and Select Medical.

The conference at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, brought together physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, researchers and soccer leaders to discuss emerging trends in athlete care, from emergency preparedness and injury prevention to women’s health and the evolving pressures facing youth athletes.

“One of the most important lessons in sports medicine is that no one succeeds alone,” said Bert Mandelbaum, MD, medical director of the Cedars-Sinai FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence and interim chief medical officer of U.S. Soccer. “Whether you're preparing for a youth soccer match or the FIFA World Cup, teamwork makes the dream work. When physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, performance specialists and emergency personnel work together, athletes receive the best possible care.”

Additional conference participants included the six-time MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, along with fellow FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence partners Duke University and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). 

Emergency Preparedness Starts Before Kickoff

One of the conference's strongest messages focused on emergency action plans, which establish the protocols and personnel needed to respond to medical emergencies during games and training sessions.

Experts emphasized that preparation, communication and rehearsal can save lives when seconds matter. Discussions on sudden cardiac arrest highlighted the critical role of automated external defibrillators and community CPR training.

Tracy Zaslow, MD, a Cedars-Sinai primary care sports medicine specialist who cares for both youth and professional athletes, joined discussions on emergency preparedness and sudden cardiac arrest. Referencing the recent on-field cardiac emergency involving Angel City FC player Savy King, Zaslow underscored the importance of having trained medical personnel, emergency action plans and CPR-capable responders available at sporting events. She noted that while elite teams often have physicians and athletic trainers on the sidelines, broader community education in CPR remains critical because cardiac emergencies can occur anywhere youth and amateur sports are played.

Cedars-Sinai orthopedic specialist Joshua Scott, MD, venue medical officer for World Cup 2026 in Los Angeles, described the extensive World Cup planning underway at SoFi Stadium, including emergency response protocols, imaging access and strategies for managing heat-related illness. With summer temperatures expected to challenge athletes, hydration breaks will be incorporated into matches, Scott said.

Keeping Athletes Healthy

A recurring theme throughout the conference was that the best injury is the one that never happens.

Among the prevention strategies several speakers highlighted was the FIFA 11+, a free, evidence-based warmup program that takes about 15 minutes to complete and has been shown to reduce injuries, including ACL tears, among soccer players. The program requires no special equipment and can be implemented by teams at nearly any level of competition.

Cedars-Sinai orthopedic surgeon Carlos Uquillas, MD, moderated a discussion on ACL injuries and prevention strategies, highlighting the growing emphasis on reducing injury risk before athletes ever require treatment. The session explored the importance of age-appropriate neuromuscular training, proper movement mechanics and evidence-based warmup programs designed to help young athletes move more efficiently and stay healthy throughout their development. The discussion reflected broader injury-prevention efforts underway through the Cedars-Sinai and AYSO partnership aimed at reducing ACL injuries among youth soccer players.

Experts also emphasized preserving meniscal tissue whenever possible because of its critical role in protecting the knee and maintaining long-term performance. Cartilage injuries—which can be difficult to detect on MRI—were also singled out as an underrecognized source of pain and dysfunction among athletes.

The goal, Mandelbaum noted, is not simply helping athletes return to play as quickly as possible, but extending their “play span” by preserving performance, mobility and joint health throughout a career.  

The same philosophy applies to common soccer injuries affecting the groin and core. Cedars-Sinai surgeon Neel Joshi, MD, highlighted advances in understanding sports hernias—also known as athletic pubalgia or core muscle injuries—which can be difficult to diagnose but have a significant impact on athletic performance and return-to-play decisions.

Women Athletes Need Their Own Playbook

A keynote session explored how sports medicine is evolving to better serve female athletes.

Panelists, including University of Colorado School of Medicine orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Rachel Frank, MD, challenged the long-held tendency to apply research conducted in male athletes to women, emphasizing that “women are not just small men.” Female athletes face different injury risks, physiological considerations and performance factors that require tailored approaches to training, recovery and medical care.

