Interview with Eric S. Holmboe, MD, MACP, FRCP and Steven James Durning, MD, PhD, MACP

How has Practical Guide to the Assessment of Clinical Competence, 3rd edition evolved since the previous edition? How has it evolved since the first edition?

A lot! First, it has more pages LOL. Second, the growth of research and evidence around work-based assessment (WBA) has grown significantly – this is a really good thing. WBA science, in comparison to traditional psychometrics, is still a relatively young science, but I firmly believe that we must advance this science for the benefit of patients and learners. We’ve included this in the new edition. Finally, we have added important new chapters such programmatic assessment and others.

What is the most exciting aspect of the Practical Guide to the Assessment of Clinical Competence, 3rd edition? What chapter or topic covered in the new edition are you most excited about? 

We like the way the book functions as a comprehensive package, yet we feel at the same time readers can take away helpful information from each chapter independently. We like the way the book facilitates the practical application of evidence and theory.

Who will find the greatest value from Practical Guide to the Assessment of Clinical Competence, 3rd edition and why? Has the audience changed since the book first published?

Anyone with responsibilities for assessment in health professions education (HPE). HPE leaders responsible for programs and systems of assessment will hopefully the Practical Guide to the Assessment of Clinical Competence, 3rd edition particularly helpful. We also think that certificate and degree learners in medical or health professions education will find this book helpful.

What new ideas, practices, or procedures would you like to highlight for the Practical Guide to the Assessment of Clinical Competence, 3rd edition? 

We are excited about the expansion of concepts around competency-based medical education, the incorporation of coproduction as a part of an assessment system, the chapters on assessing clinical reasoning, and the substantial updates across all chapters.

What problem do you hope the future generation of your specialty will be able to solve? 

Leverage assessment much more effectively to concomitantly improve clinical and educational outcomes.
More evidence informed education surrounding assessment in classroom and work based settings. Improved faculty development to meet contemporary and future challenges.

Is there anything else about the Practical Guide to the Assessment of Clinical Competence, 3rd edition you’d like to say? 

We tried very hard to provide practice advice and resources, such as online materials, videos, tools, and the annotated bibliography at the end of each chapter. We hope Practical Guide to the Assessment of Clinical Competence, 3rd edition will help readers to address their assessment challenges. We see this as an applied textbook.

About the Editors

Eric Holmboe is the President and CEO of Intealth, currently based in Philadelphia. With over 25 years of experience, he has built a distinguished career at the intersection of medical education and clinical care. Trained as a general internist and health services researcher, Eric has developed a keen interest in understanding the interdependence between the quality of medical education, physician competence, and the safety and quality of clinical care. His primary focus has been to explore and improve these areas, with a particular emphasis on assessment as a critical component of this equation.

Steven J. Durning serves as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Professions Education (HPE) and is also the Director of the Center for HPE in Bethesda, MD. Like Eric, Steven was trained as a general internist, but his academic journey also includes earning a PhD in Education as an educational scholar. His research interests span the assessment of individuals and programs, clinical reasoning, and educational theory. In addition to his scholarly work, Steven focuses on translating educational research into improved patient care. He notes that as an employee of the Department of Defense, the views expressed in his work do not represent those of the Department of Defense or the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

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