CME office increases programming
Since its move back to the Medical School in 2022, the Office of Continuing Medical Education has dramatically increased its number of conferences and activities and offers new technology for learners.
In the last fiscal year, the office managed 30 conferences — an increase of 58 percent over FY23. Its learning management system retrieves CE transcripts, attendance certificates, and self-reported CE credit for attendees.
The office was previously under a joint providership between The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Baylor College of Medicine, and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. As of March 2022, the activities transitioned to the Office of Continuing Medical Education at McGovern Medical School, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
In addition to providing continuing medical education for physicians, the office certifies activities for Maintenance of Certification and Continuous Certification for various medical specialty boards and partners with the Cizik School of Nursing for nursing continuing professional development accreditation.
Today the office is led by Zi Yang Jiang, MD, chair of the CME Committee and associate professor of otorhinolaryngology and Mayra Ruiz, CME Director. Vaccaro Greaves, senior administrative manager, also has an integral role in the day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning of the office.
“Our goals encompass broadening the range of events offered within our institution, enhancing interdepartmental participation and collaboration, and leveraging our data team at UT Physicians to base education topic selections on clinical trends and predictions,” Jiang said.
“We support faculty and staff in the planning of their live, interactive lecture-based activities, case-based discussions, hands-on training sessions, small-group workshops, and internet-based asynchronous enduring materials to ensure they address the educational needs of providers and trainees, aimed at improving patient care, while maintaining the integrity and independence required for accredited continuing education,” Ruiz said.
CME activities are open to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other interprofessional providers who practice primary, specialty, and subspecialty care, as well as medical students and trainees.
The office last received a four-year accreditation from the ACCME in July 2023 and is scheduled for another reaccreditation cycle in the summer of 2027.