Center for Learning and Professional Development

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

CLPD education photos
CENTER FOR LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Welcome

The Center for Learning and Professional Development (CLPD) is dedicated to advancing continuing education, healthcare simulation, graduate medical education (GME) and advanced practice provider education (APP) at our rural academic health system. Through a cross-functional, integrated approach, we deliver a comprehensive strategy that combines shared resources and expertise to enhance professional development and interprofessional education. Our commitment is to innovate and apply evidence-based, learner-centered methods that support the growth and development of healthcare professionals.

Led by a interprofessional team of administrative and clinical leaders, CLPD plays a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare education. Our staff of 75 multidisciplinary professionals collaborates to design, implement, and sustain programs that impact a broad range of healthcare professionals. This includes, and is not limited to practicing individuals and teams from throughout our hospital systems and those involved in specific training programs including residents, fellows, and learners in medicine, nursing, and allied health fields. Our work not only benefits local healthcare professionals but extends its reach regionally, fostering growth and excellence across the healthcare continuum.

Our teams

CLPD is comprised of 5 teams: Accredited Continuing Education (ACE), Advanced Practice Providers (APP), Graduate Medical Education (GME), Learning Design and Systems (LDaS), and Simulation-Based Education and Research & Interprofessional Continuing Education (SBERI).

Our mission/vision

We use our expertise to co-create inspiring learning experiences for healthcare professionals.

CLPD Strategy diagram

Accomplishments

Accomplishments

Design and Delivery

simulation

  • SBERI Increased efficiency and delivered 120% more learner contact hours through collaboration with Quality and CLPD departments.
  • Completed an IPCE Roadshow to assess institutional needs and delivered a 6-part longitudinal IPCE series on event planning, evaluation, and collaboration.
  • Redesigned and deployed 16 annual mandatory learning modules for 2023.
  • Produced digital learning resources on key topics like trauma care, child abuse, ultrasound, and substance use disorder.
  • 36% of system APPs responded to a precepting survey; approved a 0.4 FTE Assistant Director of Education for APPs.
  • Developed a new shared intake process for educational events with Learning Design and Systems, resulting in a Healthcare Education Learning Project (HELP) request form and improved collaboration tools.
  • SBERI advanced simulation research, collaborating with the surgery department and participating in several simulation-related studies, including those on anti-oppressive learning environments.
  • GME implemented an interactive quality dashboard for program improvement and oversight.

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Radiology Resident

Number of accredited continuing education activities in FY23

0
Live Activities
0
RSS/NRSS
0
Enduring materials
0
IPCE Activities
Accomplishments

Quality and Continuous Improvement

  • Over 300 APPs were honored during APP Week for outstanding contributions in various areas.
  • The Office of APP conducted a 4-hour “Transfusion Medicine” Continuing Medical Education for healthcare professionals.
  • SBERI team members collaborated with Quality, Project Management and Clinical Care Teams to assist in the systems integration testing of the cardiac unit in the new patient care pavilion. This work resulted in a broad collection of process improvements and training restructuring to ensure the staff was well prepared for the new space and that the new space was working as designed.
  • Completed latest upgrade and roster sync integration with Dartmouth Health people data in the Qstream microlearning platform.
  • Completed implementation of the Joint Accreditation application and digital financial disclosure form and mitigation platform.
  • ACE successfully re-submitted the commendation portion of their Self-Study for Joint Accreditation and secured an additional two years in their accreditation cycle. They now hold Joint Accreditation with Commendation through July 2029. Joint Accreditation status allows the ACE Office to provide more accreditation types and in the fall of 2024, they started offering social work credit.
  • In the past year GME has:
    • Had successful site visits for Rheumatology and Interventional Radiology Independent programs.
    • Received approval of a new Consultation Liaison fellowship to start in 2025.
    • Accepted 2 fellows into the Allergy and Immunology fellowship program.
    • Received reaccreditation with commendation from ACGME, with 70% of programs also receiving commendation.

