Continuing Medical Education

AA&MDSIF sponsors, produces and endorses continuing medical education programs which provide the latest information on bone marrow failure disease diagnosis, treatment and management.

AA&MDSIF Online Learning Center

The following programs are currently available through the AA&MDSIF Online Learning Center:

Optimizing the Continuum of Care for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (a 4 part series)

Recognition and definitive diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represents a significant challenge, as patients often present with diffuse manifestations of an underlying cytopenia, such as anemia, and MDS must be differentiated from numerous overlap conditions. Thus, the incidence of MDS in the United States is likely much higher than previously thought. Definitive diagnosis of MDS requires morphologic and cytogenetic evaluation of a bone marrow specimen; however, these evaluations are currently performed on only about one-half of patients. MDS diagnosis is also a significant challenge in community practice, where clinicians see few cases of MDS compared to other tumor types. While several active therapies (either FDA-approved or in late stages of clinical development) are now available to treat MDS, choosing among these agents using current treatment algorithms can be a challenge for the community-based practitioner who may not be familiar with the available therapies.

Upon completion of this series of educational activities, practitioners should be able to recognize the tell-tale symptoms of MDS, identify the most useful tests to make a definitive diagnosis of MDS, and select active therapies for MDS based on disease and patient characteristics. In addition, practitioners should know what to expect from treatment with newer therapies, including the approach to manage toxicities. Learn more.

Performance Improvement Strategies in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

A complimentary, certified PI CME Program to help health care providers implement guideline-based processes of care for patients with MDS, with special emphasis on patient evaluation and disease classification, evidence-based surveillance and supportive care, and evidence-based treatment.

Earn up to 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and use your data to earn credit for ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC). Learn more.

Clinical Features of Pediatric and Adult Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes and Approved Therapies - Parts I and II

• Review of clinical features of bone marrow failure syndromes: aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
• Factors impacting quality of life in bone marrow failure syndromes
• Treatment modalities in bone marrow failure syndromes, including supportive care, approved therapies and bone marrow transplantation
• Impact of treatment modalities
• Educational requirements of the patient and health care provider with relationship to bone marrow failure syndromes

This program has been approved for 3.0 contact hours by the ONS Approver Unit. ONS is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Treating Complications of Transfusions, Including Iron Overload

• Problems of alloimmunization and infections caused by transfusion therapy and how to treat them
• Iron overload complication of transfusion therapy and how to treat it, especially in light of compliance issues 

This program has been approved for 1.15 contact hours by the ONS Approver Unit. ONS is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Presenter: Joan Latsko, MSN, CRNP, AOCNP Western Pennsylvania Hospital and Cancer Institute

Learn more.