Program Director Selection or Transition

Although responsibility and authority for appointing new program directors rests with the Chair, the ACGME requires that the institution's Graduate Medical Education committee (Brigham and Women's Hospital Education Committee (BWHEC) or GME Subcommittee of the Executive Committee on Teaching and Education (GMEC) at Massachusetts General Hospital) approve the appointment of program directors.

Suggestions for Chairs:

• Where possible, plan transitions that allow time for a careful selection process and a smooth transfer of responsibility.
• Prepare a detailed job description and define the specific package to be offered. The job description must include requirements stipulated by the ACGME in both the “Common Program Requirements” and specialty program requirements. These may include Program Director credentials, time commitment, and specific responsibilities. The job description should also specify the frequency and manner of evaluation of the program director, in order to ensure that periodic constructive feedback is provided.
• Convene a Selection Committee to be advisory to the Chair. Consider including:
  • one or more trainees from the program
  • one or more program faculty
  • the department's residency program director (if selecting a fellowship program director)
  • a program director from another department
  • a representative from Mass General Brigham GME.
• If no well-qualified internal candidate is available, the position should be advertised widely so that outstanding candidates can be identified through a national search (e.g., NEJM, specialty journals, letters to other department chairs soliciting suggestions, etc.). In some cases it may be advisable to conduct a national search even where qualified internal candidates exist.

Criteria for Evaluating Candidates:

• Commitment to graduate medical education
• Excellent administrative skills, management ability and leadership qualities
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including communication and collaboration
• Keen understanding of and enthusiasm for the program director role and responsibilities
• Excellence in teaching
• Suitable clinical, research and/or administrative work to complement program director activities, if these are part-time
• Prior experience as a program director or academic medical center faculty member
• Fulfillment of specific program RRC requirements (e.g., minimum experience as faculty member)

Role of the Education Committee:

• Before a candidate's selection is finalized, the appointing Department Chair should send the completed “PD Transition Form” to the appropriate GME Director, which outlines the rationale, the selection process, the qualifications of the proposed candidate, and the resources (financial and administrative) being allocated for the role. (Negotiations may be ongoing, contingent upon committee approval.)
• If the process of identifying the chosen candidate did not involve a representative of the institution’s education committee or GME Office, the GME Director will arrange for the candidate to be interviewed on behalf of the Education Committee before the Committee evaluates the proposed appointment
• The education committee will review (i) the PD Change Form completed by the Department Chair; (ii) the candidate's CV; and (iii) the job description. The GME Director and/or interviewer will provide comments to the education committee, and the committee will vote.
• If/when the Department Chair confirms the appointment, the ACGME will be notified of the education committee’s endorsement of the new Program Director appointment.

Approved 11/17/05, Mass General Brigham Education Committee; Revised 10/2012

Form, Job Description, and Role

Program Director Role

Program Director Job Description template

Program Director Transition form

 This page reviewed 3/31/21.