News 

REGISTER BY TOMORROW TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY AT THE ACCME 2022 MEETING 

Virtual Registration Closes Tomorrow     

Don't miss the opportunity to virtually join your colleagues in accredited education at the ACCME 2022 Meeting on April 26-28, 2022! This year’s meeting will take place in a hybrid format, with streamed keynote and mini-plenary sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 26-27, and then a full day of sessions and engagement specifically for virtual attendees on Thursday, April 28. Session topics include diversity, equity, and inclusion in continuing professional development, innovative activity formats, mentorship and leadership in CE, simplifying and streaming planning processes, and more. 

Virtual participation includes: 

• Access to three leadership keynote presentations and two mini-plenary sessions via livestream. 
• Your choice of two virtual Inspire and Teach! sessions.  
• Option of one virtual homeroom session.  
• Entry to the virtual poster hall and research chats.  
• Access to the ACCME 2022 Meeting app. 
• Opportunities to network with your colleagues via the ACCME 2022 Community.

Be sure to register to attend virtually before 5:00 pm CT on Friday, April 22. 

AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION ADOPTS STANDARDS FOR INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE IN ACCREDITED CE

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) has adopted the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. In adopting the standards, AOA joins other accrediting bodies representing multiple health professions. Read more here. 

MYCOPHENOLATE REMS PROGRAM: 2022 CE GRANT CYCLE IS OPEN  

The 2022 CE Request for Application (RFA) for Mycophenolate Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)-compliant accredited CE has been published here. 

The 2022 CE Grant Cycle is open to all CE Providers interested in receiving funding for REMS-compliant accredited CE programs. REMS-compliant CE activities must cover all portions of the FDA’s Mycophenolate REMS Education Blueprint for Healthcare Providers who Prescribe. 

Grant applications must be submitted to Myco_CE@REMS-PMO.com no later than 11:59 pm ET, on Friday, June 10.

ACCME ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

Join us in welcoming Ellen J. Sullivan, MS, MSJ, CAE, to the accredited education community as ACCME's new Vice President of Communications. With more than 25 years of experience in communications for medical and scientific professional associations, Ellen works with ACCME's executive staff and Board of Directors to advance ACCME's strategic plan and promote the value of accredited continuing education for healthcare professionals. Learn more here. Welcome to the team, Ellen! 

THANK YOU, ACCME VOLUNTEERS 

The ACCME's dedicated volunteers are instrumental to our success. In honor of National Volunteer Week, we sincerely thank all our volunteers for their commitment to sustaining a high-quality, self-regulated CME system that advances clinician performance and patient care. Keep up the great work! 

ACCME Academy Spotlight 

Elevate your learning experience and explore these courses in ACCME Academy:

• Getting Started with PARS: This course features video tutorials on the features and functions of the ACCME's Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS). 
• Simplifying CE Planning: Discover tools for streamlining your planning and evaluation processes as part of the Academy Answers: CE Program Management curriculum. This course was developed by the Keeping CE Simple Working Group from the ACCME 2021 Meeting.

Collaboration and Engagement 

SEEKING YOUR FEEDBACK BY APRIL 30: CLINICIAN EDUCATOR MILESTONES

We are seeking your feedback on the Clinician Educator Milestones, a joint effort of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the ACCME, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). The Clinician Educator Milestones are a series of sub-competencies designed to aid in the development and improvement of teaching and learning skills across the continuum of medical education. The ultimate goal of these milestones is to provide faculty members with tools to help them with lifelong growth and development as educators. The Clinician Educator Milestones are not an ACGME accreditation requirement and are not intended to become one in the future.

The pilot version of the Clinician Educator Milestones is posted for public comment here, with a deadline of April 30, 2022.

For Your Reference 

IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS ACT 

The Bipartisan Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Areas Act was introduced into the US House of Representatives in early April. This bipartisan legislation provides additional support for primary care providers in rural and underserved areas through accredited CME and peer-to-peer support. This bill would create a five-year pilot program that provides a funding opportunity for up to 100 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics to boost capacity in specific areas of medical need within their communities, enhancing skills in these areas and expanding access to care.

"Primary care clinicians in rural and underserved areas deserve access to accredited continuing education that reflects the needs of their patients. Continuing education helps physicians and healthcare teams learn and stay current with best practices to deliver the care their patients deserve and expect. The bill introduced by Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV) and Dave Joyce (R-OH) would make an important contribution to linking clinicians with practice-based, relevant, and effective accredited continuing education that is meaningful in improving care for patients and communities across the country.”

—Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, President and CEO, ACCME 

Career Opportunities 

The ACCME has one position opening. Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resume to info@accme.org.   

• PROGRAM SUPPORT SPECIALIST assists users in inputting data correctly into the Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS) and aids staff with routine technical support requests.