Educational Program Objectives
Educational program objectives (EPOs) are the comprehensive framework of competencies (i.e., outcomes) adopted and implemented by U.S. medical schools to guide all aspects of their medical school work. The EPOs are used as the “backbone” of all curricular priority areas by:
- Providing the basis for curricular content,
- Highlighting the areas for a fully integrated curricular design (horizontal and vertical),
- Facilitating a “backwards” curricular design for all courses and clinical experiences,
- Providing the foundation and strategies for methods of assessment, and,
- Outlining the vision for the overall education program.
The Liaison Committee for Medical Education expects medical schools to intentionally design the comprehensive framework of EPOs, link these EPOs to assessments, and ensure that all learners and educators are aware of and use these EPOs in educationally-related processes.
The VTCSOM EPOs were revised and approved through curricular governance in 2023 as part of the Medical Education Strategic Planning Task Force. The VTCSOM EPOs are informed by several existing frameworks: ACGME Domains of Competence, AAMC Taxonomy of Competency Domains and Competencies, the Coalition for Physician Accountability Recommendations and Report, ACGME Harmonized Milestones 2.0, AAMC Entrustable Professional Activities, and AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students.
Click here to view a PDF of the VTCSOM Educational Program Objectives.