Every few years, just like every other industry, there is a new “hot trend” in the CME/CE world. You see this in conference abstracts, peer-reviewed publications, and the like. For instance, “microlearning” seems to be something that people are talking a lot about right now, although I admittedly am more confused now than I was 3 months ago about what constitutes “microlearning” (hint: it’s apparently not just a short, 15-minute activity on any random combination of topics).

Another big recent industry buzzword (or buzzwords) is the “patient voice” in CME/CE. This is not necessarily new, but it’s something gaining more and more traction in our education. Many of us, and perhaps even the majority of us by now, have experience with the recruitment and incorporation of patients into our education. These can be powerful additions to accredited education, but only if planned and implemented in the right manner.

How do you choose the patients to include in your education? Do you rely on faculty to send you possible names? Do you troll the Internet? Rely on partners? This is an area where I think there is a lot for us to reflect upon so that we can improve our practices.

To get some insight into this and related topics, I order you to join us (OK, “order” is a strong word – how about “strongly encourage”) at 11 am ET on Wednesday for a special CMEpalooza Spotlight sponsored by PlatformQ Health on the topic of Equity in Clinical Trials Is Within Reach: Patient Voices in Medical Education Matter.

I’ll be joined by an accomplished panel, including a MECC representative (Sapana Panday from PlatformQ Health), an advocacy partner (Jeanne Regnante from LUNGevity Foundation), and a recent patient participant in educational programs (Shawn Feliciano), to talk about the power of diversity in the patient voice. As with all CMEpalooza activities, it’s free to attend and there is no registration required. Just go to our LIVE page at 11 am ET — I order you! — to check it out.

While Derek was working on another of his infamous Top 10 lists (coming soon: Top 10 Wordle starters, Top 10 1930s radio shows, Top 10 foods that start with the letter Q), the rest of us at CMEpalooza HQ have been diligently planning actual education for our community. I know, what a concept.

We should have at least an initial draft of our CMEpalooza Spring agenda ready in the next few days — and thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract for consideration — but in the meantime, we have a special announcement.

At 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, February 23, we will be hosting our first of (hopefully) several CMEpalooza Spotlights in 2022. This one is being sponsored by the fine folks at PlatformQ Health and will focus on the topic of “Equity in Clinical Trials Is Within Reach: Patient Voices in Medical Education Matter.”

Separately, both diversity and the patient voice are hot topics in CME, so it kinda only makes sense to mush them together into an educational session (anyone else have the “Who put their chocolate in my peanut butter commercial?” playing in their head right now? No? Hmm, moving on…).

In this 30-minute session, we’ll mix together peanut butter and chocolate… er, I mean, diversity and the patient voice… and explore how providers can not just include patients in their education, but the right patients from the right backgrounds. We’ll not only get the perspective of the provider, but also a representative from a patient advocacy group, a patient who has participated in CME programming, and other folks.

As with all CMEpalooza sessions, this is free for anyone to attend. You’ll just need to go to our LIVE page at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, February 23 to watch. We’ll see you there.

 

Today is Derek’s birthday (it’s impolite to ask how old he is), and he told me that there are only two things he wants:

1. This game-worn Kenny Thomas Philadelphia 76ers jersey from the landmark 2002-03 season
2. Your submission of a CMEpalooza abstract for our Spring event

Yes indeed, there are only two more days for you to brainstorm a super creative idea for consideration as a CMEpalooza Spring session. You can get all the information you need here about what we’re looking for and how to go about submitting your idea. Perhaps if your session is extra, extra special, you’ll even be in the running for a Paloozie when we have our next awards ceremony in 2029 (mark your calendars now).

Derek already suffered a crushing birthday disappointment this morning when he found out his childhood crush (Vickie from Small Wonder) wasn’t an actual girl. Don’t make things worse for him.