The discussion also highlighted the growing importance of factors such as menstrual health, nutrition, pregnancy, postpartum recovery and mental health in optimizing athlete performance and wellbeing, as well as ongoing efforts to improve resources and support systems across women’s sports.

New Challenges Beyond the Playing Field

The conference concluded with discussions about emerging issues shaping the future of athlete care.

Among them was the growing influence of name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities. Cedars-Sinai orthopedic surgeon Natasha Trentacosta, MD, discussed how these opportunities are reshaping youth sports by creating new incentives, pressures and expectations, including increased year-round competition, earlier specialization and greater emphasis on visibility.

Additional insight and expertise from Cedars-Sinai included: Casey Batten, MD, Eli Friedman, MD, Michael Gerhardt, MD, Seth Lichtenstein, MD, Clinton Soppe, MD, and Rachel Triche, MD.

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: Can Rethinking CPR Training Benefit Women?

The conference—Soccer Medicine Updates and New Innovations—is scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2026, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. It will be co-hosted by the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at Cedars-Sinai and Select Medical, in partnership with Dignity Health. Additional participants include the six-time MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy, along with fellow FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence partners Duke University and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). 

Cedars-Sinai, Duke University, and HSS represent the only three FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence in the United States, with Cedars-Sinai holding the designation since 2007.

“With the World Cup returning to the United States, this conference reflects our responsibility to share best practices that advance athlete safety and performance on a global stage,” said Bert Mandelbaum, MD, medical director of the Cedars-Sinai FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, interim chief medical officer of U.S. Soccer and co-chair of the conference. “By bringing together leading experts across disciplines, we aim to translate the latest research and innovation into real-world care for athletes at every level of the game.”

The program will include former and current soccer players and is designed for professional and lay audiences. Programming will explore evidence-based approaches to injury prevention, performance optimization and care for athletes of all levels from youth to adaptive and elite players.

“As the largest provider of outpatient physical therapy and sports medicine in the U.S., we are proud to partner with Cedars-Sinai to co-host this important event showcasing best practices in athlete injury prevention and recovery,” said Alan Evans, vice president of clinical programs and education, Outpatient Rehabilitation Division at Select Medical. “When clinicians, athletic trainers and performance specialists collaborate, we raise the standard of care and help athletes stay healthy, compete at their highest level and return to play safely. Together, we are advancing the future of sports medicine and strengthening the world’s athletic community.”

"We are honored to be part of this collaborative effort to advance athlete care and innovation during this exciting time for Los Angeles," said Julie Sprengel, California president of Dignity Health, a member of CommonSpirit Health. "This educational conference at the Dignity Health Sports Park embodies the shared commitment to excellence that Dignity Health has with Cedars-Sinai and Select Medical."

Advancing Innovation and Collaboration in Athlete Care

The FIFA World Cup is one of the largest sporting events in the world, with 48 teams set to compete across the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. Preparing athletes for competition at this scale requires coordinated, multidisciplinary care that spans emergency preparedness, injury management and return-to-play decision-making.

The conference will be in person and feature a dynamic format with internationally recognized faculty who specialize in all aspects of soccer. Programming will include interactive sessions, panel discussions and on-demand educational content, with continuing education credits available.

Sessions will focus on medical and performance challenges, including:

• Emergency action planning for sudden cardiac arrest and cardiac considerations for return to play
• Advances in concussion management and evolving safety regulations
• Mental health considerations
• Knee injury evaluation, treatment and evidence-based return-to-play guidelines
• Common soft tissue injuries and strategies that bridge performance and injury prevention
• Innovations in athlete care, including biologics, youth athlete considerations and burnout prevention
• Team-based, interprofessional approaches to athlete care

The conference Scientific Planning Committee is co-chaired by Mandelbaum and Josh Scott, MD, a nationally recognized sports medicine physician and venue medical director for World Cup 2026 in Los Angeles.

For more information about the conference and to register, click here.

Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University is advancing groundbreaking research and educating future leaders in medicine, biomedical sciences and allied health sciences. Learn more about the university.

