In an effort to increase meaningful interactions among attendees and improve the overall impact of the educational sessions, the ACCME recently announced some changes to the upcoming ACCME Annual Meeting. We asked Dr. Steve Singer, ACCME’s vice president of education and outreach, to share his perspectives on what’s new with the call for proposals and what precipitated the changes:
ACCME has announced a number of changes for the ACCME 2023 Meeting. What was the process for making adjustments to the structure and content for meeting?
We gathered feedback from our ACCME 2022 attendees, faculty and our ACCME staff and volunteers who led the planning of past meetings. After collating the feedback from each of these stakeholder groups, our education team met to review the summarized data and identify any common themes — both positive and constructive — around process and content as well as opportunities for improvement. From within those common themes, we focused on a few that were a high priority for improving learner success and in alignment with ACCME strategic imperatives. Then, we brainstormed strategies related to the planning and execution of the 2023 meeting that would directly address these issues and identified some manageable, but impactful, ways we could implement improvements.
Is it true that the ACCME 2023 Meeting will be an in-person only event in Chicago?
Yes. The consensus was that meeting face-to-face in 2023 will provide the greatest value to support our shared goals — inspiring continuing education (CE) professionals, developing community, fostering well-being, solving problems together, learning new skills and dynamic collaboration. We are eager to reconnect.
What types of submissions are you looking for in the call for proposals for the ACCME 2023 Meeting?
As in past years, there are three opportunities in the call for proposals. CE professionals can propose to lead educational sessions, present and share CE effectiveness research and lead a Working Group. Individuals and teams can submit multiple proposals within or across submission types.
Can you explain what the difference is between an “Inspire & Teach” versus “Intensive Session” submission?
The “Inspire & Teach” sessions will continue to be the mainstay of peer-to-peer learning at the ACCME 2023 Meeting. In response to feedback from past meeting faculty and attendees, we have created new Intensive Sessions for ACCME 2023 as an opportunity to allow CE professionals to propose longer-format (two-hour vs. one-hour) sessions that may include a greater number of learners, if desired. Submitters will be asked to provide a rationale for how they will elevate engagement and outcomes for learners through an Intensive Session. Only a small number of Intensive Sessions will be provided on Tuesday, May 16, so this is a more competitive submission.
What changes can CE researchers expect in the call for proposals for the ACCME 2023 Meeting?
Supporting research designed to advance accredited continuing education" continues to be a priority for the ACCME in our Strategic Goals for 2022–2026. Based on feedback and insights from those participating as researchers during previous annual meetings, we have incorporated some new opportunities for research teams attending the ACCME 2023 Meeting, including a focused feedback session, the opportunity for an oral presentation and a research prize. We welcome submissions of research and scholarship work at all stages of development, from early conceptual plans in search of collaboration and feedback to mature projects ready for (or post-) publication/dissemination. Individuals or teams who have presented research reports at other meetings are encouraged to share their work via the call for proposals for the ACCME 2023 Meeting.
How are you evolving the Working Groups at the ACCME 2023 Meeting through the call for proposals?
We have made changes to the 2023 Working Group structure based on feedback from Working Group members and attendees. We're improving the Working Groups to capitalize on the opportunity for face-to-face collaboration in Chicago. The ACCME 2023 Meeting will provide Working Group leaders with unprecedented opportunities for engaging all meeting attendees and a longer timeline for developing your Working Group products. Accepted Working Groups will begin their work at the ACCME 2023 Meeting and collaborate in creation of a product/outcome that will be completed in late 2023 through early 2024. Working Group proposals must be submitted by a leadership team from two or more accredited CE providers. The submission process allows for up to four individuals to be listed in your Working Group proposal. We welcome participation from ACCME, state-accredited and jointly accredited organizations.
The ACCME 2023 Meeting will take place in Chicago, May 15–18, 2023. Submit your proposal no later than 11:59 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 28.