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Helen Mawdsley, EdD
Director of Research CPD
Office of Continuing Competency and Assessment
University of Manitoba




Tell us how you got into your field.

I have a background in statistics, and worked with the Ministry of Health for over a decade in that capacity before completing a doctorate in education.  As that milestone was completed, I moved into the post-secondary sector from the civil service.  Initially, I was working in the entry-to-practice health professions education programs, and was keen to move into the CPD area, as it would connect to my earlier career in health policy analysis.

What do you love most about what you do?

The freedom to be curious and creative.  While there is a lot of work to be done, the research lens opens up the ability to approach my work with curiousity and creativity. 

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

I would focus on evaluation of CPD at the patient health and community health level.  In particular, I would research how the health care system may mediate implementation of CPD education.  As an option, I think that complexity theory and the work around complex adaptive systems can help us with approaching evaluation and sense-making on what the impact of CPD is, and what it could be, at these broader levels.  I think that this systems approach would help us explore the pathways between CPD education, and improved patient and community outcomes.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose?

Australia, as I have yet to travel there, and there seems to be such a breadth and depth of nature to explore.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself
I am a woodturner. Sawdust is my glitter.

Connect with Helen through SACME's Member Directory here.

 


More SACME Member Spotlights



Vjeko Hlede, PhD, DVM, CHCP

Senior Learning Management System Specialist
American Society of Anesthesiologists


SACME Member since 2014.


What do you love about CPD?
 

I love helping clinicians to build their capacity to help patients. I love engaging healthcare professionals in behavior-changing experiences in complex healthcare context, and looking for theories to explain and enhance those changes.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

Complexity of CPD is a challenging but very important topic. I believe it should be a building block of almost any ambitious CPD research. Learning is a complex, socially and emotionally constructed activity, and our learners learn and work in very complex, very dynamic, interprofessional healthcare context. Both the object of research - learning, and the context of research - healthcare systems are complex. Therefore, complexity theory and critical realism as theory of science designed to address complexity deserve more attention. They deserve attention equality as a methodology and as a topic.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose? 

Vancouver, Canda, Seattle, Wa, Galena, Il

What is your favorite holiday and why? 

Christmas is my favorite holiday because it involves gathering with friends and family, cosy atmosphere and it has long tradition.





George Mejicano, MD, MS

Senior Associate Dean for Education
Oregon Health & Science University

SACME Member since 2011.



What do you love about CPD?
 

The people are terrific and the work we do is meaningful!

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

The impact/effect of local key opinion leaders on clinical practice. What is it about certain individuals that causes others to follow their lead and change the way they practice? Charisma? Popularity? Role modeling?

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose? 

Portland, OR

What is your favorite holiday and why? 

Christmas! Family, presents, snow, lights, music and great food!




Susan Tyler, Almost PhD

Director, Continuing Medical Education
The University of Cincinnati

SACME Member for 28 years!



What do you love about CPD?
 

As a lifelong learner myself, I love knowing that we are helping physicians and other health professionals in their 1 ongoing lifelong learning. As we all take part in the shift from periodic educational experiences toward continuous quality improvement, it is good to be a part of the Big Picture.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

I'm just completing my dissertation on Academic Physicians' Readiness for Change in Professional Practice. One of my unexpected findings has been the value of mentorship for physicians. If I had the parameters mentioned in the question, I would like to pursue ways that CPD can foster mentorship among physicians.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose? 

Maui or Key West

What is your favorite holiday and why? 

It used to be Christmas when my children were small, but now that has become such a busy time with so much stress that I think I will say 4th of July. I love the fireworks and the music and the picnics!!.



Bruce Nitsche, MD
Medical Director CME, Director of Portfolio Program at Virginia Mason

SACME Member for over 15 years!



What do you love about CPD? 

Helping with the continual pursuit of excellence defined by patient outcomes and population health.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

Physician engagement/burnout or point of care learning.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose? 

Seattle ( c'mon, you folks never come up here!)

What is your favorite holiday and why? 

Thanksgiving - because of emphasis on family, being thankful, and it has been somewhat resistant to commercialization.




Cynthia Juarez, B.A.; M.A.; M. Sc..
Senior Director, Office of Continuing Medical Education
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

SACME Member since 2017.



What do you love about CPD? 

