Breaking Silos: Improving Continuing Medical Education Planning Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration

BACKGROUND: A project team at Southern California Permanente Medical Group piloted a redesigned, interdisciplinary approach to the planning of continuing medical education (CME) that brought key stakeholders together at the initial consultation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess faculty and planner perceptions of the planning process before and after implementation. Eligible participants were individuals who had participated in CME activities under both models between January 2022 and March 2025 (N = 18). The survey included Likert-scale, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative responses were examined using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants reported high levels of support under both models, with more consistently positive perceptions of communication, coordination, and access to resources in the collaborative approach. Findings related to preparedness, efficiency, and perceived educational value were mixed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that early interdisciplinary collaboration may support improved coordination in CME planning. Further research with larger samples and more robust measures is needed to better evaluate the impact of this approach on efficiency and educational outcomes.