Organization of Program Directors Associations (OPDA)

OPDA is dedicated to promoting the role of the residency program director and program director societies in achieving excellence in graduate medical education. One PD representative from each core specialty, along with principle figures from AAMC, NRMP, ACGME, and ERAS, meet during the biannual CMSS meetings. These meetings are a combination of “coming next” presentations from the aforementioned organizations to the PD group, as well as Q&A and discussion among all parties present.

OPDA Goals:

  • Improve the quality of resident education.
  • Promote excellence in the art and science of resident education in all specialties.
  • Represent residency program directors at a national level and provide a political voice in appropriate arenas.
  • Promote communication and cooperation between residency programs, residency program societies, and other members of the graduate medical education community.
  • Enhance the administrative operation of residency programs and residency program societies.
  • Develop the leadership skills and expertise of program directors and program director societies.
  • Support and enhance the mission of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) in improving graduate medical education (GME).

OPDA Objectives to achieve these goals are:

  • Identify one liaison representative from each program director society (or chair society if no separate program director society) for each specialty with a distinct RRC. The liaison representative should be a member of, or have a direct reporting responsibility to, the board of directors of the program director (or chair) society.
  • Meet regularly for peer interaction, information sharing and collaborative problem solving.
  • Sponsor periodic symposia and meetings on timely GME issues.
  • Identify representatives to act as OPDA liaisons with organizations that regulate and impact GME.
  • Coordinate all OPDA activities with the CMSS and its Executive Committee.

SAAAPM/AACPD Representative:

Timothy R. Long, MD
Mayo Clinic Rochester