Note: This article is a sidebar to Guide to Managing Hard-to-Handle CME Faculty.

When it comes to problem CME faculty, accredited providers have identified three different personality types. Each type just so happens to correspond to a different Beatles song title.

“Nowhere Man” This faculty member is often both absent-minded and hard to track down. You may have had an initial agreement with him to speak at your CME activity, but there was no follow-through during the planning stages. This faculty member also may not understand the difference between a promotional talk and a CME activity.

“Eight Days a Week” Dr. “Eight Days a Week” is a thought leader whose jam-packed schedule and poor time-management skills leave her constantly jumping from one activity to another. Her status as a well-known expert within her field also causes her to project an air of arrogance around the subject matter, giving the impression that the rules do not apply to her.

“Sergeant Pepper” The authoritative personality, “Sergeant Pepper” may be convinced that he is the one and only expert in a particular therapeutic area. He often wants to present controversial topics that are based on personal opinions rather than evidence-based science.

Amanda Glazar, PhD, CCMEP is director of adult learning and outcomes at Global Education Group. Reach her at aglazar@globaleducationgroup.com. Allison Kickel, CCMEP is director of program management at Global Education Group. Reach her at akickel@globaleducationgroup.com.