The Pfizer Global Medical Grants & Partnerships (GMGP) team attended the Alliance 2025 Annual Conference because GMGP leadership has always placed a premium on professional development and lifelong learning. With so many “new” people on the team, we felt the Alliance Annual Conference was the perfect place to introduce colleagues to the profession of CME/CE/CPD, to meet professional and stakeholders from all aspects of healthcare, and to grow and develop as individuals.

Conference Overview

The whole team appreciated the diverse range of topics covered. This inclusivity ensured that there was something valuable for attendees at all levels of experience within the industry, which was very important given the heterogeneous nature of the audience.

First-time attendees from our team enjoyed learning and gaining a better understanding of the overarching landscape of medical education and quality improvement from past and present board members in the pre-conference session. It was a privilege to be introduced to and network with subject matter experts and CME “legends” during the week. Having the chance to discuss current hot topics in an open and inclusive environment made for an energizing start to the year!

The interactive workshops were great. They added an engaging element to the conference which encouraged and facilitated a dynamic and participatory learning experience.

As a group, we were inspired to see grants we supported highlighted in several presentations and understand the direct links to positive patient impact.

Alliance 2025 offered the perfect opportunity to connect with industry partners and colleagues, put names to faces and make new contacts, plus meet in person with the medical education companies we work with to get real-time status updates for grants being supported.  

Hearing industry insights and learning what organizations are doing and what issues, barriers and challenges they are experiencing was particularly interesting.

Key Takeaways

Our team was enlightened by many noteworthy findings presented in poster presentations, including:

• Cerenzia et al. presented continuing educational preferences of HCPs in the U.S. after COVID. They noted an in-person format preference for workshops and hands-on training, while also finding that HCPs demonstrate an equal likelihood of participating in virtual meetings.
• Judkins et al. shared research on an innovative educational intervention design format using an escape room format, which led to an increase in participant knowledge.
• Hood et al. discussed interdisciplinary educational intervention for healthcare providers in rural areas and the resulting positive self-evaluations in terms of knowledge, competence, performance and improved patient outcomes.

Concluding Thoughts

• Sharing ideas: The conference environment is conducive to focusing on how we can better share ideas by discussing questions such as whether strategic aims of funders and providers align, and if they don’t, why they don’t? The Alliance Conference is a great opportunity to talk about these gaps, explain our different “theories of change” and give both sides a chance to explore further. Cross-disciplinary workshop sessions to include pharma and med-ed agencies could facilitate discussion around different approaches to closing the gaps and working together better.
• Pressing health issues: Given the diverse audiences, these healthcare issues can be identified and how the Alliance can contribute to solutions could be discussed. For example, how can the Alliance and its members address healthcare worker shortages and training? Is it about folks getting the right education at the right time? Can we push education out to learners based on their web searches and provide right time/right education?  How can we help improve quality or collaboration amongst teams?  
• Creating more opportunities for small-group discussion: At such a large meeting, there is so much to do and see and so many connections to talk to. Perhaps dedicated sessions for rapid-fire oral poster presentations to include Q&A and then follow up with opportunities built into the following days’ agenda for attendees to explore stands/booths with opportunities to discuss further with presenting organizations and colleagues.