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CME Overview

Plan a CME Activity

The Faculty Affairs & Professional Development is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of all CME activities that are approved for AMA PRA category 1 credit. The staff in the OPD is knowledgeable about the required educational, financial and logistical processes required for development of CME activities. If you have an idea for a CME program please contact Sterling North, Director of CME to schedule an initial planning meeting.

What Information is Needed to Begin Planning?

The initial (Phase I) planning meeting with the Director of CME involves a review of the ACCME Essential Areas, Elements and Standards. The required educational processes include:

  • Identification of the potential target audience
  • Documentation of how the learning needs of the target audience were determined
  • Defining learning objectives that meet the educational need
  • Identify faculty/staff who can serve on a planning committee or as faculty for the activity
  • Potential financial resources to support development and implementation of the activity
  • Strategies for determining activity effectiveness in improving physician competence, performance and/or patient outcomes

Timelines for Planning

Live CME Activities: a minimum of 9 – 12 months is needed to plan a live CME course. Many educational, financial and logistical planning elements require substantial advance planning for optimum results. This lead-time provides the planning committee and faculty an opportunity to work with the CME staff to ensure success of the CME activity from an educational and fiscal perspective.

Grand Rounds/Conferences (Regularly Scheduled Conferences): Planning and submission of CME applications for Rounds and Conferences takes place at the beginning of each new fiscal/academic year. A workshop for department coordinators is offered each spring to ensure timeliness of planning and submission of the CME application.

CME Resources

The Office of Faculty Affairs & Professional Development provides a range of tools and resources to facilitate CME activity planning, implementation, and evaluation. Please contact the office to obtain updated materials.

Regularly Scheduled Series

  • Grand Rounds Requirements and Guidelines
  • Annual Application
  • Budget Checklist
  • Evaluation
  • Quarterly Report
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Resolution
  • Credit Log

For online access to Regularly Scheduled Series forms and documents, please email Dr. Nancy Lowitt (nlowitt@som.umaryland.edu)

Course Directors and Program Planners

  • Activity Application
  • Course Evaluation
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Resolution
  • Activity Planning Checklist
  • Commercial Support Letter of Agreement

For More CME Information, Contact:

Dr. Nancy Lowitt (nlowitt@som.umaryland.edu)