Postgraduate Medical Education Governance and Committees

Postgraduate medical education (PGME) at McGill is governed by a network of committees that together provide the leadership, oversight, and accountability our residency, Area of Focused Competence (AFC), and fellowship programs require.

At the centre is the Faculty Postgraduate Education Committee (FPGEC), the central decision-making body for PGME. Reporting to it are standing committees, subcommittees, advisory groups, and operational committees with expertise in trainee progression, competency-based medical education, resource allocation, accreditation, continuous improvement, and equity. Together they keep our programs aligned with accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, and Faculty priorities — including social accountability, equity, and safe, high-quality learning environments.

For each committee below you will find who it reports to, who chairs it, what it does, how often it meets, and a link to its Terms of Reference.

→ PGME Committee Structure: Organization Chart (PDF)

PGME Committees and Terms of Reference

Faculty Postgraduate Education Committee (FPGEC)

Chaired by: Dr. Leon Tourian, Associate Dean, PGME

The FPGEC is the central decision-making body for postgraduate medical education (PGME) at McGill. It oversees, supports, and continuously improves all residency, Area of Focused Competence (AFC), and fellowship programs.

The Committee ensures that our programs meet the accreditation standards and regulatory requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), and AFC programs; align with the Faculty’s and School’s mission, including its commitment to social accountability; are delivered in safe, inclusive, and high-quality learning environments; and respond to the evolving health needs of the populations we serve.

→ FPGEC Terms of Reference (PDF)

Faculty Postgraduate Promotions Committee (FPPC)

Reports to: Dr. Leon Tourian, Associate Dean, PGME · Chaired by: Dr. Douglass Dalton, Chair, Faculty Postgraduate Promotions Committee

The FPPC is a standing committee that reviews files involving remediation, probation, and dismissal. Its role is to ensure that PGME’s assessment and promotion policies are applied consistently, equitably, and transparently across all residency and AFC programs.

The Committee considers cases of academic and non-academic difficulty, including professionalism concerns, and provides oversight of trainee progression and promotion decisions in accordance with PGME regulations. Residents whose files come before the Committee are entitled to procedural fairness at every stage and may seek confidential support from PGME Learner Affairs.

→ FPPC Terms of Reference (PDF)

Resource Allocation Committee (RAC)

Reports to: FPGEC · Chaired by: Dr. Leon Tourian, Associate Dean, PGME

The RAC supports the equitable, transparent, and data-informed allocation of resources across residency and fellowship programs. It reviews resource requests and advises on funding distribution, weighing program needs, eligibility criteria, equity, access, and the learning environment.

→ RAC Terms of Reference (PDF)

PGME Advisory Committee

Reports to: FPGEC · Chaired by: Dr. Leon Tourian, Associate Dean, PGME

The PGME Advisory Committee is an executive-level subcommittee that reviews PGME policies, procedures, and educational matters before they go to the FPGEC for approval. It provides strategic advice on PGME governance and priorities, and serves as a forum for discussing emerging issues and opportunities.

→ Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (PDF)

PGME Operations Committee (POC)

Chaired by: Dr. Leon Tourian, Associate Dean, PGME

The POC is the main operational forum for PGME leadership. It aligns priorities, coordinates initiatives, and supports implementation of the directives of the Associate Dean, PGME and the FPGEC.

The Committee facilitates communication across PGME portfolios, reviews initiatives for alignment and feasibility, identifies operational issues, and monitors progress to keep execution coordinated and effective.

→ POC Terms of Reference (PDF)

Equity, Diversity, Social Accountability, and Anti-Racism Committee (EDSAR)

Reports to: FPGEC · Chaired by: Dr. Patrick Willemot, Equity, Diversity, Social Accountability, and Anti-Racism Theme Lead

The EDSAR Committee advises the Associate Dean, PGME and the FPGEC on equity, anti-racism, Indigenous health, social accountability, and culturally safe learning environments. It supports the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and initiatives that make postgraduate medical education more inclusive and safer for everyone who learns and teaches within it.

→ EDSAR Terms of Reference (PDF)

PGME Continuous Improvement Committee (PCIC)

Reports to: Dr. Leon Tourian, Associate Dean, PGME and FPGEC · Chaired by: Dr. Gabriela Ghitulescu, Assistant Dean, PGME Accreditation & Ms. Theresa Beesley, Senior Evaluation and Quality Improvement Lead

The PCIC leads the institutional continuous improvement process for residency and AFC programs. It oversees PGME’s continuous improvement framework, supports program-level improvement initiatives, reviews data to identify system-wide opportunities, and promotes alignment with Canadian Residency Accreditation Consortium (CanRAC) accreditation standards.

→ PCIC Terms of Reference (PDF)

Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) Advisory Committee

Reports to: FPGEC · Chaired by: Dr. Elizabeth Hazel, Assistant Dean, CBME

The CBME Advisory Committee brings together Competence Committee Chairs, Program Directors, and educational leaders to support alignment, collaboration, and continuous improvement in competency-based medical education. It provides a forum for shared learning, promotes consistency and quality in how residents are assessed and advanced, and supports the ongoing improvement of CBME implementation across PGME programs.

→ CBME Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (PDF)

PGME Accreditation Committee – DRAFT

Reports to: FPGEC · Chaired by: Dr. Gabriela Ghitulescu, Assistant Dean, PGME Accreditation

→ PGME Accreditation Committee Terms of Reference (under development)

PD Awards Committee – DRAFT

Reports to: Associate Dean, PGME · Chaired by: [to confirm]

→ PD Awards Committee Terms of Reference (under development)