Professional Development Activities Descriptions

Continuing Education Events

Instructor-Led Events

Description: Instructor-led continuing education events are those in which the participants have the opportunity to ask questions of the presenter(s). For purposes of this program, International Events are defined as: Events in which at least two and a minimum of 30% of the faculty must be from a different country than the country in which the event is being held and/or events which are held in a country other than one’s home country.

Examples: Face-to-face conferences; courses; academic coursework leading to a certificate, diploma or degree; lectures; short courses, and/or distance learning activities (including online and telephonic events). Travel medicine sessions from events and coursework not primarily focused on travel medicine are acceptable. Educational events sponsored by pharmaceutical companies in which all scientific content is developed independently of any influence from the pharmaceutical companies, are eligible. There are no specific criteria for the providers of academic coursework; all academic institution programs are accepted.

Documentation: Written documentation required includes the event agenda including the name of the event provider, date, location, topics and speakers, (or a copy of the program) and a certificate from the provider acknowledging the number of hours completed, if provided.

Teaching and Mentoring Activities

Description: Lecturing, speaking, clinical supervision, mentoring, university lecturing, internal teaching, grand rounds and presenting posters on travel medicine topics and focused on travel medicine issues. Grand Rounds are defined as: The presentation of medical problems, review of a topic related to travel medicine and/or discussion of the treatment of a patient or patients to an audience consisting of healthcare professionals.

Examples: Conferences, congresses, short courses, interactive distance learning activities (including online and telephonic events), and scientific posters authored and presented at an educational event.

Clinical supervision of health care professionals and/or students and trainees focused on travel medicine issues.

Documentation: Written documentation required includes the abstract title, all authors, event title, provider information and date(s) of presentation (or a copy of the program).

Written documentation for clinical supervision and mentoring includes date(s) of meetings, and length of meeting(s), and also a confirming letter or email from clinic administration or management.

Publishing Activities

Description: Serving as editor, on an editorial board and/or contributing as authors and reviewers to print and electronic publications on travel medicine topics as indicated in the Body of Knowledge.

Examples: Serving as editor or on the editorial board of a publication; serving as a reviewer of a publication; authoring articles, letters to the editor, book chapters, and websites.

Documentation: For Editor and Editorial Board service written documentation required includes the journal title, publisher, and year(s) of service.

For Publication Authoring service written documentation required includes the full reference: all authors, publication title, publication date, topic, journal volume, page number(s) of the article and publisher.

For Medical Textbook Authoring service written documentation required includes the full reference: all authors, title of publication, and title of chapter, publication date and publisher.

For Website Authoring service of organizational and institutional websites written documentation required may either include an electronic file containing the publication and a screen shot of the website or a confirming letter or email message from an organizational officer attesting to this professional activity. Work on individual clinic and practitioner websites is not applicable.  

Clinical Activities

Description: Providing travel medicine patient care, pre-travel, during travel or post-travel.

Examples: Travel medicine patient care as part of a clinical practice, and paid or unpaid volunteer health care provided abroad. Providing recommendations to another provider for an individual patient.

Documentation: Written documentation required includes a small spreadsheet or description regarding patient care activities including the date of activity(ies), or the number of hours per week and total number of weeks claimed and this information needs to be confirmed in writing by a letter or email message by the clinic supervisor, administrator or manager. 

Volunteer Activities

Description: Committee and society activities on topics directly relating to topics identified in the most current body of knowledge. Volunteer health care provided abroad is included in clinical activities.

Examples: Chair, Officer or Committee Member

Documentation: Written documentation required includes the name of the organization, committee/project name, volunteer title, and dates of service.

Review and Auditing Activities

Description: Peer practice review and travel medicine audits.

Examples: Providing practice reviews to professionals and conducting travel medicine audits. Quality assurance reviews.

Documentation: Written documentation required includes the date(s) of the activity(ies) and type of the activity(ies).

Consultant Activities

Description: Serving as a travel medicine consultant.

Examples: Expert Witness, governmental and supragovernmental advisory committees (national, regional, local, international), WHO consulting activities and WHO teleconferences, or additional NGO and non-profit advisory committees

Documentation: Written document required includes a brief description of the role, the activity, the date(s), number of hour(s) and the type of organization for which the role was performed.