As we reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, we are pleased to share our progress in two critical areas: the European Exam for Internal Medicine and the revision of the European Training Requirements of Internal Medicine.
European Exam for Internal Medicine
During the last 12 months, the European Board of Internal Medicine (EBIM) has completed a tendering process to procure a provider for their project to find a host for the European exam for Internal Medicine. This has been done with the full support of both the executives of EFIM and UEMS. After a call for submissions to meet the requirements laid out in the tendering documents, eight proposals were received for consideration. Following a review of these applications, four were invited to present to EBIM. From the final two organisations, a final decision was made to appoint the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) to proceed to a contractual negotiation.
The RCPI brings with it a wealth of experience in administering international examinations in Internal Medicine at a postgraduate level. Their proven track record, coupled with their robust infrastructure for exam creation, hosting, and statistical analysis, positions them as an ideal partner for EBIM.
As we move forward, plans are underway to establish an exam board, standard setting, and question writing groups. Through a call to the National Societies of Internal Medicine, Individuals have been identified to form these groups and will be called upon when the process of developing the exam moves in to an active phase. This will happen when the terms of reference between EFIM and UEMS are completed and a contract with the RCPI is signed.
Revision of the ETR of Internal Medicine
Recognizing the need to adapt to the evolving landscape of healthcare, EBIM has initiated the revision of the European Training Requirements (ETR) of Internal Medicine. Since its adoption in October 2016, it has become apparent that updates are necessary to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in preparing future internists. To this end, we have assembled a diverse group of 32 delegates from 15 National Societies of Internal Medicine, including representatives from the Young Internists, to contribute to this important endeavor.
Together, these delegates have identified fourteen key areas for consideration in updating the curriculum:
-Bedside skills/Point of Care Ultrasound
-Community Engagement/Medical Misinformation/Social Media
-Diagnostic and Therapeutic excellence/Management reasoning
-Nutrition
-Simulation and Serious Gaming
-Wellness of Trainees
-Interprofessional Training/Collaborative Practice/Other Specialties Comanagement/Transition of care
-Medical Ethics
-Multimorbidity/Deprescribing/EoL Decision Making
-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
-Digital Literacy/Digital Health
-Medical Leadership
-Adolescent and Gender-sensitive Care
-Green and Sustainable Medicine
Each topic has been allocated to a dedicated group tasked with proposing revisions for consideration.
Our working group commenced its efforts in October 2023, with a targeted goal of presenting a draft of the revised curriculum to UEMS and EFIM for feedback by late 2025. Subsequently, we aim to formally present the revised curriculum for adoption at the UEMS Council in April 2026.
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As we navigate the complexities of modern medicine, collaboration and innovation remain paramount. EBIM is committed to fostering excellence in internal medicine education and practice across Europe, and we are grateful for the continued support and dedication of our colleagues, EFIM and UEMS.