NEWS
A DECADE OF PHYSICIAN LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT: THE ACCME AND ABIM COLLABORATION
Ten years ago, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) launched a landmark collaboration to support physicians who are engaged in lifelong learning by enabling them to use those activities to meet requirements for ABIM’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.
Now, thousands of educational activities physicians complete for CME (Continuing Medical Education) credit can also count for ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points—automatically, without the need to manually submit certificates.
Over the past decade, the number of CME activities that count for MOC has grown significantly:
Podcast Conversation
Furman S. McDonald, MD, MPH, President and CEO of ABIM and Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, President and CEO of ACCME, reflected on the collaboration and what it means for physicians in a recent Coffee with Graham podcast available here. “It is pretty amazing what a mutually respectful, collaborative partnership can do to advance participation and engagement in meaningful learning experiences,” said Dr. McMahon during the conversation.
Added Dr. McDonald: “There are so many doctors out there right now who really are doing great work for their patients, and the patients are benefiting from the fact that the doctors are staying more current. Time and time again, the evidence shows that when doctors can demonstrate more knowledge and judgment, their patients have a better prognosis. And at the end of the day, it’s really about the patient.”
Physicians may visit www.cmepassport.org to find eligible activities that earn both CME and MOC.
EDUCATION AND RESOURCES
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: LEARN TO THRIVE 2026
Our CE community thrives when educators, innovators, and researchers share their voices. That’s why we’re inviting you to submit a proposal for Learn to Thrive 2026—our annual meeting in Chicago, on May 6–8, 2026. This is your opportunity to showcase your expertise, test new ideas, and collaborate with colleagues from across the country. Whether you’re new to submitting or a returning contributor, your perspective matters.
We’re currently accepting proposals in three categories:
- Inspire & Teach! Sessions
- CE Effectiveness & Best Practices: Engaging in CE Research
New this year: ACCME Research Scholarships — Up to 10 scholarships will be awarded to early-career investigators and first-time submitters, including a registration waiver and recognition at the conference.
- Better Together: Working Groups
The deadline to submit is Friday, October 3, 2025, at 11:59 pm CT. Questions? Please email us at education@accme.org.
REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL 2025 COHORT OF THE ACCME CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IS NOW OPEN
We’re excited to announce that registration is now open for our Fall 2025 cohort for ACCME’s two Certificate Programs designed to empower continuing education (CE) professionals and strengthen the operational excellence of their organizations. Built around practical, real-world competencies, each three-month program combines flexible coursework, live support webinars, and a validated final assessment.
The two programs now open for enrollment are:
- Certificate in Implementing the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE
- Certificate in Data Management for Accredited CE
Each program includes 15 hours of self-paced learning in ACCME Academy, two live webinars, and a remote-proctored final assessment. Upon successful completion, participants earn a certificate that demonstrates their competence and supports career advancement. Employers benefit from increased confidence in staff skills and more effective CE operations.
Enrollment for the Fall 2025 cohort is now open and closes Friday, October 17. Programs officially begin Monday, November 10. Visit accme.org/certificates to learn more and register. For questions, email education@accme.org.
NEW CURRICULUM: LEVERAGING CE FOR HIGHER-LEVEL OUTCOMES
ACCME Academy is excited to introduce Leveraging CE for Higher-level Outcomes, a new curriculum designed to assist continuing education (CE) professionals in enhancing the impact of their programs on healthcare and patient outcomes.
This curriculum equips CE professionals with practical strategies to improve patient and community health, strengthen collaboration efforts, and align their programs with Accreditation with Commendation requirements. It explores methods for integrating CE with broader healthcare initiatives to drive sustainable improvements.
By connecting CE with quality improvement (QI), patient care, and learning health systems (LHS), participants will discover ways to foster meaningful change, enhance interdisciplinary partnerships, and elevate the role of CE in advancing healthcare excellence.
In this curriculum, participants will learn how to:
- Understand patient and community health terminology and measure health outcome improvements.
- Identify CE collaboration opportunities to enhance health outcomes and overcome partnership barriers.
- Integrate CE with Learning Health Systems (LHS) approaches at their institution.
- Collaborate with quality improvement (QI) professionals and implement strategies to achieve higher-level outcomes and accreditation goals
Access the Curriculum
This curriculum is free to accredited CE providers with an ACCME Academy user account. Click this link to log in and start learning today!