A follow-up to a successful inaugural event in 2024, the symposium sought to advance the practical deployment of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Attendees from more than 40 institutions explored how to implement AI within clinical settings during the Dec. 12-13 event while addressing critical regulatory and ethical considerations.

“The event was designed to offer a road map to help health systems innovate, implement and integrate AI technologies to improve patient outcomes,” said Sumeet Chugh, MD, vice dean and chief artificial intelligence health research officer at Cedars-Sinai and co-chair of the symposium. “By convening experts from around the world, we created opportunities to exchange ideas, tackle challenges and accelerate the safe and effective use of AI in healthcare.”

The partnership between co-hosts Cedars-Sinai and UHN emphasizes the importance of global collaboration in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

“UHN is proud to partner with Cedars-Sinai and co-host this collaborative international symposium dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence in medicine,” said Barry Rubin, PhD, program medical director of UHN’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and symposium co-chair. “Our goal at UHN is to integrate AI and digital tools to improve patient outcomes and enhance the precision, speed and personalization of treatment.”

During a fireside chat, Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System, and Kevin Smith, PhD, president and CEO of UHN, discussed the need to maintain strong organizational culture while leveraging AI to enhance care delivery.

“In a time when forces are pulling countries and people apart, partnerships like these are essential,” Slavin said.  “AI should not only improve efficiencies but also ensure equity in care and democratize access to information for patients.”

Smith also emphasized his hope for AI to transform care delivery without jeopardizing culture.

“Culture is our bedrock,” Smith said. “We strive to integrate AI into our workflows to improve lives, outcomes and efficiencies—without changing the culture of our unique medical center.”

The event featured panel discussions and debates on pressing topics that included data privacy, the need to train future clinicians on AI documentation tools, and the challenges of data usage and commercialization.

“Provocative topics and debates were purposeful,” Chugh said. “To answer tough questions, we first have to stimulate the conversations that will address these challenges.”

Cedars-Sinai and UHN have committed to reconvening for the third annual symposium in December 2026, continuing their shared mission to lead the global conversation on responsible AI integration in medicine.

Read More From the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom: Cedars-Sinai Strengthens AI Foundation, Accelerates Momentum

“In the morning, we will host a clinician track on best practices for treating women with IBD,” Khanna said. “In the afternoon, patients and families are invited to a dedicated session covering pregnancy, fertility, nutrition, mental health and more. There is also time for patients and providers to connect.”

An estimated 3 million people in the U.S. have inflammatory bowel disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disorder produces chronic and often destructive inflammation in the digestive tract. The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. While some cases can be mild and manageable, many IBD patients are faced with a constellation of health problems including severe diarrhea, malnutrition, dangerous blood clots, and extensive and painful scarring.

IBD occurs in men and women at about the same rate, but the disease can leave women facing unique health challenges. There can be difficult decisions about proceeding with certain drug therapies while trying to conceive or during pregnancy and menopause. 

“For women living with IBD, simply knowing that their needs are recognized and that there is a community and program designed for them can be incredibly empowering,” Khanna said.

The Cedars-Sinai Newsroom interviewed Khanna about how IBD impacts the health and wellbeing of women, including finding a good healthcare provider and effective therapies available to them.

In what ways can IBD impact women and men differently?

While inflammatory bowel disease occurs at about the same rate in both sexes, women often present differently. After age 30, Crohn’s disease is more common in women than in men. We also see sex-specific patterns: Women are more likely to have Crohn’s limited to the colon, less extensive ulcerative colitis, and more frequent extraintestinal conditions, such as eye inflammation and skin disorders. Recognizing these differences is critical for timely diagnosis and effective management.

Are there differences in diagnosis, disease course or treatment protocols for women?

The diagnostic workup for IBD is the same regardless of sex and typically involves colonoscopy, imaging, lab testing. However, the course of the illness can vary. Women may experience flares around hormonal changes, such as those occurring during menstruation or pregnancy.

Treatment approaches are generally the same for men and women, but side effects can differ. For example, women are more likely to develop drug-induced lupus with certain biologic therapies. Providers must stay alert to sex-based responses to various treatments for IBD. For women of childbearing age, therapy selection must consider whether a medication is safe in pregnancy. Most of them are, but not all.

