What Canadian physicians say about our "vacation CME"

This was one of the better things that I have ever attended. It allowed time to reflect on the learning each day - not everything jammed into one or two days. Reflected good pedagogical adult learning principles
A good way to mix vacation and study. I find I can actually absorb more information.
It actually was a great combination: great learning, with a lot of time to enjoy the surroundings
This was a great experience for me. Also a first combining family vacations and CME. It allowed me to enjoy both the learning and the quality time with my spouse and daughter.
Loved it!! It's always nice to have a vacation, meet some new people, and learn all in one trip!!
There is no better way to learn!! It also gave me a perfect excuse to take my first traveling vacation in more than 10 years.
I really enjoyed it! We had a lovely time as a family on holiday and enjoyed the CBT sessions immensely.
Enjoyed it!!!! Found it useful and at the same time a great idea for a break away from practice to get the mind clear.
I think it's a great way to learn new skills in a relaxed, non-pressure atmosphere and combine it with a vacation at a holiday destination.
I learned a lot, while still having the opportunity to unwind and relax. I truly believe that one is able to absorb more info and knowledge in a relaxed, stress free environment.
Relaxed and calm learning atmosphere. Wonderful collegiality with other attendees. Able to accomplish parallel reading to help cement concepts and principles.
I thought it was a good combination of down time and educational time. It did not have the rushed feeling of a weekend course where you are racing back to deal with the chaos of work.
This is my first "CME vacation". It was a wonderful way to incorporate the necessary CME requirements and still share quality time and a unique experience with family
This was the first time I had ever done a CME vacation. Great idea- best of both worlds. Able to spend time with family. Relax and learn/expand knowledge. Found my learning and attention was far better/efficient as I was relaxed rather than rushed between clinic, commuting and family commitments. Would definitely recommend it to other family physicians and would do it again.
I think it's the way to go
Excellent, it was what learning should always be, fun and educating!
Fun, recharging, educational, practical
The best way to do CME. Relaxed environment, comfortable situation in which to learn.
Personally, I find it easier to concentrate on CME portion in a vacation destination if I know that I have part of the day free to "play".
First time I've done it and must say it's a great way to vacation and earn CME. When I take just a vacation, it takes a week to get back on track when I return. This way, I'm staying "active" in my practice for a few hours a day and the transition back to work has been much easier.
It is one of the best opportunities we have in the medical community.
I was skeptical. Have avoided mixing work and vacation. Turned out to be quite a positive experience. I would do it again.
Fantastic! The only way to do CME - loved the half day approach.
This was a wonderful course, a great way to combine family time with some learning and CME!
Worked very well for me. I often find a full day of CME over 2-3 days almost overwhelming. Doing half days I found I was more alert and it was great to get out and explore each day.
Vacation CBT was the best learning experience I have ever had.
I think it is a great way to combine a family holiday with an educational experience.
It was a great experience - we had an amazing family vacation and felt enriched by what we learned at the CME course. (my husband and I both attended the course)
I find the combination of learning and fellowship/adventure to be more conducive to learning
Able to be in a clearer focused frame of mind with the time and location away from the office -- can concentrate on learning, rather than day to day office management.
I think it's a great idea to mix some fun into CME. My accountant also approves.
Fantastic! Great blend of learning new material with time to spend with friends/family exploring a lovely new venue.
A very positive experience for both myself and my spouse
This was my first CME "vacation" and it was one of our best trips ever. It was well organized at a first rate resort. We were all relaxed and open to learn and enjoyed meeting each other ...It was a pleasant change from the hustle of my regular CME, which I try to fit in between numerous competing demands. It was also a topic which my husband enjoyed learning about as well. The presentation was excellent ....all in all a very enjoyable and worthwhile experience.
WIN - WIN !
Vacation CME serves many purposes: as well as allowing us to keep abreast of various medical therapies, it provides beneficial opportunities to meet other professionals, share "fellowship"-professionally and socially. The bonus of "down time" serves to keep us healthy-mentally and physically.
It's the world's greatest motivator for regular CME! I actually find it better than trying to fit it into a busy week... I can relax and engage/process more.
I feel grateful for the existence of "vacation CME", both for the valuable CBT tools acquired, and the setting in which it was taught.
I think it is a great combination, and the tax write off is a bonus.
I think it is a wonderful way to include CME into a very busy lifestyle, and not have to sacrifice family time.
I believe "vacation CME" is the most efficient, valuable and productive way of learning as one is totally relaxed, free of pressure, in a nice get-away vacation spot (and with family), and a chance to meet with colleagues from all over the world.
Excellent combination of motivational learning and pleasure without the usual office challenges/home maintenance competing for time, mental and physical effort.
I feel great about it, since I was able to achieve two goals at the same time.
It’s a great idea, I can do my studying while my family is having fun and after all the working I can join them and have some relaxing family time. Makes learning a fun experience.
Vacation CME provides an excellent opportunity to divorce from daily stressors and to focus on the learning at hand.
