Becoming a CME Activity Director

Do you have a great idea for a CME Activity?  Do you see a need for increased physician competence, performance in clinical practice, and/or improving patient health outcomes?

Did you know that professional conferences:

  • Benefit faculty by providing professional development opportunities that continuously update professional knowledge, personal skills, and core competencies
  • Lead to expanded public and professional awareness of your department/division services, research initiatives, and the faculty involved with each activity
  • Enhance faculty and student recruitment efforts through recognition which comes from hosting successful conferences
  • Increase potential for success in areas of fund-raising (through increased visibility) and revenue generation (via grants and conference related income)
  • Allow the organizer to host associates and colleagues in an environment where skills and attributes can be shown to best advantage

Activity Directors play a critical role in the planning process. They are responsible for the needs assessment and learning objectives of the program, selection of speakers and program content, helping to identify potential commercial support, and interpretation of potential speaker conflicts of interest. 

 As a potential Activity Director, we would like you to think about the following:

  • Are you looking for CME certification only?
  • Or, can our office serve you better by fully-coordinating your activity?

                        (See section on Meeting Planning Services)

  • What is the proposed content area of the activity?
  • Why is this topic being chosen?
  • Will this be a one-time activity or a recurring series?
  • What is the proposed date/time of year of the activity?
  • What is the target audience?
  • Would you like to have the activity at the University of Rochester Medical Center or at an off-site location?
  • Would this activity draw local, national or international attendees?
  • Who is on the planning committee for the activity?
  • How will the activity be funded?
  • What are your goals for hosting a CME activity?

When fully coordinating an activity, the Office of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) staff works collaboratively with every Activity Director and Planning Committee to advise and guide the planning and implementation, including complete budgeting and financial management.  There is a charge to cover CPE staff effort; however, the residual from each activity belongs to the organizing division.

Please call our office at 585.275.4392, or email us at CMEoffice@urmc.rochester.edu. You will be directed to one of our senior staff depending on the needs of your activity.  We look forward to working with you on an activity that can provide high-quality learning experiences for all those participating!

Paul J. Lambiase
Director, Continuing Professional Education