- Why is the AAMC doing this? What problems will this solve? The AAMC Resident Readiness Survey (RRS) eliminates the need for schools to create and administer local surveys and reduces the number of school-specific surveys that are sent to Program Directors (PDs). It also assists medical schools with their continuous quality improvement processes and the evaluation of the school’s overall effectiveness in preparing students for graduate medical education. Ultimately, the AAMC Resident Readiness Survey streamlines the feedback between schools and programs during the transition from UME to GME.
- What is timing of this project? Each academic year, the AAMC surveys Program Directors (PDs) from January through March during the first milestone reporting period. Reports are available each April.
- How does the Resident Readiness Survey work? A medical school chooses to participate by signing a participation agreement with the AAMC. The agreement describes AAMC and medical school responsibilities for the survey and includes data use limitations and a limitation on the school conducting its own PGY-1 survey. Program Directors (PDs) log into GME Track and access a tab for the AAMC Resident Readiness Survey. Each resident’s name links to a PGY-1 survey for that resident. Only those residents that are eligible (meaning they graduated from a school that is participating in the program) will be listed.
- What are the differences between the ACGME milestones data and AAMC Resident Readiness Survey data? Although the ACGME milestones report and the Resident Readiness Survey both assess resident performance, they are unique in several ways. First, each is assessing a different construct, has a different intention or use case, and a different target audience. The milestones data are collected by the ACGME, an accrediting body, and their completion is an accreditation requirement. Participation in the AAMC RRS is voluntary, and the AAMC explicitly agrees with participating schools not to share RRS data with any accrediting body. The primary intent of the milestones data collection is to provide feedback for the program and institution, as well as to provide formative feedback intended to be shared with the trainee. The RRS provides feedback to participating medical schools for curricular quality improvement. Furthermore, the ACGME milestones collect data for all graduates of the school who completed PGY-1 training in a particular year, whereas the RRS includes only recent graduates who: entered GME immediately after graduation, who started an ERAS application, who are from a participating school, and who have GME Track records. The milestones data are provided to schools in aggregate by specialty. Individual-level data may also be provided to schools for those students who gave consent (as obtained by the school) for the ACGME to share their identified milestones data. Contrastingly, identified individual-level RRS data are provided to participating schools for each graduate for whom a PD completed the survey.
- If a learner does not want their program director to complete a resident readiness survey about them, what is the process for the learner to make sure their program director knows this and does not complete the survey? Students/residents may opt out of the process. Those who start an ERAS application, starting with the 2020 ERAS Cycle, are informed that their assessment data for PGY-1 may be collected by the AAMC and provided to their medical school of graduation, subject to certain conditions. If an ERAS applicant does not want to participate in the RRS, they may email privacy@aamc.org and request to opt out. PDs will only receive requests for surveys of those residents who: 1) started at least one ERAS application (and hence, were notified of the process); 2) are NOT on the opt-out list; 3) graduated from a participating school (i.e., has signed an agreement with the AAMC), and 4) were verified by their program in GME Track. A resident may also make a request to their program director to not complete the survey. It is entirely up to the PD to decide whether to abide by the request. The AAMC is not involved in that decision.
- Will the PD be required to participate? No, participation is voluntary. Further, it is the responsibility of the PD to determine whether the PD may share feedback per institutional policy. This is the current state with all school-generated surveys sent to program directors about resident readiness.
- What will the AAMC do with the data? The AAMC provides the data to the medical school of graduation for each resident by creating a school-specific report, including identified (by resident name) data. For MD-granting medical schools, the reports are available to specified medical school contacts via a secure portal – the Medical School Profile System (MSPS). For DO-granting medical schools, the reports are delivered to specified medical school contacts via a secure file transfer system. The AAMC may also use the data for its own presentations, publications, and analysis, subject to the AAMC Privacy Statement and the participation agreement.
- Will the national data be published in aggregate or somehow placed in the public domain? Each year, the AAMC publishes the national Resident Readiness Survey Report publicly on the RRS website. The AAMC does not share individual, program, or school identified data with the public or with accrediting bodies.
- How long does the survey take to complete? The survey takes, on average, under 3 minutes to complete one survey per PGY-1 resident.
