AACOM/UNC Sheps Center GME Development Fellowship
The application cycle for this year's Fellowship is now closed.
Questions? Contact gme-initiatives@aacom.org
About the Fellowship
The AACOM Graduate Medical Education (GME) Development Fellowship is an innovative partnership designed to foster leaders in GME development between AACOM and the University of North Carolina (UNC) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Through this year-long interactive program, attendees will learn the latest on GME development strategies, collaborate with national experts, and craft capstone projects on GME development to support their institutions.
Advancing Graduate Medical Education: Highlights from the GME Development Fellowship Cohort II
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), in partnership with the UNC Sheps Center, continues to strengthen graduate medical education (GME) through the GME Development Fellowship, a national leadership program designed to support the development and sustainability of residency training programs across the United States.
The second fellowship cohort includes 26 fellows representing colleges of osteopathic medicine, health systems, community hospitals, workforce organizations, state institutions and rural health initiatives across the country and U.S. territories. Fellows bring expertise in residency education, program development, health policy and workforce planning, creating a diverse learning community focused on expanding physician training opportunities.
Through a combination of interactive virtual sessions and an in-person meeting at AACOM headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, in December 2025, fellows engaged in expert-led presentations, case-based learning and collaborative discussions addressing real-world challenges in GME development. The in-person session provided opportunities for deeper collaboration, networking and hands-on learning with faculty and peers.
Across the first six sessions (from October 2025 - March 2026), fellows explored topics central to building sustainable residency programs. Discussions examined the foundational elements of strong GME infrastructure, including leadership structures, faculty development, clinical training environments and long-term financial planning. Participants also explored strategies for communicating the value of GME to health systems and communities, highlighting how residency programs strengthen the physician workforce pipeline, improve patient care and support institutional growth.
Additional sessions focused on financial modeling and feasibility planning for new residency programs, including the use of proformas and strategies for identifying sustainable funding sources. Fellows also explored Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education sponsoring institution structures, governance models and consortia partnerships, along with state-level initiatives that support GME expansion through mechanisms such as Medicaid GME and workforce development programs.
A central component of the fellowship is the development of capstone projects that allow fellows to apply fellowship concepts to initiatives within their own institutions and communities. These projects address priorities such as expanding Osteopathic Recognition, developing rural residency programs, integrating telemedicine training, strengthening faculty development and scholarship, improving resident wellness and creating statewide GME technical assistance models.
The fellowship will conclude later this year with a capstone showcase highlighting innovative strategies to advance GME and expand residency training opportunities nationwide. View current fellows and
Commitment
This fellowship will consist of monthly 1.5 hour (October 2025-August 2026) interactive virtual case-based learning sessions and will pair fellows with GME experts to serve as mentors. Fellows must work with their mentor to compose their own capstone project in GME development.
Fellows are expected to attend the GME Development Fellowship Pre-conference Workshop on April 21 at Educating Leaders 2026, the AACOM Conference and will have the opportunity to attend an additional in-person session during Winter 2025. To receive certification of fellowship completion, participants must attend at least 80% of the sessions and complete and submit a capstone project specific to GME development.
Who Should Apply
Anyone charged with advancing GME development at their institution including:
- Senior Leadership Roles: Deans, GME Deans, Clinical Deans, Health System Leaders and Designated Institutional Officials (DIOs) directly involved in supporting GME development and expansion.
- State GME/Workforce Development Leaders: Individuals involved in shaping, funding, coordinating, or supporting statewide GME development and workforce development initiatives
- Aspiring Leaders: Individuals aiming to broaden or deepen their expertise in GME, including areas such as GME finance, state-based funding, and accreditation.
- Experienced GME Professionals: Individuals with significant experience in GME development seeking to fill gaps in their knowledge and skill set.
- Institutional GME Advocates: Anyone responsible for advancing GME development within their institution.
Cost
The program cost is $5,000. For the second pilot year, AACOM will fully subsidize the program cost for any individual from an AACOM member college of osteopathic medicine (COMs) who meet the minimum 80% attendance and capstone completion requirement. View the cost structure below:
| Participant Type | Price |
| Standard Tuition | $5,000 |
| AACOM Member COMs (full-time employees from AACOM member COM) | $0 |
| Proposed COMs | $1,500 |
| Non-Member Institutions (hospitals) | $1,500 |
| State / Government Entities | $1,500 |
Potential Education Topics
- Intro to GME Development – Site assessment timeline, strategy, getting started, roadmap, stories of GME programs launching
- Value of GME (why start GME)
- Create a learning community.
- Resources for GME development
- GME Finance: Beyond the Basics
- Grant Writing and Funding
- State GME Initiatives / Medicaid GME
- Governance/Partnerships
- Teaching Health Center GME 101 (requirements, structure, funding)
- Rural GME or Rural Track Training Programs (RTPs) 101 (structures, funding, prime rural hospitals)
- Sponsoring Institutions and Consortia
- GME Policy and Advocacy
- Program Accreditation 101
- Innovative GME Partnerships – Tribal, Veterans Affairs, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)
Application Information
Deadline to submit an application is September 26, 2025, by 11:59 PM, ET.
Questions? Contact gme-initiatives@aacom.org
GME Development Fellows
GME Development Fellows on the value of Graduate Medical Education.
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