Penn State College of Medicine’s Continuing Education program achieves highest level of reaccreditation

Penn State College of Medicine’s Continuing Education program recently achieved Accreditation with Commendation from the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

“Leadership at all levels of our organization is supportive of the Continuing Education program and provides the infrastructure to allow us to meet educational needs of professionals not only from within the organization, but regionally and nationally,” said Dr. William Hennrikus, associate dean for continuing medical education. “We know from our outcomes measures that our portfolio of activities has an impact on physician competence, performance, and patient health.”

The Continuing Education portfolio reaches a large and diverse audience of health care professionals as well as the lay public. In the past six years, program participants have numbered more than 60,000 annually with approximately 50 percent physicians and 50 percent non-physicians.

“Our model always has been to be integrally involved in all aspects of program design and implementation,” said Bonnie Bixler, director of continuing education. “Our staff of Continuing Medical Education professionals are well trained to design and deliver meaningful education in compliance with ACCME policies and criteria.”

To earn Accreditation with Commendation, CME providers must comply with more than 20 rigorous criteria established by the ACCME. Providers achieving this distinction are awarded a six-year accreditation term. Penn State College of Medicine’s Continuing Education Reaccreditation with Commendation extends through July 2024. This recent reaccreditation marks the 18th consecutive year that the program has achieved this highest level of distinction since becoming accredited in 1973.

“We take great pride in providing our health care providers with superior continuing medical education,” said Hennrikus. “This recognition of the excellent quality of our program is an asset to both our healthcare as well as the lay community.”

For more information, visit the College of Medicine website.

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