Advancing Academic Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development: Adapting a Classical Framework to Address Contemporary Challenges

Lifelong learning is essential for the practicing physician, yet continuing medical education (CME) and continuing professional development (CPD) units at academic medical centers (AMCs) have been historically underappreciated and under-resourced. Their integration into AMC leadership structures continues to vary widely among institutions. Without necessary resources and leadership alignment, many units are less able to focus on advancing CME/CPD to offer and study innovative educational opportunities that may enhance learner and patient outcomes. Using benchmarking data and recommendations from national leaders in the field, a CPD Hierarchy of Needs was created to frame the strategic development of CME/CPD units. This five-level hierarchy includes priorities such as (1) securing investment, (2) building infrastructure, (3) integrating into AMC leadership structures, (4) promoting data-driven interventions, and (5) advancing educational innovation. Recommendations to use the CME/CPD Hierarchy of Needs are described to convey the significance of CME/CPD units to AMCs and to the lifelong learning of practicing physicians.