As we bid 2013 farewell, I look back at the number of “Continuing Medical Education” CME credits I accumulated during the past year.
Education in the medical field can not stop at a degree that we hang on our wall. As our medical field continues to constantly evolve, the information we learned years ago may dwindle and fade if it hasn’t already been outdated. Health authorities, licensing organizations and hospitals request evidence of continuing medical education activities. CME is how doctors keep track of activities that help in continuing education.
I have accumulated a total of 208 CME credits in 2013.
To put it in perspective, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada requires 400 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits in a 6 year cycle. So far I have 897.5 CME credits since I joined The College in 2011.
The majority of 2013 credits came from precepting (LIGO), presenting (GLMA) or just attending (MEMA, PAGS) the following conferences:
- LIGO - 11th Surgical Masters’ Course in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Advanced Laparoscopic General and Oncologic Procedures in San Francisco, California, USA from April 4 to 6, 2013 for 24 CME credits
- MEMA – 46th Middle East Medical Assembly in Beirut, Lebanon from May 9 to 11, 2013 for 27 CME credits
- GLMA – Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality 31st Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, USA from Sept. 18 to 21, 2013 for 19 CME credits
- LIGO – 12th Surgical Masters’ Course in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Advanced Laparoscopic Procedures in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from Oct. 25 to 26, 2013 for 15 CME credits
- PAGS – Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA from Dec. 12 to 14, 2013 for 19.5 CME credits
The rest of the credits I accumulated from the Maintenance of Certification process for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG for 25 CME credits), precepting surgeons during Laparoscopic Hysterectomies among other self-learning, group-learning and assessment activities.
For 2014, I am already booked for few conferences including LIGO in San Francisco, MEMA in Beirut, GLMA in Baltimore and LIGO in Philadelphia. Will I break my annual CME record in 2014? Time will tell.
Dr. Desi Bailey (left), past president of GLMA, with Dr. Hasan Abdessamad (center) and Dr. Omar Fattal (right) after presenting LebMASH workshop on advancing healthcare for sexual minorities in Lebanon. Denver, USA in Sept 2013
Dr. Hasan Abdessamad precepting another Gynecologist at a pelvic trainer during LIGO annual surgical course in San Francisco.
Dr. Hasan Abdessamad at the Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery Symposium in Las Vegas in Dec 2013
Dr. Omar Fattal (left), Dr. Nesrine Rizk (center) and Dr. Hasan Abdessamad (right) during the MEMA annual gala in Beirut, Lebanon in May 2013
