About Us
Mission
The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Continuing Medical Education (CME) department is designed to change or improve the knowledge, competence, and professional performance of the medical staff, community physicians, and national and worldwide learners who avail themselves of the CHLA program of CME.
The topics of education offered in CME reflect the identified professional practice gaps and underlying needs of physicians specializing in the field of pediatrics and related fields that include quality of care, patient safety, and cultural sensitivity.
CHLA physician specialists and researchers―who have made significant scientific contributions to preventing, detecting, and treating children’s health issues―share these accomplishments through the CME department.
Vision
We believe every child deserves a healthier future—and this is why CHLA makes its expertise available to clinicians across the globe and why we train the next generation of pediatric specialists.
Target Audience
The CHLA CME program serves a diverse, interprofessional audience that includes physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, nurses, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in pediatric care. Our care network spans Southern California and extends globally, leveraging CHLA’s recognized expertise in pediatrics to provide high-quality education that enhances the knowledge, competence, and performance of healthcare teams worldwide.
Partnerships
CHLA maintains an ongoing collaboration with the Mayo Clinic to expand the impact of our pediatric educational offerings. We previously partnered with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and continue to leverage learnings from that successful collaboration. While we do not have formal partnerships with Stanford or Boston Children’s Hospital, we use these institutions as internal benchmarks to continuously improve the quality of our CME programs.
Type of Activities
CHLA offers over 125 annual activities, including national programs developed with leading medical societies, live conferences, workshops, and enduring materials available to the broader children’s health community.
Expected Results of the Program
CHLA CME educational activities aim to provide objective, evidence-based clinical content for incorporation into practice, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
Success metrics include:
- Learner Satisfaction: Regular feedback surveys to gauge participants’ experiences.
- Knowledge Acquisition: Pre- and post-activity assessments to measure knowledge gained.
- Clinical Practice Impact: Follow-up evaluations at 3 to 6 months post-activity to assess changes in clinical practice based on the education received.
- Team Collaboration: Surveys of interprofessional teamwork improvements, particularly after team-focused activities.
Accreditation
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide CME for physicians, with accreditation through March 31, 2026.
In alignment with our commitment to interprofessional education, we are actively pursuing Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE). This accreditation will allow us to extend our educational programs to all members of the healthcare team, fostering collaboration and shared learning to enhance the quality of pediatric care.
Interprofessional Focus for Joint Accreditation
By pursuing Joint Accreditation, CHLA CME is transitioning from physician-centric learning to a comprehensive, team-based approach.
This shift aims to benefit:
- Physicians: Enhanced collaboration with other healthcare professionals to ensure holistic patient care.
- Nurses and Nurse Practitioners: Participation in educational activities that address evolving roles in pediatric care.
- Physician Assistants: Specialized training designed to bridge gaps in pediatric specialties.
- Social Workers: Integration of psychosocial care perspectives into the treatment of pediatric patients.
- Psychologists: Inclusion in interprofessional education that supports mental health aspects of pediatric care.
By embracing interprofessional education, we aim to foster stronger communication, teamwork, and a shared understanding among all members of the healthcare team, ultimately improving outcomes for children.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Physicians can earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by participating in designated CHLA activities.
CME Courses
Upcoming Events
Pediatric Grand Rounds
Pediatric Grand Rounds is a weekly educational forum where leading experts and specialists present the latest advances in pediatric medicine, research, and clinical practice. These sessions foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration among CHLA faculty, physicians, staff, and invited guests.
To request access and approval to attend, please email: cme@chla.usc.edu.
To view the upcoming Pediatric Grand Rounds schedule, please click here.
Live Conferences
For upcoming live courses, please email us for more information: cme@chla.usc.edu.
Planning for a New Live Course or Regularly Scheduled Series
The CME department can assist your team in planning live education conferences in partnership with ConferenceDirect, a full-service meeting planning solutions company, to maximize the reach and impact of your meeting.
Effective conference planning requires a lead time of at least 10-12 months to ensure all critical components are addressed, such as program development, faculty management, venue selection, contract negotiation, and targeted marketing. This comprehensive process helps deliver high-quality, impactful events.
To develop a new regularly scheduled series (RSS), the activity must consist of multiple ongoing sessions (e.g., weekly, monthly, or quarterly) tailored to a consistent audience. Examples of RSS include Grand Rounds, Tumor Boards, and Morbidity and Mortality Conferences.
For more information or to begin planning a live educational conference or regularly scheduled series, please email Art Arellano, CME Manager: aarellano@chla.usc.edu.
Join our Email List for Upcoming Courses
To join our email list, please fill out this contact form.