Jan. 24 marks the inaugural Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the individuals who help ensure physicians stay equipped to deliver the highest standard of care to their patients. Continuing medical education (CME) professionals play a critical role in advancing health care by providing opportunities for lifelong learning and professional development.
ISMA’s Education Department is led by three dedicated full-time staff members: Director of Education and Physician Resources Ranae Obregon; CME Accreditation and Recognition Administrator Cheryl Stearley; and CME and Member Relations Coordinator Michelle O’Rourke. Combined, ISMA’s Education Department has more than 40 years of experience in CME.
ISMA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to deliver high-quality CME. Additionally, ISMA serves as a state-level accreditor, implementing a rigorous accreditation process for health care institutions seeking to provide their own CME programs.
Currently, 23 health care organizations in Indiana are accredited by ISMA to deliver CME. Oversight of the review and accreditation process is managed by the
ISMA Commission on Medical Education, whose members are appointed by the ISMA president.
In 2024, ISMA delivered 46 hours of live education with 674 participants. Courses are archived in the
ISMAOnline Mobile app, which is the association’s most highly utilized education offering. ISMA had 3,053 education completions within its mobile app last year.
To address emerging needs, ISMA has expanded its CME offerings. In 2024, the association introduced its first ISMA Physician Wellness Symposium and continued its Physician Advocacy Training Program, which combines asynchronous and synchronous learning methods. Looking ahead, 2025 will see the launch of ISMA’s first Advocacy Retreat, offering participants the opportunity to complete the advocacy program in a single Saturday session, on top of other new CME offerings.
“Our goal at ISMA is to create educational opportunities that not only enhance physicians’ knowledge but also support their overall well-being,” Obregon said. “Through our evolving CME offerings, we’re addressing the dynamic needs of health care professionals and helping them navigate the ever-changing landscape of medicine.”
Learn more about ISMA’s educational offerings at
www.ismanet.org/education.