Message from the Chair

It has been a great pleasure to serve on ECFMG's Board of Trustees in recent years. During the past year, it has been my privilege to serve as Chair of the Board. My experiences with ECFMG have been overwhelmingly positive, and the past year is no exception. ECFMG's role of evaluating the qualifications of international medical graduates entering U.S. graduate medical education continues to be a critical one. Through this role, the organization has developed expertise, which it shares through partnerships with others in the fields of medical education and assessment. These partnerships are exciting opportunities to contribute to excellence in medical education worldwide.

ECFMG's partnership with the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) to develop a clinical skills exam for the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) was an important focus of our activity during 2002, and we were successful in reaching important milestones in this process. Throughout the year, we enjoyed productive discussions and planning sessions with our NBME counterparts. These discussions have been critical in determining the nature and scope of this collaboration and use of the new exam by the USMLE and other potential clients. As part of the collaboration, the two organizations jointly established a second Clinical Skills Assessment Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The establishment of the second center enabled ECFMG and the NBME to conduct final field trials and inter-site variability studies for the new exam in the fall of 2002. The result of this partnership will be an important new tool for ensuring that physicians possess the clinical and communication skills essential to the safe and effective practice of medicine.

The past year also provided a wonderful opportunity to meet with members of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc. (FSMB). A joint meeting of ECFMG's Board of Trustees and the Federation's Board of Directors was held in October. The meeting served to develop relationships among members of the two Boards. It also provided important opportunities for both organizations to explore common goals and areas of mutual interest and activity. I am pleased that this meeting has initiated dialogues between members of ECFMG and the FSMB. These dialogues are ongoing, and we look forward to working with the Federation on projects that contribute to the goals of both organizations.

ECFMG also continues to support collaboration and the sharing of knowledge with international colleagues, through the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER®). FAIMER was established in 2000 to support ECFMG's goal of promoting excellence in international medical education. In 2002, the ECFMG Board of Trustees authorized additional resources to ensure the continued smooth development and operation of the Foundation's activities. FAIMER offers exchange and consultative programs for international medical educators, medical schools, and other organizations concerned with medical education and health care. These programs provide participants with knowledge and skills that are essential to enhancing their medical education programs. FAIMER will also pursue research and development of important information resources for medical education, and will share these resources broadly.

Such collaborative opportunities are important for ECFMG, its partners, and, ultimately, for the advancement of medical education and health care worldwide. It has been very rewarding to play a role in these endeavors during the past year, and we will work to ensure their continued success in the coming year. For an organization characterized by such expertise, energy, and commitment, there are many opportunities for making a difference. I look forward to new opportunities for promoting excellence in international medical education and to working with ECFMG's Trustees and staff to ensure that we are ready to meet these challenges.

N. Lynn Eckhert, M.D., Dr.P.H.
Chair, Board of Trustees
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates