Introduction
The clinical competency committee (CCC) is appointed by the residency program director. The core faculty include the program director and Vice Chair of Research, Dr. John Kestle, associate program director, Dr. Robert Rennert, and former program director, and Vice Chair of Education, Dr. Randy Jensen. The other appointed members represent subspecialty divisions within the department that have extensive exposure to our resident group. Dr. Jensen represents neurosurgical oncology; Dr. Iyer, pediatric neurosurgery; Dr. Mahan, peripheral nerve surgery; Dr. Andrew Dailey, spinal surgery; Dr. Ramesh Grandhi, endovascular neurosurgery; Dr. Sarah Menacho, trauma and critical care; and Dr. Shervin Rahimpour, functional neurosurgery.
 

Milestones
The CCC meets biannually, usually in early December and early June, to review all residents. At this review, all resident evaluations and any other documentation concerning individual performance are available to the CCC members. Using all the available information, a discussion of each resident is held to prepare and ensure reporting of the Milestone evaluation in preparation for submission to the ACGME. The CCC is responsible for determining the appropriate Milestone assignment for each resident, with the committee member from a given subspecialty having additional responsibility for guiding the committee’s assigned Milestone level for their particular subspecialty. For instance, all members assist in the determination of a given resident’s spinal surgery Milestone level, but Dr. Dailey, as spine division representative, has the final determination of the appropriate Milestone score. Program coordinators attend the meeting and participate in discussion of nonclinical aspects of the residents’ evaluations but are not voting members of the CCC.
 

Additional Responsibilities
Furthermore, the committee advises the program director regarding resident progress and provides assistance in decisions regarding promotion, remediation, and dismissal. Ultimately, the CCC assists the program director in the summative evaluation of each resident and verifies that the resident has demonstrated sufficient competence to enter practice without direct supervision.