Smith & Nephew’s Orthopaedics business announced today it has made its first contribution to the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) for continuing medical education (CME) grants. Smith & Nephew announced in January it entered into a grant administration agreement with OREF under which OREF would serve as an independent grant-making organization for Smith & Nephew’s financial support of research and education in orthopaedics.
The funds have been contributed by Smith & Nephew to OREF’s Clinician Development Program, a comprehensive new system developed by OREF to generate industry support for orthopaedic research and education in a way that ensures transparency in the allocation process, relying on the history and experience of OREF as an independent, non-profit foundation. These grants will be available to partially or fully support qualified courses that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and are designed to help orthopaedic surgeons learn new procedures and treatment protocol, refine surgical skills, and gain hands-on experience with new implants and other devices.
Smith & Nephew is unique among all orthopaedic companies in that it is providing grant support for research, graduate medical education (GME) fellowships, and continuing medical education (CME) — all through OREF’s new system.
“We are committed to continuing our longstanding support of all areas of orthopaedic skills development because that eventually provides benefits for patients,” said Dr. Peter Heeckt, Chief Medical Officer of Smith & Nephew. “By making all of our contributions for research and education in the area of hip and knee arthroplasty through OREF, we can foster those programs that make a difference in physician skills development and patient care, and can set an example of how we feel this type of support will be managed in the future.”
“OREF is grateful to Smith & Nephew for their willingness to participate in this innovative program that facilitates industry support for a broad array of programs, including CME,” said Dr. William Cooney, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of OREF. “The landscape for funding research and education is becoming much more complex, not just in orthopaedics, but in all of medicine. We believe that this program may serve as the model for how such funding can be provided in the future, and are pleased that Smith & Nephew shares that vision.”
Source: Smith & Nephew
published: May 15, 2009 in: Companies, Financial, Healthcare, Products, Smith & Nephew