Does IBD impact a woman’s reproductive life, including menstruation, fertility and pregnancy?

Absolutely. Many women report worsening symptoms during menstruation due to hormone fluctuations. Fertility can be reduced in women with active inflammation or prior pelvic surgery, although more research is needed on that front. Pregnancy outcomes are best when disease is in remission for at least three to six months before conception. Interestingly, we have found that some women with IBD may actually experience improvement in symptoms during pregnancy.

Most IBD medications can be safely continued during pregnancy, particularly when the disease is under control. Methotrexate, an immunosuppressant medication, should be avoided. There are other classes of medications, such as JAK inhibitors, whose safety and use should be discussed with your provider. At Cedars-Sinai, our IBD Pregnancy and Fertility Clinic brings gastroenterology and obstetrics together so women receive coordinated care.

Do women find it challenging to get an accurate IBD diagnosis? What advice would you offer?

Many women do face delays. They may see multiple providers before reaching a gastroenterologist who recognizes their symptoms as inflammatory bowel disease. My advice is to advocate for yourself. If you are not being heard, seek a second opinion, ideally at a dedicated IBD center. A colonoscopy and appropriate testing are essential to confirm the condition.

How do IBD patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to care?

One young woman in her 20s came to me after years of aggressive Crohn’s disease. She had seen specialists across the country, endured multiple treatments, and was facing another surgery. She broke down in tears, telling me she felt abandoned by her doctors. I reassured her and then brought her case to our weekly IBD meeting where top experts could collaborate on her care. That sense of not being given up on, and of building a trusted partnership with a care team, can be life-changing for patients living with a chronic illness.

The Women and IBD conference will take place at Cedars-Sinai on Saturday, Sept. 13. Attendance is free but registration is required. Those interested in attending can email groupibdwomensprogram@cshs.org to register and receive more information.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: A Good Grip on Crohn’s Disease

To address a persistent gap in obesity education, Velazquez hosted a four-hour, continuing medical education program in 2021 with 472 healthcare providers, including plastic surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists, nurses, and emergency medical technicians. She told the audience that obesity can worsen health conditions, such as psoriasis, cardiometabolic disease and fertility issues, but stigma toward overweight patients also can negatively impact their care and overall health.

Velazquez told Medscape that she surveyed participants’ impressions of overweight patients before and after the session to study the program’s impact. Her research showed that the program significantly reduced the providers’ negative stereotypes while significantly increasing their empathy and confidence in caring for this patient population.

“Our goal was to move the needle toward greater comfort in referring their patients to appropriate obesity management,” Velazquez said.

Velazquez told Medscape that after the program, healthcare professionals diagnosed obesity more often, and they more frequently referred these patients to healthy lifestyle programs and obesity clinics. Referrals to bariatric surgery for patients with a high body mass index (BMI) also rose. These changes in behavior persisted for a year following the event.

“The increase in the number of referrals to obesity care was so overwhelming, we had to change the BMI eligibility criterion to handle the influx,” Velazquez said.

Velazquez told Medscape that future programs will address questions about GLP-1 therapy and gauge the educational impact on providers over a longer period of time.

Click here to read the complete article from Medscape.

“These highly accomplished physician-scientists are more than clinicians; they are professors, mentors and supporters of all trainees studying at Cedars-Sinai,” said Jeffrey Golden, MD, executive vice dean for Research and Education at Cedars-Sinai. “Their unique yet complementary leadership roles will further advance our academic health system and bring continued excellence to our Health Sciences University.”

Katznelson, vice dean of Medical Education, and Goldhaber, vice dean of Graduate Education, sat down with the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom to discuss their shared vision for preparing generations of academic scientists, physician leaders and allied health professionals.

What does the role of vice dean of Graduate Education encompass?

Goldhaber: I am responsible for overseeing, strengthening and expanding the educational programs offered by the Cedars-Sinai Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Our programs serve more than 300 scientists in training, ranging from master’s and PhD students to advanced postdoctoral fellows in dozens of scientific research disciplines. I also have oversight responsibility for our clinical scholars and physician-scientist training programs, as well as high school, undergraduate and graduate research programs for visiting students from around the world.

