There are numerous published studies and reports regarding organ donor issues, surgical procedures, changes in immunosuppression regimens, risk factors for graft survival, and graft rejections.^3–7 However, additional investigations are needed to provide healthcare professionals with practical applications of research on solid organ transplantation and to develop new pharmacological agents to minimize organ rejection^8,9 and provide better patient care.

In order to fulfill the evidence-based practice competency standards cited by the Institute of Medicine¹⁰ to integrate best research with clinical expertise and patient values for optimum care, and participate in learning and research activities to the extent feasible, a more complete understanding of current and possible future treatments for patients with diseases requiring solid organ transplantation is required.

The educational design (print- and online-based, distance-learning activity) of this CE program will provide participants with the latest research on transplant procedures, outcomes, patient management, and graft survival directly from leading experts. The publication’s Editor-in-Chief (Donald E. Hricik, MD) recruited recognized experts in the area of solid organ transplantation to author the CE activity’s content. The participating authors worked with the Editor-in-Chief and the Pharmacy Editor (Julie A. Golembiewski, PharmD) to establish the activity’s learning objectives based on the target audience educational needs and developed CE quiz questions. The format and design of this CE activity has previously proven to be a credible and well-liked vehicle for the continuing medical education of healthcare professionals and to help improve overall patient care. This is evidenced by the numbers of healthcare professionals participating in such activities over the last two years, as evidenced by data compiled by the ACCME from its accredited providers.

This CE activity will include a CE Pre-Test that will help participants identify their specific educational need(s) as an active learning mechanism. Participants will have an opportunity to complete an evaluation assessment questionnaire that will facilitate an overall metric to assess program outcomes and lead to improvement of LCMEI’s overall CME mission: quality of education, fair balance, value/applicability of learned material within clinical practice, and provide participants with the opportunity to suggest topics for future development of transplantation CME activities.

References

Anil K. Chandraker, MB, ChB, Associate Physician, Renal Division, Department of Medicine,  Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
(Dr. Chandraker was the recipient of research grants from Astellas Pharma Inc., Roche Pharmaceuticals, Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Wyeth; is the recipient of research grants from National Kidney Foundation, Inc.; and was a member of the speaker’s bureau of Roche Pharmaceuticals.)

Francis L. Delmonico, MD, Director of Medical Affairs, The Transplantation Society, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Medical Director, New England Organ Bank, Newton, Massachusetts.
(Dr. Delmonico has disclosed that he received funds from Astellas Pharma Inc. andRoche Pharmaceuticals for symposia presentations and from Wyeth for a newsletter.)

Matthew D. Griffin, MB, BCh, Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension; William J von Liebig Transplant Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
(Dr. Griffin has disclosed that he has no significant relationships with, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.)

Maryl R. Johnson, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin.
(Dr. Johnson was a consultant for Astellas Pharma Inc. and is a consultant for Caremark Inc. and Genzyme Corporation.)

Bruce Kaplan, MD, Professor of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacology; Co-Director UIC Transplant Center; Vice Chair Research, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
(Dr. Kaplan was/is the recipient of research grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Roche Pharmaceuticals; and was/is a member of the speakers’ bureau of Roche Pharmaceuticals.)

John R. Lake, MD, Medical Director, Liver Transplant Program, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(Dr. Lake was/is the recipient of research grants from Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Roche Pharmaceuticals; is the recipient of research grants from LifeCycle Pharma; was/is a consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; was a consultant for Astellas Pharma Inc.; and is a consultant for Hyperion.)

Kenneth A. Newell, MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery, Carlos and Marguerite Mason Transplant Scholar, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
(Dr. Newell has disclosed that he has no significant relationships with, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.)

Jeffrey D. Punch, MD, Jeremiah and Claire Turcotte Professor of Transplantation Surgery and Chief, Division of Transplantation, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
(Dr. Punch was/is the recipient of research grants from Astellas Pharma Inc. and Roche Pharmaceuticals; was a consultant for Astellas Pharma Inc., Genzyme Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Roche Pharmaceuticals; and was a member of the speakers’ bureau of Roche Pharmaceuticals.)

Eight evaluation assessment questions are included. These questions ensure that Lippincott CME Institute determines that each activity’s learning objectives have been met, that the activity was of educational value to the target audience and was unbiased, assess whether or not the CME activity has resulted in a change in physician practice behavior, and offer participants a method of feedback.

The expiration date for each individual activity in this CME program is printed in each activity.