https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9643-7690
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Abstract
Purpose
The Association of American Medical Colleges published Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs), expected independent clinical skills for first-day interns. We sought to determine whether a required acting internship (AI) in the fourth-year curriculum could be used for summative assessment of students’ mastery of Core EPAs to a predefined level that would readily generalize across disciplines and campuses.
Methods
The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences MD Program created a standardized, required Core EPA-based AI curriculum for multiple specialties at multiple geographic sites providing a final entrustability assessment for 10 EPAs in a single course.
Results
The course was successfully designed and launched for all students in a single class. During the AI, students functioned at the level of an acting intern, rated the courses as superior, and performed at satisfactory exit-level competence for 10 Core EPAs.
Conclusions
A standardized, EPA-based AI curriculum can provide an opportunity for exit level EPA assessment in the medical curriculum. This model functions well within multiple specialties and at diverse community-based, volunteer faculty teaching sites.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Susan K. Zelewski
S.K. Zelewski, MD, MEHP, is Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Assistant Dean Northeast Campus, and Assistant Dean Phase 2/3, School of Medicine and the Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Marc D. Basson
M.D. Basson, MD, PhD, MBA, is Professor, Departments of Surgery, Biomedical Sciences, and Pathology, and Senior Associate Dean for Medicine and Research, School of Medicine and the Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota.