Health Professions Education Graduate Programs Are a Pathway to Strengthening Continuing Professional Development

The need to strengthen the preparation of individuals leading and providing continuing professional development (CPD) programs has grown dramatically within the current health care context. CPD is an integral part of the continuum of health professions education and cuts across the multiple disciplines and professions delivering health care. Each health care profession needs not only to keep up to date on new information within their specific discipline but also continue to develop and expand skills in areas that link interdisciplinary areas, such as quality of care delivery and communication skills, across various professions. In this article, we examine the changing context in which CPD is provided and explain how graduate programs in health professions education can be used as a strategy to strengthen the preparation of individuals for CPD practice and advance the delivery of CPD through evidence-based and innovative strategies.