Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a new model for Continuing Education (CE) gaining attention worldwide. As a model to better understand and take advantage of a variety of educational approaches to lifelong learning, CPD does not replace traditional forms of CE; rather, it provides a framework within which CE is an integral component. 
Traditional CE models utilize approaches to learning with easy-to-measure, defined endpoints. They are expert-driven and convenient. However, CE is difficult to customize to the individual needs of a learner, and lacks any requirement or expectation for linking learning outcomes to one's practice. CPD is a self-directed, ongoing, systematic and outcomes-focused approach to learning and professional development. CPD is a learning cycle (see diagram to right) that engages learners to meet their professional needs with measurable outcomes. In the first stage of the CPD cycle, the pharmacist reflects on his/her personal and/ or organizational needs to assess knowledge, skills and competence. In the planning stage, goals are defined and activities are explored along with resources available to achieve them. Outcomes-driven activities are chosen to meet personal and professional development. In the action stage, learning activities may include in-services, rounds, practice guidelines, staff training, webinars and symposia. When a learning activity concludes, the learner completes the fourth stage of the cycle by evaluating the effectiveness of the activity and relating it to their professional development plan. Integral to each stage is documentation: recording steps, processes and outcomes in a portfolio.
Benefits of CPD include enabling pharmacists to seek out educational offerings to match learning opportunities with individual learning styles, thus developing a professional learning plan and a sense of accomplishment. Opportunities exist to participate in learning activities that go beyond knowledge transfer to include application and practice-based activities with case studies and problem-based learning. And, most importantly, CPD empowers the learner to become responsible for self-directed learning. Extension Services in Pharmacy is committed to assisting pharmacists who would like to learn more about CPD. For updated information and resources, visit our website at http://ce.pharmacy.wisc.edu.
2012 Continuing Pharmacy Education Study/Travel Program
Join pharmacist colleagues at the February 8-15, 2012 Pharmacy CE Study/Travel Program on the Big Island of Hawaii. Combine relevant and practical CE with a great location. Faculty include Orly Vardeny, associate professor (CHS), from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy providing clinical pearls on cardiovascular-related topics (chronic heart failure, vitamin/herbal therapies, dyslipidemia, hypertension) and Glen Stimmel, professor of clinical pharmacy and psychiatry, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy and Keck School of Medicine, presenting clinical pearls on psychiatric-related topics (depression, anxiety disorders, and counseling skills). Stimmel’s wife and Wisconsin alumna, Christine Tran Stimmel (B.S. ‘96), will be joining him for the program in Hawaii. Regardless of where your winter home is, Hawaii is the place to be in February. To request a brochure, contact Extension Services in Pharmacy at (608) 262-3130, or visit http://ce.pharmacy.wisc.edu/courseinfo/2012Hawaii.
