Continuing the competency debate: reflections on definitions and discourses.

The authors offer a response to a commentary by F. Parent and colleagues to their article about competency and outcome-based approaches in medical education. They agree with Parent and colleagues that competency-based approaches can improve health professions education and promote a professional expertise better adapted to the new social and societal realities. They also offer an appreciation for Parent and colleagues for engaging them in expanding the competency debate.