In the fast changing world of medicine, it is more important than ever for practicing physicians to be life-long learners. Much of that learning comes through continuing medical education, and the Miller School is fortunate to have a strong and supportive Division of Continuing Medical Education.

During the past fiscal year, the Division served more than 26,000 physicians and health care providers and the medical school spent more than $3 million to facilitate CME conferences and series, and to produce online learning materials across the medical school. Currently, the CME office is involved in planning and implementing 20 series with many more in the development stages.

"We want to get the word out to the medical campus that we are here as a resource to help you meet your continuing medical education needs," explains Patricia Masters, M.S.N., director of CME at the Miller School. "My staff works closely with departments to facilitate the CME credit process. We also offer a broad range of services, including brochure development and direct marketing to target groups, managing and securing favorable hotel contracts, assisting in budget development, seeking commercial support for courses, providing professional event planning, even including catering and guest rooms for visiting faculty, and final budget reconciliation, with review of course evaluations and preliminary planning for the next conference."

Masters wants you to think of her office as one-stop shopping for all your continuing medical education needs. For example, online registration and payment is available for all courses, and once the courses are completed, the transcripts are kept in an easily accessible database that allows attendees to access their CME credit at any time and to print out a PDF report that can be sent to any board, as necessary.

Regularly scheduled series, such as Grand Rounds, case presentations and lectures are planned throughout the year and approved for credit for a one-year period with renewal at that time. A CME manager will work directly with the course director and the department coordinator to help plan and set up the series for credit.

If you are interested in planning an educational activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit, contact the CME office at 305-243-6716 or umcme@med.miami.edu. To view and/or register for CME activities, visit www.cme.med.miami.edu and click on CME Calendar. Other information can be found on the Web site, including Florida Board of Medicine relicensure requirements and access to your CME transcripts.