The purpose of this guide, developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges group on Graduate Research, Education, and Training (GREAT), is to outline a model process by which graduate programs can measure program success and that can be adapted to particular circumstances and priorities. The first sections of the guide examine the history and mission of graduate education in medical schools and outline goals and objectives that virtually all programs aim to achieve. The guide also sets out five steps for achieving success: (1) defining the program goals and objectives, (2) pursuing activities that promote attainment of goals and objectives, (3) identifying indicators of success, (4) data gathering, and (5) implementing change. A final section of the guide presents six self-assessment survey instruments: a qualitative questionnaire for self-evaluation of graduate programs; assessment of faculty and Ph.D. program characteristics; assessment of admissions and graduate student populations by program; faculty assessment of recent graduates; survey of student career goals and satisfaction; and aggregated data on student career goals and satisfaction. Appended are tables of sources of data for graduate program self-assessment and an annotated list of resources. (CH)