Otolaryngology Competency-based Medical Education

Dr. Brian Rotenberg standing in an operating suite.

Residents entering Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery in July 2017 and beyond will experience competency-based training.

To contribute to the success of Canadian physicians and the delivery of high-quality patient care, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has embarked upon an initiative to introduce competency-based medical education (CBME) in Canadian postgraduate specialty training and in professional practice in Canada. This initiative, called Competence by Design (CBD), aims to enhance patient care by aligning medical education and lifelong learning with evolving patient needs and empowering learners to more fully engage in their education process.

CBD will use time as a framework rather than the basis for progression. It is not anticipated that the duration of training will change for the majority of trainees. Residency programs will be broken down into stages, and each stage will have a series of milestones based on required competencies. These milestones will create more targeted learning outcomes and involve more frequent, formative assessments within the clinical workplace to ensure residents are developing and receiving feedback on the skills they need.

Within a CBD program, all milestones (documented within Royal College ePortfolio) and the Royal College examinations must be successfully completed to achieve certification.  

For more information visit Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Competency-based Medical Education website or contact the Program Director, Dr. Brian Rotenberg. Dr. Rotenberg's information can be found on our Postgraduate Contact Us page.