What does the role of vice dean of Medical Education encompass?

Katznelson: I am responsible for all aspects of medical education, including Cedars-Sinai’s Graduate Medical Education, Continuing Medical Education, the Women’s Guild Simulation Center for Advanced Clinical Skills, the Chuck Lorre Allied Health School and the Medical Library, as well as medical student rotations from local, national and international institutions.

What are the priorities for Graduate Education and Medical Education?

Goldhaber: We currently have a Basic and Translational Sciences PhD program with four tracks along with a new PhD in Health Artificial Intelligence. Aside from our two master’s programs, in health systems and magnetic resonance medicine, we are adding new programs in regenerative medicine and translational immunology. We anticipate broadening our educational portfolio with additional master’s and certificate programs in the near future.

We would also like to make it easier for our clinical trainees, residents and fellows focusing on patient care to enroll in our degree and certificate programs as part of their preparation for careers in academic medicine. To help fund these students, we are instituting more organized and streamlined support systems for our faculty to submit training grants to the National Institutes of Health and elsewhere.

Additionally, we are focused on improving our ability to provide federal financial aid to our students, continuously refreshing the curriculum within our existing programs, and providing our faculty with more robust and formal training in the most up-to-date and evidence-based teaching techniques.

Katznelson: I am dedicated to building an infrastructure for medical education, including growing education technology; providing mentorship to our students, residents, fellows and faculty; advising on curricular development and teaching; enhancing medical education research; and creating a community fostering career development in medical education. Strategic planning will be at the heart of my work this year, which focuses on engaging the medical education community in devising the necessary medical education infrastructure, including forming a teaching academy.

Together with Dr. Goldhaber, we will be engaging our medical trainees in research by creating more opportunities, as well as advancing options for scholarly education, as an integrated component of their clinical training.

How do you envision these programs will grow over the next five years?

Goldhaber: My hope is to double the number of programs and students—including clinical trainees—from what we have today, and to continuing building the Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University recognition internationally.

Katznelson: I hope to foster and strengthen the medical education community at Cedars-Sinai. Within five years, we look to have a university that ties together our medical and graduate education programs, with an infrastructure that includes support for our education community. Through this effort, we will strive to have an community that fosters innovation in education and translational sciences, both locally and internationally.

What excites you most about serving as vice dean of Graduate Education?

Goldhaber: I hope that as a leader here, I can serve the students and faculty so that they can exceed their own expectations, which translates into amazing cures for patients everywhere.

What excites you most about serving as vice dean of Medical Education?

Katznelson: There are so many opportunities at Cedars-Sinai. As a top medical center in the nation, we are committed to strengthening all aspects of education and research, and to continuing to offer training positions to the highest-tier candidates for our residency, fellowship, as well as master’s and PhD programs. I am excited to work in an academic medical center fully envisioning and committed to achieving this future.

Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University is advancing groundbreaking research and educating future leaders in medicine, biomedical sciences and allied health sciences. Learn more about the university.

The symposium will feature distinguished experts from Cedars-Sinai, The View Hospital and other international and regional institutions who are pioneering advancements in robotic surgery.

Building on the success of last year’s symposium on innovations in orthopedics, this year’s focus will be on the latest breakthroughs in robotic surgery and their transformative impact on healthcare. The event will cover a wide range of surgical subspecialties, with attendees gaining hands-on exposure to leading-edge technologies designed to enhance patient outcomes and surgical efficiency.

“Cedars-Sinai is excited to share our expertise in robotic surgery and present the leading-edge research and clinical advances,” said Harry Sax, MD, medical director of The View Hospital in affiliation With Cedars-Sinai, executive vice chair of the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery, and associate dean of International Academic Programs at Cedars-Sinai. “Facilitating knowledge exchange between Cedars-Sinai physicians and our partners at The View Hospital will not only strengthen our ongoing collaboration but elevate the quality of patient care in Qatar and the entire region.”

