New Competency-Based Assessment Unit Created at NBME

Posted September 30, 2020

A new unit at NBME with dedicated resources to competency-based assessment of learners and practicing health care professionals has been created.

“Over the past two years, we have taken a number of steps to engage medical educators and others on the front lines of curricula and health care delivery,” Lisa Rawding, MBA, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Management, said. “This new unit will develop and deliver a range of assessments that support the comprehensive development of all the important competencies for health care professionals.”

Under the leadership of Michael Barone, MD, MPH, Vice President of Competency-Based Assessment, this new unit will build collaborative relationships with the global medical education community and develop partnerships with assessment and technology innovators to catalyze competency-based medical education and training. Dr. Barone assumed leadership of this unit on Sept. 1, 2020 and will gradually transition from his current position as Vice President for Licensure into this new position over the remainder of 2020.

“As medicine evolves, so does the expected range of competencies essential for patient care,” Barone said. “The national discussion convened through the Invitational Conference on USMLE Scoring as well as the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic have only confirmed this. Therefore, NBME was motivated to expedite plans to launch a unit focused on promoting the competency development that ultimately benefits patients, learners and their changing needs.”

The new unit will also support assessment improvements across the undergraduate medical education-to-graduate medical education continuum. New initiatives will foster innovation in assessment at sites of training and care.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, NBME has continued to execute on its key programs that support curricula as well as licensure by providing assessments via alternate delivery modes for medical schools and examinees; this includes implementing changes within its Customized Assessment Services, Subject Examinations and United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) programs.

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