CanMEDS is an educational framework identifying and describing seven Roles that lead to optimal physician performance, care delivery and health care outcomes: Medical Expert (central Role), Communicator, Collaborator, Leader (formerly Manager), Health Advocate, Scholar and Professional.The overarching goal of CanMEDS is to improve patient care. The CanMEDS model has been adopted in Canada and internationally, both in and outside the health professions, making it the most recognized and widely applied health profession competency framework in the world. In Canada, the framework is used by residents in all medical specialties as part of their postgraduate training, and it provides the foundation for the exam and accreditation processes.Since its adoption, the CanMEDS Framework has been updated twice; most recently in 2015.The CanMEDS 2015 Framework has been endorsed by 12 Canadian medical organizations who will work to adapt and integrate CanMEDS for their specific context. What areas has the Framework changed from the previous version (2005)?-The addition of complementary milestones is arguably the largest change between the 2005 and 2015 versions of the CanMEDS 2015 Framework. The milestones will be available in an online companion document, the CanMEDS Milestones Guide, and unlike the Framework they will undergo continual revision as educators modify the milestones for their specific specialty.-New themes have been introduced, such as patient safety, quality improvement, handovers, and eHealth.-A renewed emphasis on the overall coherence of the framework and on its practical application.-Role descriptions and definitions are expressed in simpler, more direct language.-Overlapping areas between Roles have been minimized.-Competencies and milestones describe the abilities to be demonstrated in practice, as distinct from the information or content related to aspects of a Role.
About the Author: Dr. Jason R. Frank is a clinician-educator focussing on aspects of health profession training. Jason is the Director, Specialty Education, Strategy and Standards in the Office of Specialty Education at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, as well as Vice-Chair, Education and the Director of Educational Research & Development in the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa. An associate professor at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, cross-appointed to the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa and the Department of Graduate Studies, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Known for his work on the CanMEDS Project since 1994, and recipient of the 2013 Council Award Honouring Outstanding Physicians, from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Jonathan Sherbino is an emergency physician and trauma team leader at McMaster University. He is a senior Clinician Educator with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada where he is involved in many projects, including: leading the CBD Outcomes (Evaluation) Project; co-editing the CanMEDS 2015 Framework; and co-chairing the International Conference on Residency Education. He is also a member of the Royal College Specialty Committee for Emergency Medicine. An adjunct scientist with Program for Education Research and Development and associate professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, his education research focuses on diagnostic reasoning. Jonathan thinks he is a gnarly mountain biker, but his children think otherwise (and want him to never use that word again). Linda Snell is a Professor of Medicine and Core Faculty member of the Centre for Medical Education, McGill University. At McGill University she has served as Vice Chair (Education) in the Department of Medicine, Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine, Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, Director of the Undergraduate Internal Medicine program, Program Director of the General Internal Medicine Fellowship program, Director of the Postgraduate Core Competencies program, and Associate Physician-in-Chief of the McGill University Health Centre. At the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Dr. Snell is the Senior Clinician Educator for CanMEDS. She is currently co-chair of the International Conference on Residency Education.