Development of the UP Med Webinars for Continuing Medical Education in the Philippines

Abstract

Objective. This study aims to describe the design, development, and implementation of the UP Med Webinars as a method for delivering continuing medical education online.

Methods. Thematic analysis was done to organize information to describe the three phases of development: design, planning, and implementation of the UP Med Webinars for the period of 2015-2021.

Results. The University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society, in collaboration with seven units from the University of the Philippines Manila, contributed resources to the design of the UP Med Webinars. A committee on continuing medical education composed of alumni celebrating their silver jubilee led the planning each year. A total of 435 webinars were conducted from 2015 to 2021. Attendance steadily grew from less than 50 to more than 600 participants per session. These webinars covered a wide range of topics and were attended by medical professionals from different disciplines. Continuing professional development units were provided for free.

Conclusion. The UP Med Webinars was able to deliver post-graduate content online to healthcare professionals in the Philippine medical community. A well-organized set of partners collaborating to design and develop continuing medical education online was key to its continuous implementation and expansion.