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Call for Abstracts
Submission deadline: Sunday, October 4, 2020 (11:59 pm EST)

Visit the online submission portal

The SACME Scholarship and Program Committees invite you to submit an abstract for presentation at the 2021 Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education Virtual Annual Meeting. Our planning committees are working to create an interactive, stimulating event that will provide opportunities for development, networking and scholarly interactions. The abstract selection committee is accepting submissions in the field of CME/CPD in the areas below: 

  1. Original Research 
  2. Best Practices and Innovations 
  3. Education Technology Innovation 
  4. Program Evaluations 
  5. Evidence Informed Perspectives /Forum 


1. Research: These presentations represent a vital component of our commitment to advancing the science of CME/CPD. Oral presentations enable individuals to present their work at various stages of development in a supportive and constructive environment. 

RICME submissions will be categorized into 1 of the following 5 categories: 

  • Works in very early stages: This is for investigators seeking collegial feedback on a developing research project, or for collaborators in other institutions. These will be separate sessions where investigators present their research plan and receive feedback from audience and experts. Based on the needs, investigators could apply to receive mentorship in further developing their research. 
  • Works in progress: These studies are more substantial than work in very early stages, and have some preliminary findings. Presenters may be interested in sharing innovative research methodologies, discussing experiences encountered during the project, or disseminating unexpected results. 
  • Completed studies: These opportunities are for authors with completed projects, published papers or manuscripts accepted for publication to showcase contemporary work and seek critical dialogue and knowledge dissemination. 
  • Evidence syntheses: The Scholarship Committee also seeks review papers, which contain meta-analyses, syntheses, or assessments of the research in a defined area of CME/CPD practice. Submissions of syntheses, including, but not limited to, systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis), scoping reviews, qualitative assessments or mixed-methods syntheses, and overviews, will be accepted for consideration. 
  • Methods research: Specifically identify, provide analyses of, and/or propose solutions to issues and challenges related to the conduct of research in CME/CPD. 

2. Best Practice and Innovation: These presentations illustrate the application of research and theory from a variety of fields to the goals, issues, and practical problems of broad interest to CME/CPD researchers and practitioners. These presentations will also aim to facilitate learning from the practical experience of our colleagues, another important means for advancing the field. Best practice presentations may include a wide range of topics including innovative and model approaches to educational program administration, planning, educational design, delivery, and evaluation/assessment of outcomes. The following topics will be of particular interest for the 2021 Program: 

  • CPD Responses to Rapid Change, Crisis and Pandemics 
  • CPD Responses to Enhance Wellbeing 
  • Innovation in Learning and Teaching in the CPD Practice 
  • Integrating Quality and Practice Improvement in CME/CPD 
  • Systems and Team Based CME/CPD 

3. Education Technology Innovation: This year, we will have a special focus on using digital technologies to support change in CPD/CME. Topics of interest could include: 

  • Digital Innovations in CME/CPD 
  • Using Simulation in Medical Education 
  • Driving Change through Data Analytics 
  • Harnessing Big Data and AI in CPD 

4. Program Evaluations: This stream includes projects that are designed specifically for the evaluation of CME/CPD programs or initiatives. These evaluations are usually stakeholder driven, specific to a local context and about generating knowledge about the program (e.g., whether it worked and why or why not) within that context. Evaluations should be organized using existing models of evaluations, and ideally be supported through the use of some conceptual/theoretical framework. All program types are invited but should include a CME/CPD intervention/program at its core. 

5. Evidence Informed Perspectives/Forums: In rare instances authors may have a unique and well thought out and sourced perspective that would be of interest to the CME/CPD community. Perspectives provide new insights, propose new ideas, challenge the community and/or theorize implications of existing or new ideas. Perspectives are intended to help direct and shape the direction of the community and stimulate scholarly work. 

Presentation Format 

Authors will have the option of selecting whether the abstract submission is to be considered for a comprehensive virtual presentation or brief virtual report. Comprehensive presentations will be consistent with podium presentations, but given virtually. Accepted submissions will be invited to create a 10 minute pre-recorded session then be available for Question and Answer for 5 minutes. Accepted brief reports will be invited to prepare a 1-slide / 1 poster or infographic, and record a 3-minute description with details on how to be reached for additional information. Attendees will be invited to reach out to authors of brief reports to discuss their work. 

