Could you remind me of every single detail about submitting an abstract to present at CMEpalooza Spring?

No.

Please?

No.

Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Fine. Abstracts to present at CMEpalooza Spring (happening on Wednesday, April 16) are due by 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 12. You can find the rest of the submission guidelines here.

What is the theme of CMEpalooza Spring?

There is no theme. Provide good education, that’s the theme. Talk about stuff that’s important to the CME/CE community, that’s another theme.

So, I can talk about whatever I want? 

As long as it relates to CME in some way, yes.

Can I talk about issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion? I’m asking because, you know. 

Yeah, we know. And yes, you can talk about issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 100% yes. Please do. We have an entire Health Equity section in the archive. Here is a list of some of those sessions:

• Improving Patient Care for the LGBTQ+ Community through Continuing Education: A Panel Discussion
• Meaningful and Sustainable Strategies to Address Disparities through CEhp: Are We There Yet?
• FADE Out HIV – Connecting Black Barbers, Their Clients and Community Clinicians

Can I have a panel session with Saquon Barkley, Stephen King, and Taylor Swift talking about ’80s trivia and the best books they read in 2024? 

You thought I was going to say “no” because it doesn’t have anything to do with CME, didn’t you? Well, you’re wrong, ha! You can definitely propose this session in your abstract. We’ll figure out some way to relate it to CME. We’re good at that.

What happens after February 12? 

Scott and I will review all of the abstracts and select the ones we think will make the best agenda for CMEpalooza Spring. I will insist we approve all the abstracts I have selected, and Scott will insist we approve all the abstracts he has selected. We will calmly argue about this for a while, but eventually our voices will become raised. From there, we will move on to shouting and violently pointing fingers at each other. Eventually we will agree to resolve our differences through an arm-wrestling match, which I will win because even though I am a couple years older, I have longer arms and everyone knows leverage is the key to winning at arm-wrestling. After my great victory, we will email everyone to let you know if your abstract was selected or not.

(Note from Scott: Derek likely isn’t aware is that I have watched Over the Top probably 50 times and that I have broken down in excruciating detail the absolute optimal strategy to defeat any arm-wrestling opponent with physically superior gifts. “Long arms” is hardly a superior gift, but nonetheless, Derek shall be vanquished with ease as I chomp on my victory cigar.)

Should I take it personally if my abstract is not selected for CMEpalooza Spring? 

Listen, if you’re looking for a reason to be upset so you can order a massive container of nachos and eat them guilt-free, then you are welcome to take it personally. The truth is that until CMEpalooza becomes a huge, multi-day festival of learning, we only have a limited number of slots available for presentations and hard decisions must be made. That’s just the way it is (thank you, Bruce Hornsby.)

Is there anything else I need to know about submitting and abstract to present at CMEpalooza Spring? 

Probably, which is why you should click this link to read more about the submission guidelines.

Good luck and thanks for submitting? 

Good luck and thanks for submitting!

Since there are no Kansas City Chiefs fans who follow the blog, I decided to rewrite the lyrics to the Eagles fight song as a reminder to submit an abstract for CMEpalooza Spring by February 12.  In case you’ve never heard the Eagles fight song, the South Philadelphia String Band is here to help (this is the most South Philly thing ever):

Apply people apply!
To present on CME!
Now, people, now!
It’s easy as 1, 2, 3! (1! 2! 3!)
Submit here!
Submit there!
Palooza is everywhere!
Apply, people apply!
To present on CME!

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!!!
(I couldn’t resist)

Abstracts for CMEpalooza Spring are due by end of day on Wednesday, February 12.

Go Birds.

This is a reminder to submit an abstract to present at CMEpalooza Spring 2025.

This is a reminder that you can find all the details about submitting an abstract to present at CMEpalooza Spring 2025 by clicking on this link.

This is a reminder that the deadline for submitting an abstract to present at CMEpalooza Spring 2025 is Wednesday, February 12.

This is a reminder that we don’t care if you have never done a presentation before.

This is a reminder that you can submit an abstract for a kooky idea and that, in fact, we encourage kooky ideas.

This is a reminder that CMEpalooza Spring 2025 will be Wednesday, April 16.

This is a reminder that CMEpalooza is pretty cool even though Scott and I are not pretty cool (note from Scott: Wait just a sec…, OK, fine, you are right) and you should submit an abstract to present at it.

This is a reminder that, if you want excellent advice on matters personal and professional, you can Ask Us Anything. Don’t be shy – we may not always know what we are talking about, but we fake it pretty well.

This is a reminder that Scott and I are, for reasons that still are not clear to me, writing a short story about a “CMEslinger” in serial form, thus confirming my previous reminder about us not being cool.

This is a reminder that I totally stole the opening line I used for The CMEslinger from Stephen King’s The Gunslinger, and that I hope Mr. King is not litigious.

This is a reminder that the Philadelphia Eagles won their playoff game yesterday, which has nothing to do with CMEpalooza, but I’m mentioning it anyway because it’s my blog and I can do what I want.

This is a reminder that the Philadelphia Eagles play their next playoff game this coming Sunday, which also has nothing to do with CMEpalooza but just happens to be my birthday.

This is a reminder that I definitely did not mention that this coming Sunday is my birthday so that someone would send me a bottle of Lagavulin 16 as a gift.

This is a reminder that pandering for birthday presents is very gauche, and I would never stoop so low.

This is a reminder that I need to focus and get this blog post back on track.

This is a reminder that it is freaking cold out there, and since you’re going to stay inside anyway, you might as well work on your abstract to present at CMEpalooza Spring 2025.