The Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education (SACME)Annual Meeting brings together leaders, educators, and researchers to exchange ideas shaping the future of continuing professional development (CPD) in the health professions.

This year’s meeting took place from March 22 – 25, 2026, in Lexington, Kentucky, as SACME celebrated its 50th anniversary. Guided by the theme “CPD for All,” conference sessions emphasized emerging strategies in interprofessional education.

Members of the University of Toronto CPD community contributed across the conference, with presentations addressing topics spanning:

Thriving as a CPD Educator and Professional: Charting Your Growth and Strategic Impact

Authors: Janine Shapiro, Suzan Schneeweiss, Joyce Fried

Suzan Schneeweiss (Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Former Associate Dean, CPD, University of Toronto) co-facilitated this workshop on professional growth and strategic impact in CPD. The session shared ways in which CPD educators can reflect on their development, identify areas for growth, and consider how their work can contribute to stronger educational programs for health systems improvement.

Dr. Schneeweiss also presented Transforming CPD: A Conceptual Framework for CPD Leadership Development, further highlighting the role of CPD in shaping change across health professions education.

Advancing Scholarship with Generative AI

Authors: Sofia Valanci Aroesty, Heather MacNeill, Ken Masters

Heather MacNeill (Faculty Lead, Educational Technologies, CPD, University of Toronto) shared how generative AI can support scholarly work in medical education. The workshop focused on practical ways to use GenAI tools to develop research ideas and strengthen scholarly productivity while considering ethical use.

Dr. MacNeill also presented Exploring the Pedagogical, Technological, and Relational Demands of a Hybrid-Flexible Model, highlighting technology-enabled learning in CPD program design.

David Wiljer (Associate Dean, CPD, University of Toronto) contributed to several presentations, including:

• Reflection as a Catalyst: Advancing CPD in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
• Critical Dialogue as a Tool for Refining Digital Compassion in Healthcare Practice
• Co-Designing a Patient Charter of Rights for AI-Enabled Healthcare: Lessons for CPD from a Canada-Wide Mixed-Methods Study
• Facilitating International CPD Scholarship: Challenges and Opportunities
• A Dynamic Solution for a Dynamic Problem: Best Practices in GenAI Education and Adoption
• Critical Dialogue as a Tool for Refining Digital Compassion Competencies in Healthcare Practice

Many more colleagues across the University of Toronto and Toronto Academic Health Science Network presented on behalf of multidisciplinary teams conducting innovative work across the field. Some of these presentations were delivered by:

Sanjeev Sockalingam (Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto and Vice President of Education, CAMH) co-presented the Barbara Barnes Plenary: Back to the Future: How Can Data-Informed Learning Change Practice?

Alice Kam (Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto)

• Responsive CME/CPD: Reframing Curriculum Co-Design
• SPIRAL Framework: Development of Responsive Rubric for CPD Assessment
• Inter-professional Education: Co-Designing a Compassionate Care Rubric with Patients and Caregivers

Branka Agic (Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto)

• Facilitating the Implementation of EDI Principles in CPD using AI

Kayle Donner (Research Methods Specialist, CAMH)

• Patterns of Competency Loss in Safety Skills Training: Implications for Improving Skill Retention

Certina Ho (Assistant Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto)

• Looking Back from Transition to Practice by Early Career Psychiatrists: Implications to CPD

Holly Harris (PhD Candidate, Collaborative Learning College, CAMH) and Sophie Soklaridis (Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto)

• “There’s Something Magic About It”: Exploring the Value of an Arts-Based Method in CME/CPD
• Lights, Camera, Action: A Photovoice Study Exploring the Impact of Co-production in Mental Health Education

Petal Abdool (Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Faculty Lead, Simulation Education Integration, University of Toronto)

• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Simulation Debriefing for Opioid Overdose Management: A Feasibility Study
• Determining the Severity and Prevalence of Cybersickness in Virtual Reality Simulations in Psychiatry
• Integration Through Simulation: Applying an Adaptive Expertise Framework to a Simulation Bootcamp to Teach Non-Technical Skills in Surgical Foundations

Shaheen Darani (Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Director, Postgraduate Learner Affairs, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

• Secure Recovery Care Education for Forensic Interprofessional Staff: A Narrative Review
• E-Learning Evolution: Development of a Self-Directed STACER Examiner Training Module

There was also much to celebrate at this year’s annual meeting.

David Wiljer (Associate Dean, CPD, University of Toronto) received the Distinguished Service in Continuing Medical Education Award.

Branka Agic (Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto) received the Dave Davis Research in Continuing Medical Education Award.

Holly Harris (PhD Candidate, Collaborative Learning College, CAMH) and Sophie Soklaridis (Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto) received the Fox Award for Best Research Presentation for “There’s Something Magic About It”: Exploring the Value of an Arts-Based Method in CME/CPD.

Suzan Schneeweiss (Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Former Associate Dean, CPD, University of Toronto) steps into an exciting leadership role as President of SACME in 2026.

Explore the SACME 2026 Annual Meeting program for a full recap of this year’s presentations, workshops, and award recipients.