Advancing Academic Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development: Adapting a Classical Framework...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Academic Medicine
• Physician Professional Development

Background:

• Continuing medical education (CME) and continuing professional development (CPD) units are crucial for lifelong physician learning.
• These units are often underappreciated and under-resourced within academic medical centers (AMCs).
• Varying integration into AMC leadership structures limits their potential impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the under-resourcing and under-appreciation of CME/CPD units in AMCs.
• To propose a strategic framework for the development of CME/CPD units.
• To enhance the focus on innovative educational opportunities and their impact on learners and patients.

Main Methods:

• Development of a CPD Hierarchy of Needs.
• Utilizing benchmarking data from national leaders in the field.
• Framing strategic development priorities for CME/CPD units.

Main Results:

• A five-level CPD Hierarchy of Needs was created.
• Priorities include securing investment, building infrastructure, leadership integration, data-driven interventions, and educational innovation.
• The hierarchy provides a structured approach to advancing CME/CPD.

Conclusions:

• The CPD Hierarchy of Needs offers a roadmap for strategic development of CME/CPD units.
• Prioritizing investment, infrastructure, leadership, data, and innovation is key.
• This framework emphasizes the critical role of CME/CPD in lifelong physician learning and patient care.