Oncologists seeking continuing medical education (CME) credits
at scientific meetings and online will notice a nonprofit
organization among the offerings typically predominated by the
pharmaceutical industry: the PLATO Foundation (Physicians Learning
And Teaching in Oncology). The PLATO Foundation is a 501(c)(3),
tax-exempt organization established in July 2010 by prIME Oncology,
a global medical education company accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Continuing Medical Education.
Another Avenue for CME
The PLATO Foundation was formed to
advance the medical education of emerging generations of oncology
and hematology practitioners, as well as those in current practice.
Through the award of fellowship educational grants (which will fund
travel to medical conferences) and medical education programming,
PLATO Foundation aims to meet the ongoing educational needs of
these physicians. PLATO Foundation collaborates with other
nonprofit organizations during major national and international
hematology and oncology congresses to provide completely
independent CME activities with a broad international
perspective.
Jacqueline Melson, PLATO Foundation's
fund-raising manager, said the organization was founded "to explore
alternate educational opportunities" by partnering with medical
institutions and other nonprofit groups. "We recognize the
important contribution of the pharmaceutical industry to both
clinical research and education. However, many CME companies only
work with industry. We are offering another avenue," she said.
Its first medical education activity was launched during the
33rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. "Controversial
Topics in Breast Cancer: Straight Talk with International Experts"
was chaired by Larry Norton, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center and Martine Piccart-Gebhart, MD, PhD, of Institute Jules
Bordet, and was supported by The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
and European School of Oncology.
"The symposium was quite successful. It was attended by more
than 600 health-care professionals," she noted.
Using Resources 'for the Greater Good'
James O. Armitage, MD, of the University of
Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and Editor-in-Chief of The ASCO
Post, serves on the Board of Directors for the foundation. He
commented, "Anything you can do to help train future physicians
will be important to the field of oncology and to the public. We
hope the PLATO Foundation will stand apart by providing activities
with an unquestionable lack of bias."
Dr. Armitage acknowledged prIME Oncology for "using its
resources to do something for the greater good, to provide more
education for young physicians."
The website launched March 1 (www.platofoundation.org), and
explains the group's mission and provides details about events.
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