A contingent from the Alliance for CME went to Washington, D.C., in October to meet with a senior staff member at the United States Senate Committee on Finance. The Alliance initiated the meeting in response to the SFC's report on CME.

The result of a two-year investigation into pharmaceutical grants, the report, issued in April, and a subsequent letter to the Accreditation Couincil for CME, expressed concerns about drug industry influence over education and the ACCME's oversight of providers.

Alliance president Sue Ann Capizzi, MBA, says the meeting was positive, with a straightforward discussion. “We believe we achieved our goal of informing the committee of our mission and who we represent,” says Capizzi.