The collaboration with Cedars-Sinai further underscores the commitment of The View Hospital leadership to foster global partnerships and advance medical knowledge. Cedars-Sinai has been named to the Honor Roll for the ninth consecutive year and tied for No. 1 in California and Los Angeles in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals 2024-25” rankings. 

"As part of our positioning as an academic care healthcare institution, we are proud to host the 'Innovations in Robotic Surgery' symposium,” said Fatih Mehmet Gul, MD, CEO of The View Hospital. “This event reflects our dedication to bringing the latest medical technologies and best practices to the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) medical community, fostering knowledge-sharing and collaboration to elevate patient care across the region."

Key highlights of the conference include insightful presentations, interactive panel discussions with industry experts, live demonstrations of state-of-the-art robotic surgical systems and networking opportunities with innovators pioneering the robotic surgery field.

As part of its commitment to fostering continuous professional development, the conference will provide attendees with 6.5 continuing medical education (CME) Category 1 credits from Qatar and 6.5 American Medical Association (AMA) PRA Category 1 credits.

For more information and registration details, please visit www.theviewhospital.com.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Leading the Way in Innovative Robotic Technologies to Improve Outcomes, Shorten Recovery Time

Katznelson will oversee Cedars-Sinai’s Graduate Medical Education, Continuing Medical Education, the Women’s Guild Simulation Center for Advanced Clinical Skills, the Chuck Lorre School of Allied Health and the Medical Library.

“In the newly created role, Dr. Katznelson will expand and strengthen Cedars-Sinai’s interdisciplinary education and training for physicians, academic clinicians and allied health professionals while fostering the integration of medical education with research,” said Shlomo Melmed, MB, ChB, executive vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of the Medical Faculty.

Katznelson comes to Cedars-Sinai from the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he serves as professor of Neurosurgery and Medicine and as associate dean of Graduate Medical Education. He also serves as chair of the Graduate Medical Education Committee for Stanford Health Care, where he is medical director of the Pituitary Center.

In his capacity as associate dean of Graduate Medical Education, Katznelson centralized access to innovative curricula, enhancing education in quality improvement and fostering grassroots engagement among residents and fellows. He established the Resident Safety Council to develop high-impact quality improvement projects, spearheaded the Stanford GME Diversity Committee to expand recruitment and opportunities, and championed wellbeing and safety initiatives to cultivate a healthier clinical learning environment.

“Dr. Katznelson is known to lead by example with kindness, grace, humility, professionalism and humor, and we look forward to him bringing these wonderful characteristics to Cedars-Sinai,” said Jeffrey A. Golden, MD, executive vice dean of Research and Education at Cedars-Sinai. “We look forward to his many contributions as a key leader in our growing education enterprise.”

Katznelson has published research in the highest-impact peer-reviewed journals and has been recognized for his academic education leadership. He is the recipient of the Laureate Award for Educator of the Year from the Endocrine Society and the H. Jack Baskin, MD, Endocrine Teaching Award from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

He received his bachelor’s degree in genetics from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree from UCLA. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, followed by a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

“Cedars-Sinai is a national leader in medical education,” Katznelson said. “I am eager to join the team and advance this exciting work. I look forward to developing new strategies and programs to train and educate new generations of clinicians and investigators.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: U-GROW Program Prepares Future Scientists for Graduate School

program at Cedars-Sinai has earned Joint Accreditation with Commendation, enhancing continuing education opportunities for healthcare professionals and signifying that Cedars-Sinai upholds the highest standards in providing relevant, effective, practice-based education.

Joint Accreditation means that many continuing education activities are now able to offer profession-specific continuing education credits to physicians as well as nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals, provided they are planned by, with, and for the specific profession and healthcare team.

Through Joint Accreditation, in 2024, physicians, advanced practice nurses, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will have the opportunity to earn continuing education credits through Cedars-Sinai from their respective organizations: the American Medical Association/Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Similarly, physician assistants, dietitians and athletic trainers can earn credits from their professional organizations: the American Academy of Physician Associates, the Commission on Dietetic Registration and the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer.

