Function. The University of Michigan Medical School’s (UMMS) Office of Continuous Professional Development (OCPD) helps advance the education and clinical practice of physicians at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) and those who would like to participate in our learning programs. In addition to generally supporting this aim, OCPD oversees two important UMMS/UMHS programs:

Continuing Medical Education (CME). OCPD acts on behalf of UMMS in overseeing and coordinating CME activities for physicians, assuring that national and institutional requirements are met. UMMS is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide CME for physicians. Among other functions, OCPD is operationally responsible for maintaining this accreditation and for designating American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award (AMA PRA) Category 1 credit for UMMS CME activities.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC). OCPD acts on behalf of UMHS in assisting UMHS physician leaders understand MOC requirements and support UMHS physicians to meet their MOC requirements. UMHS has been approved by the national Multi-Specialty Part IV MOC Portfolio Program to designate Part IV (practice assessment and improvement) credit through physician’s participation in UMHS quality improvement (QI) projects. Among other functions, OCPD is operationally responsible for maintaining this institutional approval, for approving UMHS QI projects for Part IV credit, and for reporting the satisfactory participation of individual physicians in those projects.

Organizational structure. OCPD is a unit within the Dean’s Office and reports to the Senior Associate Dean for Education and Global initiatives.

Ideas and suggestions. OCPD is always seeking ways to assist UMHS physicians and departments with their continuous professional development needs. Ideas and suggestions are welcome.