When you think of continuing education (CE) in health care, you might think of webinars, case-based discussions, Grand Rounds and so on, but you don’t often see what goes into building these programs. The impact of this education may not always be visible, but it’s experienced by patients through the care they receive from their clinicians. Health Care Continuing Education Professionals Day is dedicated to recognizing the impact of those who build these learning experiences, and so we at The France Foundation are recognizing the exceptional experts on our own team.
As part of the CE community, our team bridges emerging science and real-world clinical practice, transforming knowledge into innovative learning formats to achieve better patient outcomes. For many of us, the draw is a unique closeness to impact; through partnerships and supporters, we’re able to work with experts from around the world and develop education that changes lives. Project Manager Emily Perkins captured this sentiment as she recounted her own introduction to the industry:
“I wanted to be a doctor as a kid, and now I get to work alongside them. When I can see clinicians learning from us, I know that knowledge will benefit their patients; it feels more personal than I expected.”
Josh Garlick, Senior eLearning Specialist for The France Foundation, shares a similar mindset in his role at the intersection of functional design and user experience. “Design decisions can have a real impact on patient care,” Garlick explains. “There's something uniquely rewarding about working in a space where the right content presented the right way at the right time can make things 'click' for learners.”
The ability to witness the connections being made and the confidence being gained, knowing it may influence a clinical decision tomorrow, is a powerful motivator. For Matt Pereira, Senior Manager of Interactive and Creative Services, fulfillment lies in creating education that is as captivating as it is effective.
“I’m most proud of building learning experiences that are genuinely engaging and pairing those experiences with the data infrastructure to capture and show measurable impact,” Pereira says. “When we can improve a clinician’s knowledge and confidence and clearly demonstrate outcomes, it is extremely rewarding.”
That combination of thoughtful design and meaningful data reflects a core part of The France Foundation’s approach. We create education that respects clinicians’ time and meets them where they are, while giving them the resources they need to stay ahead of the curve and ready to take on the next challenging case in their practice.
“The work keeps me a lifelong learner,” Pereira adds. “I love collaborating with experts, associations, and an incredibly talented team, all focused on improving patient care.”
Senior Project Manager Ashley Smeaton shares that same fondness for collaboration. With a background in health care administration, she found her niche balancing operational expertise with curiosity about clinical science, building lasting relationships built along the way.
“I’ve worked hard to make collaborators and partners super fans, and I’m proud of the quality of work we’ve consistently delivered,” Smeaton states. “Each project is different, and it’s rewarding to see all the pieces come together.”
At TFF, we operate much like a multidisciplinary team of clinicians would. Each of our divisions has their specialty, but the coordination between us is at the core of our success. Experience is one feature of an effective team, but there are other qualities that matter just as much. Communication, organization and, above all, shared purpose all come into play; so it should be no surprise that Amanda Noe, Senior Manager of Medical Education and Client Services, focuses her efforts on developing that cooperative dynamic.
“Supporting expanded responsibilities, while building a team that is adaptable, confident, and positioned to take on more complex work, has been especially meaningful," Noe shared.
Yet, CE isn’t a widely known field, despite the vital role it plays in our lives. From those who fund educational opportunities to those who speak on stages in front of clinicians around the world, the one characteristic consistent across all CE professionals is the tireless pursuit of progress in health care. Sean Conlan, Director of Educational Development, shares his perspective on this pursuit:
“I think, if most medical education professionals are being honest, they didn’t proactively choose this field,” Conlan remarks. “It’s more like something you find along the way, or maybe more accurately, it finds you, but the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of patients who are struggling to overcome health challenges is what always makes this work meaningful and fulfilling.”
Today is a reminder that behind every informed clinician is a team of educators, project managers, medical writers, designers, data specialists, and collaborators working together to make learning relevant, accessible, and impactful. We are proud to recognize our people and our peers across the CE community whose dedication makes lifelong learning possible. Your work strengthens clinical practice, supports better decisions, and ultimately helps improve patient care.
Thank you for what you do, today and every day.
Ailene Cantelmi–Director of Educational Development
Amanda Noe–Senior Manager of Medical Education and Client Services
Ashley Smeaton, MHA–Senior Project Manager
Barbara Watts–Director of Educational Development
Carter Thorson–Director of Operations
Casey Bilodeau–Senior Project Manager
Ed Dodge–Marketing Manager
Emily Peck, MS–Senior Project Manager
Emily Perkins, MS–Project Manager
Erika Fox–Senior Project Manager
Heather Tarbox, MPH–Director of Education and Compliance
Jas Chahal, PhD–Accreditation and Outcomes Manager
Jay Jenner–Data Analyst
Joshua Garlick–Senior eLearning Specialist
Kelly Flaherty–Medical Writer
Kristen Brady–Senior Project Coordinator
Margaret Das, MSEd, PhD–Manager of Medical Content
Matt Pereira–Senior Manager, Interactive and Creative Services
Melissa Glasner, MS–Manager of Medical Content
Miriam Giles–Senior Project Manager
Patrick Harty, PhD–Director of Medical Content
Sean Conlan–Director of Educational Development
Shannon Knight–Manager of Graphic Design
Ted Bruno, MD–President and Chief Medical Officer