Other credit opportunities may be added each year, as appropriate, from the American Psychological Association, the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education, the Association of Social Work Boards, the American Dental Association, and other participating bodies.

After a lengthy, in-depth evaluation, the accrediting bodies commended Cedars-Sinai “for demonstrating that yours is a learning organization and a change agent for the interprofessional healthcare teams you serve.”

Megan Swartz, associate director of Cedars-Sinai’s Continuing Medical Education program, called the designation an honor and said, “Joint Accreditation highlights the interprofessional nature of education that we develop and provide for healthcare leaders and helps ensure we continue to meet the needs of all our learners by addressing practice gaps and changing skills and strategies. It’s exciting to be able to expand the program to offer more credit opportunities for them.”

The Cedars-Sinai Continuing Medical Education program offers live courses, enduring (on-demand) internet materials, and regularly scheduled series (RSS) to healthcare providers. Prior to receiving Joint Accreditation, the program was accredited for more than 20 years by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Education.

Mark Noah, MD, the Melvin Brody MD Chair of Medical Education and associate dean of Medical Education in Academic Affairs at Cedars-Sinai, was involved in the process of earning Joint Accreditation.

“Accreditation helps improve skills, performance and retention of healthcare team members and, in turn, has shown to improve patient outcomes,” Noah said. “We are proud to have received Joint Accreditation for our Continuing Education program and are eager to help facilitate additional learning opportunities and improved skills and performance to healthcare providers within the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the region and beyond.”

Jeffrey A. Golden, MD, vice dean of Research and Graduate Education and director of the Burns and Allen Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai, added, “Joint Accreditation with Commendation acknowledges that we promote interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork-focused continuing education for healthcare professionals through practice-based and high-quality learning opportunities. It directly speaks to the education aspect of our mission to deliver outstanding healthcare to patients.”

Continuing medical education opportunities at Cedars-Sinai can be found here.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Physician Shadowing Program Offers Students Rare Access

This symposium will bring together highly respected pioneers and experts in the field of orthopedic medicine, who will showcase the newest innovations reshaping the landscape of orthopedics.

The collaboration with Cedars-Sinai, a leading academic medical center in the U.S., further underscores the commitment of The View Hospital leadership to foster global partnerships and advance medical knowledge. Cedars-Sinai has been named to the Honor Roll for the eighth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals 2023-24“rankings. 

The symposium will feature speakers from The View Hospital and Cedars-Sinai alongside experts from other reputable hospitals in Qatar, specifically Hamad Medical Corporation and Aspetar. The goal of this gathering of international and local experts is to share knowledge and explore groundbreaking techniques and technologies revolutionizing the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopedic conditions.

"From the newest surgical procedures and minimally invasive interventions to preservation protocols and the integration of stem cell therapy, we will unravel the future of orthopedics," said Mr. Matthew Dronsfield, CEO at The View Hospital.

The symposium is a testament to The View Hospital’s dedication to elevating its role in bringing experts together and leading discussions on advancements in orthopedic surgery and medical education. It serves as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and the promotion of excellence in patient care.

"All of us at Cedars-Sinai Department of Orthopaedics are excited to collaborate with our partners in Doha in fostering knowledge exchange between physicians that will enhance the highest-quality patient care for patients in Qatar and throughout the region," said Bert Mandelbaum, MD, Co-Chair, Medical Affairs, Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute; Co-Chair, Sports Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Cedars-Sinai.

There are more conferences to come, said Heitham Hassoun, MD, vice president and medical director of Cedars-Sinai International. “This is the first in a series of conferences that will focus on leading-edge treatments in a variety of medical specialties, including cardiology, gastroenterology and OBGYN care," Hassoun said. 

The event has been accredited to provide all attendees with 6.5 Continuing Medical Education (CME) Category 1 credits from Qatar and 6.5 American Medical Associate (AMA) PRA category 1 credit, thereby ensuring that participants can further their professional development. Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, researchers, professors, physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists are encouraged to attend.

For more information and registration details, please visit www.theviewhospital.com.