I love the idea that learning is a life long journey and that after you earn the credentials behind your name you have a duty and responsibility to continue to learn and stay up to date within your field. Being able to assist clinicians to stay on top of the ever changing medical field is such a rewarding and dynamic process. Watching clinicians take charge and address their knowledge and practice gaps, and that in turn potentially affects the health outcomes for their patients is gratifying.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

Implicit Bias and Misdiagnosis.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose? 

Somewhere in the Cotswolds, United Kingdom

What is your favorite holiday and why? 

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, because it is the one time a year many of us can come together and be with those we care about and the main purpose is to think about all that you are thankful for. I love that we have a holiday centered on gratitude.



Dave Davis, BA, MD, CCFP, FCFP, FRCPC(hon), FSACME.
Senior advisor, visiting professor (mostly retired)
Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine & Health Sciences

SACME Member for 40 years!



What do you love about CPD? 

The people.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

Linking learning and practice.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose? 

Dundas, Ontario or Fort Myers Beach Florida (selfish; no travel).

What is your favorite holiday and why? 

Christmas. Kids. Turkey.



Peter Sandre, BA, CHCP

Manager of CME Events and Compliance
NYU Long Island School of Medicine at NYU Winthrop Hospital


SACME Member since July 2018




What do you love about CPD?

I love the fact that through CPD - I am not only improving myself through constant learning but also I'm playing a part in educating physicians and other clinicians in the journey toward improving patient outcomes and patient safety - which will help make my institution a lot stronger.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on?

The role that biases may have in affecting Quality Improvement initiatives that are done by multiple institutions.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose? 

Tuscany in Italy

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I enjoy being with my family - especially my nieces and nephew - and seeing the joy on their faces when they get gifts from Santa as well as from family.



Ruth Adewuya, MD
Associate Director, Education Development

Stanford University School of Medicine

SACME member since 2018



What do you love about CPD?

I love being in a field of CPD that at its core is a commitment to ensure health and patient safety. In addition, 1 being in CPD, I have the opportunity to engage in continuous improvement as an individual which truly excites me!

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

A multi-institution project that evaluates the effectiveness and quality of CPD activities and techniques to develop a common framework/measurement system gleaned from diverse disciplines.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose?

Hawaii

What is your favorite holiday and why?

My favorite holiday is Christmas Eve. I grew up in the Philippines celebrating Noche Buena, which is a traditional midnight feast and it always brings back fond memories. It is a big, open house, celebration with family, friends and neighbors dropping in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! 2



Stacey Samuels, MA
Manager, Accreditation and Educational Development
UCSF

SACME member since 2012



What do you love about CPD?

I enjoy learning about the concerns the healthcare profession at the clinician level.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on? 

Perceptions of Quality Improvement initiatives; how often are these perceived as little more than numbers games and why?

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose?

Hawaii



Heather Clemons, MS, MBA, ATC, CHCP
Lead CME Associate
Sharp HealthCare

SACME member since 2016



What do you love about CPD?

When you educate one patient, you impact one patient. When you educate one physician (or other health care provider) you impact innumerable patients. Education is such a powerful way to "pay it forward" to make things better for everyone.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on?

Diversity and inclusion. Bias and stigma impact everything, whether overtly or covertly and I think we all could do a better job of recognizing our personal challenges and how that hinders us from being our best selves for others.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose?

Porto, Portugal - a hidden gem of Europe. If you've never been you should definitely go.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Halloween - my wife and I host a party every year. It's all about the decorations and the costumes. Sometimes it's fun to be someone or something else for a time and have fun while doing it. I also have a huge sweet tooth and what other holiday lets you go around and collect candy and chocolate.



Linda Caples, PhD
Director, Continuing & Professional Education
The Medical College of Wisconsin

SACME member since 2011



What do you love about CPD?

I find the linkages between culture and context within the clinical knowledge translation process very fascinating.

If you had unlimited time and resources, what CPD topic would you do research on?

The utilization of CPD as a critical component of a feedback loop in the development of local practice guidelines in the developing world.

If you could choose the SACME Annual Meeting location (and it could be anywhere), where would you choose?

The country of Belize

What is your favorite holiday and why?

A tie between Memorial Day and Labor Day because those are the two days a year I can truly sleep in and relax.


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