Journal of Legal Education (01/22/25) McMahon, Graham T.

Graham T. McMahon, president and CEO of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) discusses the evolution of continuing medical education (CME) in the United States. With rapid changes in medical science, physicians want "high-quality, relevant, and effective education that is independent of commercial bias and expect that, when possible, their participation meets the variety of expectations of the state licensing boards, specialty certification, hospital credentialing, and other regulatory requirements," writes McMahon. ACCME was established in 1981 to accredit organizations that offers CME, setting the "standards for education that accelerates learning, change, and growth in health care while creating a framework that supports, inspires, and motivates educators to achieve their full potential," according to McMahon. Each year, more than 1,600 accredited CME providers deliver more than 230,000 activities and 1 million-plus hours of instruction in a variety of specialties and competencies. This article also covers accredited CME activities; protecting learners from marketing and promotion of pharmaceuticals and medical devices; the credit system and requirements; funding of CME; and digitization of CME data. In conclusion, McMahon notes: "The experience in medicine is that various stakeholders have to collaborate, and some must relinquish traditional roles to ensure the system can flourish to meet the needs of a changing profession. In doing so, those in the profession learn more and practice more effectively, and the people they serve all across the country get the service and support they need to deliver on our professions' missions of health and justice for all."

Read More