TCOM launches Clinical Cadence, a new compendium for Graduate Medical Education
UNT Health Fort Worth’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine has launched a new resource
for health care professionals in Graduate Medical Education. The Clinical Cadence®
Compendium is a groundbreaking, trademarked educational resource developed at the
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine to strengthen the quality, authenticity and
impact of narrative feedback for medical students and residents. Created by Tina Bernard,
EdD, assistant director of TCOM’s Medical Student Success, Clinical Cadence was developed
to help learners grow when feedback is genuine and rooted in thoughtful observation.
This resource was designed to help faculty say what they see, honor learner effort,
and guide meaningful development through clear, competency-based narrative language.
Organized according to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competency
domains, Clinical Cadence provides specialty-specific narrative exemplars across eight
core clinical disciplines, supporting educators in delivering feedback that is both
developmentally appropriate and aligned with accreditation standards. Each volume
has been peer reviewed by dedicated faculty leaders and clinical educators at TCOM,
reflecting a deeply collaborative effort and a shared commitment to excellence in
teaching, mentorship, and learner growth.
"Clinical Cadence fills a critical gap in medical education by helping faculty move
from vague impressions to concrete, competency-based narrative feedback,” said associate
professor Dr. Sam Selby. “The specialty-specific exemplars described in Dr. Bernard’s
guides make high-quality evaluations more efficient, more consistent, and more defensible
for Medical Student Performance Evaluations. This tool empowers educators to coach
learners intentionally while maintaining a shared standard of excellence."
Clinical Cadence helps educators transform observations into meaningful narrative
guidance, strengthening the connection among teaching, assessment, and professional
identity formation. By enhancing the clarity, consistency, and authenticity of feedback,
this resource empowers faculty to support student performance in a way that is both
rigorous and compassionate.
This milestone reflects UNT Health’s enduring commitment to innovation, educational
excellence, and the preparation of highly competent, reflective physicians. Clinical
Cadence stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, mentorship, and purposeful
feedback and represents an important contribution from the TCOM community to the future
of medical education. Clinical Cadence is currently available for educational use
through Amazon, providing immediate access for faculty, preceptors, and training programs
seeking to strengthen narrative feedback practices.
“Clinical Cadence is a thoughtful resource that provides a framework for the busy
physician in the clinical setting,” said Dr. Demequa Moore, TCOM’s OBGYN clerkship
director in the Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health. “I think it will provide
feedback integrity for the preceptor/attending and clarity for those being evaluated.
I keep it with me and reference it as a reminder while I am teaching in the clinical
setting.”
The series and individual books can be purchased at www.amazon.com.