Kristin Jensen, MD CME Mentor of the Year
Kurt Snyder, JD, MBA CME Administrator of the Year
SAGES ADOPT CME Impact of the Year
The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) is proud to announce the recipients of its inaugural Pinnacle Awards, a new recognition program created to celebrate the exceptional individuals and organizations shaping the future of accredited continuing medical education (CME). Selected by ACCME’s Board of Directors from an outstanding pool of nominations, this year’s honorees exemplify excellence, innovation, and meaningful impact across the CME community.
“The inaugural ACCME Pinnacle Award recipients truly represent the best of our community,” said Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, ACCME President and CEO. “Through their leadership, mentorship, and commitment to purposeful education, they are advancing CME in ways that make a real difference for clinicians and, ultimately, for patients. We are honored to celebrate their achievements and the inspiration they provide to the entire CME community.”
CME Mentor of the Year Award
Kristin Jensen, MD
The CME Mentor of the Year Award recognizes outstanding mentorship that strengthens CME programs and cultivates professional growth. ACCME has named Kristin Jensen, MD, Chair of the California Medical Association (CMA) CME Executive Board, Associate Professor of Pathology at Stanford Medicine, and Chief of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, as this year’s honoree.
The selection committee commended Dr. Jensen for her ability to make excellence enjoyable and for her thoughtful guidance in advancing the CMA CME program, which is accredited with commendation by the ACCME. Reviewers also highlighted how her mentorship inspires integrity, purpose, and joy in others, along with the remarkable number and diversity of individuals who supported her nomination.
Dr. Jensen described the award as a shared achievement.
“It is both an honor and a humbling experience to be recognized as a CME mentor, and this award is truly shared by a committed passionate group of diverse teams participating in a shared professional journey,” she said. “Our connections, lived experiences, and mutual trust are the investments that create a legacy of learning and growth, and I’m so thankful to my CME colleagues and community for this prestigious recognition.”
CME Administrator of the Year Award
Kurt Snyder, JD, MBA
ACCME has selected Kurt Snyder, JD, MBA, Executive Director of the Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education, as the recipient of the CME Administrator of the Year Award. The selection committee recognized Mr. Snyder’s leadership in guiding his program’s evolution to Joint Accreditation and its strategic growth over time, including a substantial increase in educational activities and learner reach.
The committee also highlighted his launch of Camp CME, the use of novel educational formats such as cohort-based programs and online games, and the adoption of quality-driven metrics—such as Net Promoter Scores—embedded within program evaluations, reflecting a sustained commitment to operational excellence and educational quality.
“I’m honored by this recognition and deeply thankful for the many mentors, colleagues, and teams who have supported and challenged me throughout my career,” said Snyder. “This award represents our shared commitment to operational excellence, integrity, and the belief that well-designed CME can meaningfully improve practice and patient care.”
CME Impact of the Year Award
ADOPT Program, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
ACCME has selected the ADOPT (Acquisition of Data for Outcomes and Procedure Transfer) Program of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) as the recipient of the CME Impact of the Year Award.
The ADOPT Program is a longitudinal CME framework that helps surgeons translate advanced skills into sustained clinical practice through standardized instruction and year‑long mentorship. The review and selection committee was especially impressed by the program’s recently published 10‑year outcomes study, which demonstrates that ADOPT is a reproducible model that changes clinical practice patterns, enhances physician confidence, and expands patient access to safer, less invasive surgical care.
“Receiving the ACCME’s inaugural CME Impact of the Year Award affirms SAGES’ mission to innovate, educate, and collaborate to improve patient care,” said Sallie Matthews, BME, Executive Director of SAGES. “This recognition highlights the Society’s leadership in delivering outcomes-driven education that translates evidence, technical excellence, and collaboration into measurable improvements in surgical practice.”
Project Manager Erin Schwarz, CHCP, will accept the award on behalf of SAGES, which is accredited with commendation by ACCME.
About the ACCME Pinnacle Awards
The ACCME Pinnacle Awards were established to recognize extraordinary contributions to accredited CME, honoring individuals and organizations whose leadership, mentorship, administration, and programmatic impact advance healthcare practice and improve patient outcomes.
ACCME will formally recognize the 2026 Pinnacle Award recipients at its upcoming conference, Learn to Thrive 2026, May 6-8, in Chicago.
