Badging in the M.D. Curriculum
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Badging is part of the required curriculum in the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) program. Digital badges are designed to be shared and displayed on various online platforms, such as LinkedIn or personal portfolios, providing a visual and verifiable record of learning and accomplishment. Badges are used to measure competencies that are difficult to assess in traditional ways, such as attitudes and skills that develop over time. Students demonstrate competencies by engaging in activities as prescribed by the earning criteria for each badge. Earners of Level 1 Badges have shown proven competency in the respective subject matter; they are invited to pursue deeper expertise through earning Level 2 (Expert) and Level 3 (Mastery) when those levels are available for a given badge. Required badges/badge levels must be completed in order to graduate from the M.D. program. Required badges/badge levels will appear in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), previously known as "The Dean's Letter." Badges in the UME program are delivered, managed, and assessed using the Anthology Milestone badging platform, an Open Badges 2.0 compliant program. Students are automatically enrolled into required badges during the first week of medical school. To enroll in additional, optional badges, students must contact the director of the badge (Badge Champion) to express their interest. For questions about joining a badge, see the badge contact information for the badges listed below. For questions about proposing a new badge, or support for accessing or interacting with Anthology Milestone, please contact Dr. Adrienne Salentiny or Dr. Richard Van Eck using the contact information below: Dr. Adrienne Salentiny Dr. Richard Van Eck |
ANTHOLOGY MILESTONE |
Required Badges in the M.D. Program
The IPC Badge is earned through participation in a combination of mandatory and optional curriculum across all three phases of the UME program. Students earn “points” for the current mandatory curriculum related to IPE/C and will earn additional points for participation in additional optional IPE/C curriculum. All students must reach Level 1, “Competency,” as part of the requirements of the UME program. Students who choose to pursue deeper expertise in IPC have the option to achieve levels 2 and 3.
The Interprofessional Collaboration badge has 3 levels; level 1 is required for the class of 2026 and beyond.
Contact: Dr. Eric Johnson
Visit the Office of Interprofessional Education for more information.
The Telehealth Badge is earned through participation in a combination of mandatory and optional curriculum across all three phases of the UME program. Students earn level 1 by completing a combination of current mandatory synchronous (face-to-face) and independent curriculum related to telehealth and will earn additional points for participation in additional optional telehealth curriculum. All students must reach Level 1, “Competency,” as part of the requirements of the UME program.
Level 1 of the Telehealth badge is required for the class of 2027 and beyond.
Contact: Dr. Richard Van Eck
Optional Badges in the M.D. Program
Students who choose to pursue deeper expertise in IPC have the option to achieve levels 2 and 3.
The Interprofessional Collaboration badge has 3 levels; level 1 is required for the class of 2026 and beyond.
Contact: Dr. Eric Johnson
Visit the Office of Interprofessional Education for more information.
The Medical Research Badge recognizes the development of research skills across foundational, applied, and advanced levels of competency. This program equips medical students with the tools needed to engage in scholarly inquiry throughout their careers.
The Medical Research Badge includes five core domains:
- Research Skills – Conducting literature reviews, applying scientific thinking, and formulating research questions.
- Study Design – Designing studies, collecting data, and performing statistical analyses.
- Responsible Conduct of Research – Practicing research ethics, ensuring rigor and reproducibility, and adhering to regulatory standards.
- Communication – Reporting, presenting, and disseminating research findings to diverse audiences.
- Collaboration – Engaging in teamwork, demonstrating leadership, and contributing to community or interdisciplinary initiatives.
The Research Badge is structured in three progressive levels that build on one another:
- Level 1: Research Fundamentals (Competency)
- Level 2: Applied Research Skills (Expert)
- Level 3: Research Excellence (Mastery)
Each level requires students to complete specific activities and submit evidence of achievement.
This program will be available to the Class of 2028 and beyond.
Contact: Dr. Sarah Sletten
Level 2 of the Telehealth Badge is earned through completion of one synchronous (face-to-face) and two independent curriculum activities as outlined in the badge. The optional synchronous event is attendance at a lecture/demonstration of advanced telehealth technology and care delivery models. This event is scheduled in November toward the end of Phase 1. The two asynchronous events are reflection papers based on two events completed as part of the Telehealth Level 1 badge.
Contact: Dr. Richard Van Eck
Non-M.D. Program Badges
Dakota Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) online curriculum, called Gero Champion, serves as a working model to provide foundational geriatric competencies to trainees and healthcare professionals from all allied health disciplines. The curriculum covers geriatric competencies defined under the Age Friendly Health Systems framework of Geriatric 4Ms (What Matters, Mentation, Medications and Mobility) and the 5th M of multi-complexity.
The Gero Champion badge has 5 levels; all badge levels are optional and open to any student who wishes to participate.
Contact: Dr. Gunjan Manocha
This badge is not hosted in Anthology Milestone. Please reach out to Dr. Manocha for access to the specific modules required. Access the badge requirements in Credly:
Why Badging?
Badging addresses a unique set of challenges:
- The University of North Dakota's competencies are not outcomes measured at a single point in time, such as memorizing the names of different parts of the anatomy. They are the synthesis of multiple knowledge, skill, and attitudinal outcomes as applied over time in medical profession settings. This means we must require students to demonstrate them over time.
- The identified competencies and attitudes are not linear and conclusive, but are instead demonstrated at different levels of accomplishment over time and with experience. This means we must assess these competencies at different levels of mastery.
- While attitudes can be partially assessed through formal assessment methods, they must be assessed by the choices students make in the contexts in which those attitudes should be demonstrated. This means we must assess these competencies in part by the choices students make over time.
- The Physician Competency Reference Set (PCRS) was employed and is the basis for our Domains and Competencies using Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs). EPAs serve to link behaviors with each competency from day one of Undergraduate Medical Education to Residency. This system provides means to document competencies as they occur within Undergraduate Medical Education (UME).
- Because mastery of these competencies requires both knowledge and attitudes, it is important that they be documented within the normal workflow and practice of aspiring medical professionals. This also allows students to do so by documenting things they are already doing for other purposes which are also evidence of the competency.
- Badging was approved by the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee (UMEC) in 2020. Access the full proposal here.
Process to Propose a Digital Badge
Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship (TLAS) within the Educational Resources is responsible for the badging initiative at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. If you are a faculty/staff member who wishes to propose a required or optional badge, please reach out to Dr. Adrienne Salentiny. and Dr. Richard Van Eck. The following steps will be followed in most cases:
1. Complete the Digital Badge Proposal Form and email the form to Drs. Salentiny and Van Eck.
2. TLAS will review the digital badge proposal to ensure the ensure that the badge meets requirements from all parties.
3. Upon approval, TLAS will assist you in the process to propose badge to UMEC committee.
Examples of approved badging proposals for required badges: