The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) was founded in 1932 to advance the scientific study and medical practice of diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. AGC promotes the highest standards in medical education and is guided by its commitment to meeting the individual and collective needs of clinical GI practitioners.

Purpose:


The educational program of the ACG are a central objective of ACG’s overall mission/goals; namely to provide to clinicians scientifically based, high quality continuing medical education (CME), encompassing all subjects relating to the digestive tract.

Target Audience:


ACG’s CME efforts are designed for gastroenterologists and hepatologists, gastroenterology trainees, primary care physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other members of the health care team interested in the latest information on state-of-the-art concepts and practices related to pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of adult, pediatric, and transition of care for GI and hepatologic conditions.

Types of Activities:
The ACG provides a diverse offering of CME activities with multiple formats and designs. Taking into account adult learning principles and interactive teaching styles, these programs include live, hybrid, and virtual courses: an annual scientific meeting, a comprehensive national postgraduate course, broad topic regional courses, comprehensive disease-specific Friday schools, web-based activities, virtual grand rounds, and scientific publications.

ACG utilizes the instructional methods and media best suited to the objectives of the specific educational activity. Formats include: live conferences and symposia with didactic presentations, panel and roundtable discussions, small group interactions, case studies, and audience participation activities; self-directed enduring materials in print and electronic format; and internet-based enduring materials (archived activities).

Additional resources designed to support these CME activities include an updated website with focused disease content, hands-on workshops, clinical guidelines and associated decision support tools, monographs, calls to action, white papers, and patient education materials.

Content Areas:
The content of ACG CME activities is centered around diseases of the digestive tract, pancreas and hepatobiliary system; endoscopic procedures and techniques; advances in technologies that affect these procedures; quality, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare delivery; other related advances that affect the GI clinical practitioner and the care of their patients; and overall GI practice management guidelines, issues, and efficiencies.

Expected Results:
ACG sets the highest expectations and highest achievable results for its activities and is focused on the continual enhancement of each of its CME activities and its overall educational program. The ACG evaluates, assesses, and adapts content and educational methods to improve each CME activity using post-course evaluations, post-program data, participant feedback, and identification of gastroenterology and hepatology practice gaps.

The various components of the ACG CME program are designed to improve GI clinical practitioner competence and performance in the management of diseases of the digestive tract, pancreas and hepatobiliary system, and to enable learners to acquire and/or reinforce the knowledge, skills, and strategies required in their daily clinical decision-making for the most effective diagnosis and management of their patients. The expected results of ACG’s CME program are a change in (or reaffirmation of) GI clinical practitioner competence and performance in the overall delivery of gastroenterological care to their patients.