Table 2.

Representative responses to ‘What qualities or factors need to be present in order for a GME training program to be considered elite?’.

Theme	Individual Responses
Research	Have a formal research requirement for the residents Research commitment by chairman and program director to value the resident’s time in pursuing a topic at depth during training Significant and consistent contributions to the literature Residents with publications and/or who win national awards
Faculty	National prominence of multiple faculty members Solid diverse faculty who are experienced Internationally recognized faculty
Clinical Exposure	No deficiencies in patient care opportunities Clinical exposure and successful clinical training first and foremost (evidenced by excellent board certification rates, graduates who are sought out, etc.) Excellent clinical reputation, breadth of clinical experience and research