New Investigators 

In an effort to support SACME’s interest in building scholarly capacity in the system, authors will be invited to indicate whether they qualify for “new investigator status”. These include : 

  • Students/trainees of any kind in process of acquiring professional degrees (e.g., Health Professionals, MDs, Masters, PhDs) 
  • Those who have completed their professional degrees within the last 5 years (e.g., Health Professionals, MDs, Masters, PhDs) 

In each of the categories above, spaces will be reserved for new investigators, Also, an award will be reserved for new investigators. Those who identify as new investigators will be permitted to request mentorship from the SACME Scholarship Committee to help prepare their work for presentation. 

General Submission Guidelines 

  • 250 words or less; references not recommended. However, “perspectives” require numbered references). Title, references and authors do not contribute to the total word count. 
  • Authors are encouraged to use headings / structures that align with their submission type (e.g., research reports may include IMRaD format) 
  • Indicate any conflicts of interest with industry 
  • Indicate type of submission 
  • Indicate preferred presentation format: comprehensive virtual presentation, brief virtual report, or either. Indicate whether the primary author should be considered as a “new investigator” (as described above). 


General abstract Structure (dependent on type of submission-Please see the website for specific outline for different types of submissions): 

  • Background: context and purpose/inquiry question 
  • Theoretical frameworks/current perspectives 
  • Methods/approach 
  • Findings/discussion 
  • Impact/relevance to the advancement of the field of CME/CPD 


Evaluation Criteria 

The abstract selection committee is committed to adjudicating submissions in a rigorous, systematic and transparent manner. To this end, evaluation of abstracts will be based on: 

  1. Clarity and relevance of purpose statement and inquiry question 
  2. Theoretical frameworks/current perspectives 
  3. Quality and appropriateness of approach / methods (if applicable) 
  4. Discussion of findings 
  5. Potential for impact for advancing the science and practice of continuing medical education/professional development

Notification: Abstract notifications will be sent to corresponding authors prior to November 9, 2020. All presenters must register for the SACME Virtual Meeting and will be expected to follow the guidelines for virtual presentations. 

Questions 

Please direct any questions about abstract submission and process to Bita Zakeri, Chair, Abstract Subcommittee: bzakeri@indiana.edu 

Secondary contact: Walter Tavares, Chair, Scholarship Committee: walter.tavares@utoronto.ca 

Note: Information for online submission will be provided in the next few weeks. 

The 2019 webinar “Posters and Oral Presentations: Skills and Best Practices for Submitting Your Scholarly Work as Abstracts” which was previously offered as a Virtual Journal Club activity is available in a recorded format to help with abstract preparation.

  • The following provide the expected outline for each abstract type. Considering the word limit of 250, the outlined categories should be brief and to the point as needed for each submission. This outline will also serve as a guide for presentation and poster elements for each submission type.

  • 1. Research

        • Background/purpose/ inquiry question
        • Theoretical framework(s)
        • Methods
        • Result/findings
        • Discussion
        • Limitation
        • Impact/relevance to the advancement of the field of CME/CPD
      • a. Early stage research projects/scholarly initiative proposal
                • Background/context/inquiry question
                • Reference to current literature/perspective on the topic
                • Possible theoretical framework(s)
                • Possible methods
                • Impact/relevance to the advancement of the field of CME/CPD
    • 2. Best Practices

            • Purpose/Problem statement
            • Approach(s)
            • Findings
            • Discussion
            • Barriers/facilitations
            • Impact/relevance to the advancement of the field of CME/CPD
      • 3. Education Technology Innovation

              • Purpose/Problem statement
              • Approach(s)
              • Findings/discussion
              • Barriers/facilitations
              • Impact/relevance to the advancement of the field of CME/CPD
        • 4. Program Evaluation

                • Background/context/Purpose
                • Theoretical framework(s)
                • Methods
                • Results/Findings
                • Discussion
                • Impact/relevance to the advancement of the field of CME/CPD
          • 5. Evidence Informed Perspectives/Forum

                  • Background/context
                  • Purpose/thesis statement(s)
                  • Literature review/current perspective in the field
                  • Theoretical framework
                  • Discussion
                  • Impact/relevance to the advancement of the field of CME/CPD

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