CREATING THE CONDITIONS VITAL TO HEALTH
Register for the next National Health Equity Grand Rounds virtual event on Oct. 14 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. CT, where community health and health system leaders will share how health care organizations can strengthen their areas’ economic and population health. Hospitals and health systems play a crucial role in supporting their communities’ economic well-being, especially in rural areas where health care positions account for 1 out of every 12 jobs.
During this panel discussion, urban and rural health care leaders will share real-world solutions, including how health systems can leverage their assets and resources to create opportunities for economic growth, wealth-building and community health.
Health care professionals may receive free CME or CE credit by attending.
The National Health Equity Grand Rounds series highlights historical and contemporary root causes of health inequities and amplifies strategies to advance health equity in the United States. This initiative is led by the American Medical Association in collaboration with the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education and Disability Belongs.
PODCASTS
Coffee with Graham —Trust, Verified: What Boards and CME Must Deliver
Furman McDonald, MD, MPH, President and CEO of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), joins ACCME President and CEO, Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, to reflect on 10 years of collaboration between ACCME and ABIM. Listen in as they articulate the distinct and complementary roles of certification and accredited CME, and make the case for rigorous, trusted systems of physician accountability and lifelong learning.
Almanac Spotlight: Accreditation Myths That Limit Innovation
In this episode of the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions Podcast, Alliance Podcast Task Force Member Andrea Zimmerman, EdD, CHCP, chats with ACCME Vice President of Accreditation and Recognition Dion Richetti. Listen in as they discuss accreditation myths and misconceptions that can hinder creativity and diversity in continuing education and how accreditation bodies can avoid these pitfalls.
REMINDERS
APPLICATION DEADLINE OCT. 1 FOR NEW ACCME PINNACLE AWARDS
Don’t miss your chance to recognize excellence in our CME community! The deadline to apply for the new ACCME Pinnacle Awards is October 1. These prestigious awards honor the outstanding individuals and organizations who are shaping the future of accredited CME and advancing healthcare through education.
You can nominate yourself or a colleague for one of four categories:
- CME Administrator of the Year
- CME Impact of the Year
- CME Innovator of the Year
- CME Mentor of the Year
Awardees will receive:
- Complimentary registration for Learn to Thrive 2026
- Travel support to attend the conference and award ceremony
- Recognition across ACCME communications and the wider CE community
Submit your application today using our online application form. If you encounter any challenges, contact dbrucki@accme.org for assistance.
Celebrate your contributions—or shine a spotlight on a deserving colleague—by applying before October 1!
TIME TO UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO IN PARS
It’s that time of year again: please review and update the information about your organization’s contacts in the Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS). If you need help, contact us at info@accme.org.
RECOGNITION
CELEBRATING OUR INNOVATION PARTNERS
We’re proud to recognize the organizations that are partnering with ACCME to advance our shared mission to reduce administrative burdens and support meaningful, lifelong learning for physicians. As Innovation Partners, these providers are leading efforts to simplify learner data reporting, enhance the learner experience, and promote the use of CME Passport.
Each Innovation Partner brings a unique perspective and commitment to advancing high-quality, learner-centered education. In this issue, we’re spotlighting the following Innovation Partners who share how their participation benefits their physician learners:
American Society of Anesthesiologists: ASA’s participation as an ACCME Innovation Partner allows physician learners to find education, streamline reporting to the ABA and state licensing boards, and enhance credit tracking, vastly improving the efficiency of their reporting requirements.
American Society of Clinical Oncology: “As an Innovation Partner, we expect that physician learners will benefit from a central location to track and manage their CME credits. And that’s important given that we’re focused on helping our more than 50,000 members around the world continue to learn and grow throughout their careers.”
ASCO® and American Society of Clinical Oncology® are registered trademarks of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. Used with permission.
Baylor College of Medicine: As an ACCME Innovation Partner, Baylor College of Medicine supports physician learning through evidence-based education grounded in respect, integrity, innovation, teamwork, and program excellence.
Cleveland Clinical Center for Continuing Education: Cleveland Clinic is committed to enhancing the physician learning experience by expanding global access to accredited CME, simplifying credit tracking, and reducing administrative burden, empowering physicians to focus more on lifelong learning, collaboration, and delivering quality patient care.
Clinical Care Options: Leveraging JA-PARS physician data, CCO will deliver specialty-relevant education that reinforces best practices, closes gaps, and improves patient care. Learners also benefit from timely credit reporting and easy tracking via CME Passport, empowering them to manage licensure and certification needs.
Learn more about the Innovation Partner Program and see the complete list of participating organizations at www.accme.org/innovation-partners.
