January 29, 2019

New Absence from Training Policy is Effective July 1

1/29/19 – The Board of Directors voted to affirm the revised Absence from Training policy during its January Board meeting. Upon reviewing the feedback from nearly 2,000 residents, program directors, program coordinators, department chairs and diplomates, the Board felt it was appropriate to move forward, providing FAQs and guidelines to assist the programs with the policy’s implementation. The new policy will go into effect on July 1.

Residents who responded to a survey seeking feedback on the policy overwhelmingly support it as do nearly half of the program directors and department chairs who responded. Both audiences noted that the policy meets residents’ needs during training. However, some respondents raised concerns about the policy’s potential to negatively impact clinical experiences and create operational challenges. The FAQs and guidelines are designed to address these concerns and provide guidance for the programs.

We recognize the challenges the policy may pose; however, we believe it is in the best interest of our trainees and the patients they serve to provide additional time away from training in extenuating circumstances. The Board of Directors would like to once again thank those who contributed to the conversation about this critically important issue.