GME Program Statistics

Percent of training programs with:

Continued accreditation
94%
With commendation
73%
A Full Match* (24/25)
94%

*The GME Match process is a system managed by The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) that pairs applicants with residency programs through the use of an algorithm.

Accomplishments

Recruitment, retention and workforce development

Slide: Improving relationships and Evaluation Using Data
  • Presentations: Michele Spotts, EdD, and Cara DeLura presented at the Learning Solutions conference on “Learning Dashboards to Improve SME Relationships,” earning praise. Their topic will be featured as the cover story in TD Magazine in November.
  • Professional Development: SBERI continues to prioritize professional growth, with staff earning degrees, certifications, and Six Sigma belts.
  • Philanthropy: A $700,000 gift established the Conifer Resident and Fellow Professional Development Fund to support ongoing training.
  • Programs: 343 Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) have attended the bi-monthly Topics in Medicine and Surgery series since January 2024. Additionally, 12 practicing APPs are enrolled in doctoral programs.

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center APRNs

Featured Staff Promotions and New Hires

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Initiatives

Initiatives

Design and Delivery

Medical staff proving feedback
  • Launched a GME trainee leadership program focused on giving feedback.
  • Learning Experience Designers and the LDaS Director are helping to design and deliver a Quality initiative around Universal Skills development, the next generation of Safety Behavior training.

Featured Conferences

IPCE Conference

IPCE Longitudinal Series
A 6-part series on designing collaborative IPCE activities.

Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking in NH
A one-day event on recognizing signs of human trafficking.

Trauma Webinar Series

Trauma Webinar Series
An 8-part series for interprofessional teams on trauma care.

Initiatives

Quality and Continuous Improvement

Deb Fournier speaking at the Susan Reeves Grand Rounds
  • Hosted the first Susan Reeves Grand Rounds on “Ethics in Medicine” during APP Week.
  • Enhanced collaboration with the Patient Education Advisory committee for better project management.
  • Joe Bradley

    Joel M. Bradley, MD

    Appointed Joel Bradley, MD as the inaugural GME Medical Director for Quality, enhancing GME integration into the clinical learning environment.

  • Received ongoing support from the Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation for continuing education, team development, and public health initiatives, aiding healthcare outcomes in rural areas.
  • Initiated the Learning Ecosystem Redesign project to update educational technology across the Dartmouth Health System.
  • SBERI has been actively working on systems integration testing to support the opening and remodeling of units, with a focus on psychiatric spaces.
Initiatives

Recruitment, retention, workforce development

  • The CLPD team held its third and fourth “All Hands” meetings, focusing on team-building, leadership engagement, and showcasing project progress. The gatherings emphasized learning, community connections, and appreciating team efforts.
  • The SBERI team collaborates with various institutions, including the Colby-Sawyer School of Nursing, Geisel School of Medicine, and Dartmouth Health, to support workforce development projects. These initiatives aim to enhance clinical training and prepare learners for professional rotations.
  • Under the guidance of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Senior Leadership, the GME program is expanding training capacities to meet both educational and institutional needs over the next 5 to 10 years, including increasing the number of residents and fellows.
  • In July 2024, a significant financial boost for residents and fellows was implemented, including higher meal stipends, more funds for continuing education, increased program support, and additional vacation days to improve well-being and competitive positioning.
  • SBERI working closely with Colby-Sawyer College (CSC) to support the establishing of their new simulation center on their campus in New London adding additional staff and increasing active collaboration between SBERI and CSC simulation resources.

Conclusion

CLPD is proud of the work completed this year to expand and improve educational opportunities across our health system. We look forward to 2024 – 2025 and another year supporting the work of our colleagues and learners throughout Dartmouth Health.

For more information please email clpd.support@hitchcock.org or click on an image below to visit our websites:

Meet our leadership team