- How long will the data be stored? The AAMC will store the data indefinitely or as long as the data are useful.
- Is our UME or GME training program going to be compared to other programs on the basis of these data? These data will be used only for continuous quality improvement of the curriculum or for research and will not be used for “ranking” UME or GME programs based on the program-director assessed readiness of the residents in the program.
- Is there a fee to participate? No.
- My school prefers to use our own survey. How does our school opt out of having the AAMC collect data about our graduates in this national survey? A school must forego sending its own PGY-1 survey if it agrees to participate. If a school does not participate, the AAMC will not collect data on its graduates and that school may collect its own data. The participation agreement does not preclude schools from sending program director surveys about their graduates beyond the PGY-1 year of training.
- As a program director, I want to get consent from my residents first before I complete any surveys about them. Will the AAMC please provide a form for me to do so? See #5 above for related information. The AAMC is not providing a standardized form. Please consult with your legal and human resources advisors about what permission is appropriate.
- Who will the RRS data be sent to at my school? Each school identifies individuals they wish to be listed as official RRS data contacts. These individuals can access the reports via MSPS. For those schools without access to MSPS (i.e., DO-granting participating schools), a report will be shared directly via secure email.
- We share our own school’s survey results with numerous individuals at our school. Are there any limitations placed on how we can use and share the RRS data from the AAMC? Yes, there are restrictions on the use of the data. Please refer to the participation agreement for the specific terms.
- What is the plan for following up with non-respondent PDs? Our school sends three reminders. Will the AAMC do this? If we don’t get information via the AAMC survey for particular graduates, can the school then follow up directly with the program directors? The AAMC sends multiple reminders to increase response rates. We ask that schools participating in the project not survey or follow up directly with PDs.
- We would like to use our survey data for research purposes. How can we use our own RRS data for research? The pilot participation agreements from 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 do not permit the use of data for research purposes. However, starting with the recurring agreement in 2022-2023, data from the survey may be used for research purposes if: “(i) the research is conducted in an ethical manner consistent with an institution’s own research policies, requirements or guidance of any applicable institutional review board, and general principles for the ethical conduct of research, and (ii) any resulting publications or presentations do not identify, either explicitly or passively, any individual graduates or programs.” Additionally, per the participation agreement, institutions: “will not share the Survey Data with any third party, including but not limited to the resident(s) about whom the Survey Data relate or other medical schools, except that Institution may share aggregate data derived from the Survey Data with accrediting bodies for continuous quality improvement purposes.” If you have any questions about permitted uses, or if you have interest in working with the AAMC to request data for research purposes, please contact residentreadiness@aamc.org.
- How will the AAMC assure medical schools that these RRS data will not be used for comparative or ranking purposes? The AAMC will not provide resident, school, or program identified data to accrediting bodies, and it will not publish any resident, school, or program identified data.
- Can I request specific items be included on the Resident Readiness Survey? The RRS does not allow for customization by school. Survey items have been designed and reviewed by hundreds of stakeholders. Each year, the survey instrument will be made available publicly on the RRS website.
- Who should I contact if I have additional questions? Additional questions about the program should be directed to ResidentReadiness@aamc.org.
- Which medical schools participated in the program in 2025-2026?
A. T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Albany Medical College
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU
Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine
Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
California Northstate University College of Medicine
California University of Science and Medicine-School of Medicine
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Creighton University School of Medicine
CUNY School of Medicine
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Drexel University College of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Florida State University College of Medicine
Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Howard University College of Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Erie
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Marian University Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Meharry Medical College
Mercer University School of Medicine
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York Medical College
Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Ohio State University College of Medicine
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah
Stanford University School of Medicine
State University of New York Upstate Medical University Alan and Marlene Norton College of Medicine
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine
Texas A&M University College of Medicine
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Harlem
Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine
Tulane University School of Medicine
Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
University of California, Davis, School of Medicine
University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine
University of Central Florida College of Medicine
University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
University of Colorado School of Medicine
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
University of Florida College of Medicine
University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
University of Illinois College of Medicine
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
University of Louisville School of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine
University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
University of Michigan Medical School
University of Minnesota Medical School
University of Mississippi School of Medicine
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
University of Nebraska College of Medicine
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
University of Virginia School of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Weill Cornell Medicine
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine