SOAR Scholar Publications & Presentations

Strengthening Outcomes and Assessments in Residency (FMSOAR)

A Collaborative Initiative of AFMRD and the ABFM/ABFM Foundation

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

1. Cole S, Fetter J, Oliver MG. “Soaring to New Heights: Strengthening Outcomes and Assessment in Residency.”

Annals of Family Medicine. 2023;21(2):197–198. DOI: 10.1370/afm.2974

This founding article, authored by Sarah Cole, DO; Jay Fetter, MHSA; and M. Grace Oliver, MD, describes the origins of SOAR and its initial priority areas for study and discussion of outcomes. It outlines how the SOAR Advisory Committee, together with the AFMRD Board of Directors, proposed that the project initially prioritize outcomes in four areas aligned with AAFP and other health care organizations. This is the foundational SOAR announcement article in a peer-reviewed journal.

2. Miller BH, Fetter J. “From Floor to ‘Soar’ – Aiming for Evidence-Based Residency Innovation.”

Annals of Family Medicine. 2024;22(6):572–573. DOI: 10.1370/afm.240486

This article describes SOAR’s three primary mechanisms:

• Appreciative inquiry: Preconference workshops at the AAFP Residency Leadership Summit (RLS), bringing residency leaders with strong program outcomes to share practices in focus areas such as care of children and behavioral health.
• SOAR Scholars: The inaugural Scholars — Dr. Alex Reedy Cooper and Dr. Varshaben Songara — completed their year of study and were expected to report findings in the coming year.
• Communities of practice: Learning networks built on trusted relationships, focused on generating new knowledge about residency design and GME outcomes.

3. Songara VM, Bray-Brown R, Fleischer S, Peterson LE. “Milestones Progression of International Medical Graduates in Family Medicine.”

Family Medicine. 2025;57(8):570–577. DOI: 10.22454/FamMed.2025.517400

This is the peer-reviewed publication from inaugural SOAR Scholar Dr. Varshaben Songara, supported by the ABFM Foundation. The study examined milestone ratings for international medical graduates (IMGs) versus US medical graduates across 12,302 family medicine residents from 538 residencies graduating 2018–2020. Key findings include:

• Comparable milestone progression was found between IMGs and US medical graduates overall.
• IMGs training in programs with a historically higher percentage of IMGs showed a small but statistically significant boost in medical knowledge and professionalism milestone ratings.
• Programs with fewer IMGs may benefit from collaborating with higher-IMG programs to develop supportive environments.
• Authors recommend early individualized learning plans for IMGs to address acculturation barriers.

National Meeting Presentations

5. SOAR Preconference Workshop — AAFP Residency Leadership Summit (RLS), 2023 & 2024

At the AAFP RLS preconference sessions in both 2023 and 2024, SOAR conducted appreciative inquiry workshops. Residency leaders whose programs demonstrated strong outcomes in areas such as care of children and behavioral health care were invited to reflect on the practices that led to those outcomes. Attendees were then encouraged to adopt and implement these innovations in their own programs.

6. SOAR Learning Collaborative Preconference — AAFP Residency Leadership Summit 2026 (Kansas City, MO)

The SOAR Community of Practice, sponsored by AFMRD and the ABFM Foundation, was featured at the 2026 RLS preconference. The program included:

• SOAR Learning Collaborative, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.: A gathering of program directors and faculty to exchange educational innovations around outcome-based medical education, resident evaluation, competency assessment, and care delivery redesign.
• Residency Program Solutions Workshop, 2:30–4:30 p.m.: Expert strategies from seasoned family medicine consultants on Individual Learning Plans, Core Outcomes, coaching, resident engagement, residency finance, and demonstrating program value.

7. Songara VM et al. — STFM Annual Conference, May 2025 (Salt Lake City, UT)

The work on milestones progression of international medical graduates (subsequently published in Family Medicine, 2025) was presented at the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Annual Conference in May 2025 in Salt Lake City, UT, prior to its journal publication.