ERS curriculum design, formerly known as ‘HERMES’ (harmonised education and training in respiratory medicine for European specialists) was launched by ERS over 10 years ago to promote a harmonised standard of education and training and to define minimum standards to address the heterogeneity of training across Europe. This publication describes the overall methodology and the projects developed over the years.

Since then, ERS has established a strong curriculum design methodology, which is outlined in this publication and has been used across multiple projects. We have also identified four pillars to focus the delivery of high-quality education: 1) curriculum 2) e-learning, 3) programmes and 4) assessment.

ERS curriculum design projects:

Adult Respiratory Medicine (ARM)

The adult respiratory medicine project was the first project to be launched.

Project objectives: To develop a European core syllabus and curriculum listing core competencies that all respiratory specialists should possess.

Target audiences: Postgraduate trainees in respiratory medicine, trained specialists, allied health professionals.

Syllabus/curriculum links: The first syllabus was published in 2006, followed by the curriculum in 2008. The syllabus was then updated and published again in 2018.

• ARM syllabus Breathe
• ARM syllabus ERJ editorial
• ARM curriculum Breathe
• ARM curriculum ERJ editorial
• ARM syllabus update Breathe editorial
• ARM syllabus update Breathe

Paediatric Respiratory Medicine (PRM)

The success of the project in adult respiratory medicine led to the development of a project in paediatric respiratory medicine.

Project objectives: To update the first European syllabus for training in paediatric respiratory medicine, which was developed in 2002 (outside of the ERS curriculum design umbrella using different methodology), and to raise the standards in paediatric respiratory medicine.

Target audiences: Postgraduate trainees in paediatric respiratory medicine, specialist in paediatric respiratory medicine, respiratory medicine specialist with an interest in paediatric respiratory medicine.

Syllabus/curriculum links: The European syllabus for paediatric respiratory medicine was published in 2009, followed by the curriculum in 2010. The paediatric syllabus is currently being updated and is planned for publication in 2019.

• PRM syllabus Breathe
• PRM syllabus ERJ editorial
• PRM curriculum Breathe
• PRM curriculum ERJ editorial

Respiratory Critical Care (RCC)

The respiratory critical care project was launched in 2009.

Project objectives: To provide educational standards and a training framework in respiratory critical care medicine and to define the level of competence for adult respiratory physicians.

Target audiences: Physicians specialised in respiratory medicine, respiratory medicine physicians practicing critical care (or dealing with critically ill patients), and fellows/residents in respiratory medicine.

Syllabus/curriculum links: The European core syllabus in respiratory critical care medicine was published in 2012, followed by the publication of the curriculum in 2014.

• RCC syllabus Breathe
• RCC syllabus ERJ editorial
• RCC curriculum Breathe
• RCC curriculum supplement

Thoracic Oncology (TO)

This initiative was developed in collaboration with representatives from various societies involved in thoracic oncology: the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO).

Objectives: To give a comprehensive review of the current status of thoracic oncology training and certification in Europe and to examine how to raise thoracic oncology skill levels.

Target audiences: respiratory physicians, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and thoracic surgeons.

Syllabus/curriculum links: the ERS HERMES thoracic oncology syllabus was published in 2013, followed by the publication of the curriculum in 2016.

• TO syllabus Breathe
• TO syllabus ERJ editorial
• TO curriculum Breathe
• TO curriculum ERJ editorial

Respiratory Physiotherapy (RP)

The respiratory physiotherapy project was launched in 2012. Respiratory physiotherapy is not yet defined or structured as a sub-specialty across many European countries.

Objectives: To develop a postgraduate respiratory physiotherapy programme (adult and paediatric).

Target audiences: Certified physiotherapists

Syllabus/curriculum links: The syllabus for postgraduate respiratory physiotherapy was published in 2015. The curricula were published in 2019.

• RP syllabus Breathe
• RP syllabus ERJ editorial
• RP syllabus supplement
• RP curriculum Breathe
• RP curriculum ERJ editorial

Thoracic Surgery (TS)

In response to a disparity in training in thoracic surgery, and an existing UEMS-European Board examination evolving without consensual definition of prerequisites, the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) and ERS decided to set up a task force to develop a harmonised curriculum.

Objectives: To develop a harmonised syllabus and curriculum in thoracic surgery.

Target audiences: Defined by module and taking into consideration trainees for the purpose of entry into the subspecialty, trained thoracic surgeons for the purpose of recertification, and allied health professionals as well as other specialty areas for the purpose of continuous professional development in thoracic surgery.

Syllabus/curriculum links: The harmonised European syllabus for thoracic surgery was published in June 2018.

• TS syllabus European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
• TS syllabus ERJ editorial

Respiratory infections (RI)

The respiratory infections project was launched in 2014. Most countries do not have their own system for training physicians in this emerging field.

Objectives: To harmonise training, establish defined standards of knowledge and skills in respiratory infections.

Target audiences: Respiratory physicians with a special interest in respiratory infections.

Syllabus/curriculum links: An introductory editorial was published in 2016 and the syllabus was published in December 2018.

• RI Breathe editorial
• RI syllabus Breathe

Respiratory Sleep Medicine (RSM)

The respiratory sleep medicine project was launched in 2009. The first course of the respiratory sleep certified training programme took place during the Sleep and Breathing conference in 2017.

Project objectives: The syllabus and curriculum were developed to ensure that there is a common trunk used by everyone in the field in daily practice for respiratory sleep medicine.

Target audiences: Medical physicians as well as non-medical practitioners working in sleep clinics.

Syllabus/curriculum links: The European core syllabus in respiratory disorders during sleep was published in 2011, followed by the publication of the curriculum in 2015.

• RSM syllabus Breathe
• RSM syllabus ERJ editorial
• RSM curriculum Breathe
• RSM curriculum ERJ editorial

Find out more about the Respiratory Sleep Certified Training Programme

Spirometry

The spirometry project was officially launched in 2008. The first course took place in 2013 at ERS congress in Barcelona.

Objectives: to harmonise training in spirometry throughout Europe, to establish and raise European standards in the skills required to qualify and practice as an expert in spirometry.

Target audiences: all healthcare professionals who require a comprehensive understanding and the basic skills in spirometry practice.

Syllabus/curriculum links: the training programme outline and guidelines for certification were published in 2011.

• Spirometry Breathe
• Spirometry ERJ edtiorial

Find out more about the Spirometry Training Programme

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)

The endobronchial ultrasound project started in 2015 and the first course took place in 2016.

Objectives: to investigate, formulate and implement a comprehensive training programme to train qualified doctors to be able to independently and competently perform EBUS.

Target audiences: qualified medical doctors with previous experience in: performing bronchoscopies; TNM (tumour, node, metastasis) classification of lung cancer; and staging of oncology patients and other conditions.

Syllabus/curriculum links: the structured EBUS training programme was published in 2016.

• EBUS Breathe
• EBUS Curriculum

Find out more about the EBUS Training Programme

Thoracic ultrasound (TUS)

The thoracic ultrasound project started in 2018 and the first course took place in 2019.

Objectives: to train qualified doctors to be able to independently perform thoracic ultrasound in order to diagnose and treat patients with lung diseases.

Target audiences: Pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, respiratory therapists, respiratory physicians, clinical researchers, radiologists, fellows and residents.

Find out more about the TUS Training Programme