so in gastroenterology, they have other requirements besides the common program requirements. So we’re reviewing those.”
Finally, the board is exploring its international component, in which the ACGME is beginning to accredit training in other countries.
Dr. Zetterman is pleased to be accepting the position.
“I think it also reflects well on the University of Nebraska,” he said. “But for me personally, it’s also a great opportunity to have an influence in something that I’ve worked at for the last 42 years. Education has been a crucial component of my job wherever I was . . . So it is an opportunity for me hopefully to make things better in all those residencies and make the life of the resident better along the way.”
Congrats Rowen!
Congrats, Rowen! You are truly one of our superstars!
Congrats Rowen!
Congratulations Rowen!! We, and the ACGME are extremely lucky to have you as one of our most inspirational leaders!
Congratulations! I feel honored to know you, and to have had you on my thesis committee way back when! Teri
Congratulations! You'll help to influence graduate education for many years to come.
Sam Bierner
Congratulations, Dr. Zetterman!
What a wonderful choice! Congratulations, Dr. Zetterman!
Congratulations, Dr Zetterman.
CONGRATULATIONS!