Board denies licensure waiver for surgical applicant whose training was not found ACGME-equivalent

The Connecticut Medical Board voted unanimously to deny an unrestricted license for an applicant seeking licensure despite completing postgraduate training the board considered not equivalent to ACGME-accredited programs.

Board members reviewed additional letters the applicant submitted after the file was discussed in a prior meeting. Dr. Marilyn Katz said she expected to see a letter from a sponsoring hospital for an extraordinary-qualification pathway and remained concerned that the board would be waiving an ACGME-equivalency requirement without institutional sponsorship. Dr. London and other members said granting an unrestricted license on the basis of the submitted letters would set a precedent that could allow applicants to practice without ACGME-equivalent training.

Board counsel reminded members that the question before the board was whether the applicant’s postgraduate training was equivalent to ACGME training. Several members said the documentation submitted — letters from Mount Sinai and Larkin — did not adequately demonstrate equivalency, and some urged direct verification by the institutions or sponsoring hospitals.

On a roll-call vote, the board unanimously recorded “not approve” and denied the application for licensure. Several board members cautioned that hospitals and credentialing committees may independently grant privileges subject to their bylaws, but in this case the board concluded the applicant’s training did not meet the board’s standard for ACGME equivalency as presented.