Maybe you’re a new doctor, PA or NP and want suggestions on planning a great CME conference experience. Or maybe you’re a seasoned medical professional researching ways to better spend your annual CME allowance. No matter why you’re looking for vacation CME options, this is your guide to choosing the right experience for you!
Choose a Destination
CME vacations consist of CME conferences in beautiful destinations where practitioners can balance meeting CME goals with time for themselves. When looking for the ideal destination for your next conference, consider what environments appeal to you and what activities you want to enjoy after learning sessions are done for the day. The type of accommodations you’re most comfortable in will also factor into your decision.
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Florida
CME Seminars is partial to Florida for a lot of reasons. We love how convenient it is for practitioners from around the country and even across the world to travel here. There are also a lot of attractions for different types of individuals and groups. Whether you’re looking for pristine beaches, art and culture, great restaurants and nightlife, outdoor activities or theme parks, you can find it in Florida.
St. Pete Beach
With a laid-back atmosphere and dazzling natural beauty, St. Pete Beach is the perfect place for a relaxing CME vacation. St. Pete Beach is modestly sized and known for its slower pace and smaller crowds. Witness breathtaking sunsets on the beach before hitting the scenic Gulf Boulevard to choose from several restaurants and bars. Dine surrounded by RumFish Grill’s floor-to-ceiling aquariums or enjoy a steak dinner at 1200 Chophouse. Then, dive into a nightlife scene that includes rooftop bars, outdoor dance floors and live music at the water’s edge.
Sarasota
Sarasota is overflowing with fun things to do that cater to families, couples and individual healthcare practitioners. Sarasota’s signature attraction is its beaches; year after year, Sarasota area beaches beat out the competition on “best beaches” lists. Sarasota is also a paradise of outdoor activities with scenic golf courses, kayaking in lagoons and world-class sport fishing charters. Sarasota has a range of accommodation options for conference-goers seeking Gulf views, luxury suites and resort stays.
Orlando
Orlando is an easy drive from many coastal travel CME destinations, perfect for adding a few days at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, or LEGOLAND Florida to your trip. You get the best Florida has to offer this way, with white sand beaches and quaint downtowns paired with the excitement of well-known theme parks. You can also make Orlando your home for the entire week, with plenty of CME companies offering conferences here throughout the year.
Las Vegas, Nevada
With 14 million square feet of conference and meeting space, Las Vegas has become a marquee CME vacation destination. Vegas delivers more than 300 days of sunshine per year and less than five inches of rain annually. Affordable airfare, professional sporting events and a range of accommodation options make it the ideal travel CME destination. Vegas has also become a great family destination; kids will have a hard time choosing from indoor minigolf, arcades, laser tag and other fun activities nearby.
Hawaiʻi
Several of Hawaiʻi’s islands welcome physicians and APPs to vacation CME in lush, dramatic landscapes. Pair CME on Kauaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu or the Island of Hawaiʻi with golfing, snorkeling, surfing, hiking and so much more. You’ll also find a unique culture and history that influences everything from the islands’ food and events to its museums and tours. Hawaiʻi isn’t as easy for East Coast residents to travel to as other popular CME destinations, so once you’re there, consider staying for a few days after your continuing education is complete.
New Orleans, Louisiana
From the food to the nightlife to the art and music scenes, New Orleans offers CME conference attendees a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s easy to get swept up in the energy of New Orleans. Here, practitioners can enjoy well-loved activities like golf and adult gaming as well as novel CME vacation activities unique to New Orleans. Enjoy professional sports, art walks, festivals, and food and music tours, all surrounded by historical architecture.
Cruises
Another popular CME vacation experience isn’t a single location, but rather a floating classroom and destination. Everything you need for a great vacation is on board, from the food to the drinks to the amenities to the entertainment. Your required CME is on board too, with up-to-date meeting spaces, modern technology and excellent service. Plus, there are dozens of itineraries to choose from, so you can tailor your CME vacation to include several destinations you already love or have always wanted to visit.
Find a Convenient Schedule
Some CME conferences make it easier to explore your destination, while others are designed to pack as many credits as possible into a shorter timeframe. While a condensed schedule may mean less time away from home, it also means less free time outside conference sessions, which can last six hours or more. Alternatively, mornings-only conferences featuring four or five-hour sessions are popular with attendees because they help busy providers prioritize downtime for rest and relaxation.
Which is right for you depends on how many credits you need to earn, how you’re reimbursed for your trip, how much time you can take away from your practice and, of course, your responsibilities at home outside of work.
Ensure Quality Education
CME accreditation standards established by organizations such as the ACCME and the AMA ensure CME providers meet the basic criteria for creating and offering CME activities, including conferences. Check for this accreditation first when browsing CME options. To further evaluate a conference’s value for you and your practice, consider the following:
- Conference topics that align with your medical specialty or area of interest, such as primary care or pediatrics.
- Conference content that refreshes foundational clinical knowledge while introducing new approaches to care.
- Conferences that offer opportunities to learn new skills in in-demand areas of medicine.
- Conferences taught by leading medical professionals with experience in both clinical practice and education.
- Conference content that covers both medicine-related topics and professional development topics, including leadership, practice development and stress management.
Why Choose a Travel CME Conference?
CME vacations have become a mainstay of continuing education, offering conference-goers an opportunity to indulge in guilt-free play alongside work. The benefits of travel conferences are numerous and include in-person learning, networking opportunities, and enjoying the company of friends (new and old) and family in a vacation-like setting.
In-Person Learning
In-person learning fosters strong interpersonal connections in an interactive learning environment where participation is encouraged. Presenters can respond to learner needs and promote discussion in real time. In-person formats make it easy for practitioners to dig deeper into topics that interest them while gaining knowledge that will directly benefit their practices and their patients.
Connect with Others
Sometimes, your vacation CME is an excuse to get away by yourself for much-needed relaxation. However, for many, finding a CME conference with opportunities to connect with others is what makes the experience worthwhile.
Network with Peers
Travel CME conferences bring together passionate professionals from all over the country. There’s no shortage of interesting cases and emerging standards of care to discuss with peers. But the benefits of networking at conferences don’t stop with medicine. You might also hear about innovative business proposals, unique volunteer opportunities or interesting hobbies.
Make Memories with Family and Friends
Travel conferences are a great way to spend time with family, coworkers and friends in the field. Mornings-only vacation CME means your afternoons are free to enjoy the beach with your kids, get drinks with a coworker you’ve been meaning to connect with outside of work, or meet up with friends you’ve made throughout your career. Or, perhaps you’ll just relax with your partner.