Best thing since the invention of bubble-gum! I love the fact that opportunities are created for continued medical education in a vacation atmosphere where the only obligation is to concentrate on a single topic only. This seems to facilitate the topics to sink into permanent changes into day to day practice tools and to be used more readily than in the past.
I really feel that I was able to stay better focused during the course and retain more information by having half the day to relax and get some exercise. This was a terrific way to get CME and to do some "self-care" at the same time!
A great idea to incorporate a CME with a family vacation. It makes financial and academic sense.
This was my first experience with vacation CME. I felt it was a great opportunity to learn while enjoying time away from work and spending precious time with my family. Being relaxed made me more able to absorb the course material.
Vacation CME is definitely the most enjoyable way to learn
Really good idea - get to go somewhere on my bucket list while doing a CME also on my list, AND can write off so many of the costs. It ends up feeling like a holiday overall, in part too because these CME's have been enjoyable.
Very positive! It takes you away from your busy routine to focus on the course content. Always nice to visit other countries and meet people from all over the world.
I found this form of CME quite nice, actually! I had never attended a CME in this form, but found it both very informative and very relaxing, as you're away from all of the craziness around work, and home. So, I would do this again.
It’s a perfect balance of education and relaxation with time to digest the materials & even have a few lively discussions between sessions.
It was a nice blend of work and vacation. Three half days was just the right duration of time and kept my attention focused on the CME.

Great idea. It allows time to focus on the new topic while having some R&R
An appropriate amount of learning and lounging. It allows one to escape the requirements of practice and to focus on learning. I was fortunate enough to have incorporated "electronic isolation" with leaving the laptop and Blackberry at home. This made for a better learning environment overall.
I do feel enchanted, if I may say so. Learning in such a beautiful and sunny environment is fantastic. Personally I learn more efficiently in a more relaxed environment plus the bonus of meeting new colleagues makes the journey unforgettable.
I believe it is essential. I already commit vast amounts of my time to care for patients, often at the expense of my health and my family. If I chose to pay extra to do the required CME in a pleasant location rather than some classroom at the local university - usually at an inconvenient time that is my choice. I believe the authorities should be glad I am doing it.
Great! I think it's a great way to learn something when one is away from the hectic pace of practice.
I found this very practical, and have begun applying many of the concepts to my practice immediately. It was very pleasant to be able to alternate learning with travelling.
Ideal! Without it, my husband and I would not be able to afford to experience such wonderful cruises and destinations. As well, I love to focus on CME for a dedicated, protected time, to engage with colleagues in discussions, and to have time off to reflect and organize what I am learning.
It worked really well; and having the afternoons to be with my spouse was a very fulfilling time for both of us (besides which at this stage in my career, a half day of learning is about all I can do).
It is great since your mind is relaxed you are open to new learning.
This was my first time in a cruise CME. It was really an amazing experience. You learn in a very relaxing environment, your attention is at its best. I think that MDs who in general, have a high load of patients, multiple issues to deal with could utilize more of this type of CME.
I think it is a great idea as one is more relaxed to start off and the group interaction was more fun as a result and FUN is really important for MOOD STEWARDSHIP
I think that Vacation CMEs are a great way of combining time away from the practice with great educational opportunities in a relaxing environment. I will continue to attend these as much as I reasonably can
I feel that it's a perfect combination to learn while staying relax and meeting new people from all over Canada.
It's a formula that I like a lot and have done a few times. I find it fun and useful to mix vacation and education and of course there are financial advantages.
It worked out well since we have to travel from our small town for any CME and we have limited vacation time. It is nice to combine the two things together.
I think it's fantastic! I find that when I am relaxed and engaged by being in a new place, I am also in a better frame of mind to learn.
I think it is a great concept. A few hours of intensive lectures/workshop in the morning with relaxation in a beautiful place in the afternoon - this works for me. My family gets to join me on a trip away from home.
Taking time away to learn and concentrate on something new is very important for me. If I am not 'away' I invariably end up having little time to think about how to integrate what I have learned into my medical practice. There are the usual pressures and what I have learned can become a distant recollection rather than a vibrant new integrated idea.
Great opportunity to gain some knowledge and spend quality time with the family. It is a great idea and definitely works for me
I think it's a great blend of a relevant CME topic with leisure time attached, both allowing one to consider what was discussed in a relaxed setting, and to enjoy some "down time" as well.
it is a wonderful way of combining both vacation time for yourself and spouse or family and to have time to sit back and learn in a non-stressful but very motivating way
It is a great way to be totally away from work / office and local environment. You are fully involved and focused on the learning at the CME. At the same time you can enjoy a new location and local culture too.
It is refreshing and motivating and family orientated and is the way I have always done most CME's. It allows me time to recharge and combine a family vacation, which is badly needed.
I think it's wonderful. Gives us a chance to get away without feeling too guilty - and it's tax deductible.
I think it is a brilliant idea - life is very busy in general practice and this combination allows the best of both worlds. It is hard to find time for CME and harder to find time for vacations - so it is great to be able to combine these two essential ingredients.
Wonderful way to combine three essential activities - have a break from the pressures of work; have a chance to catch up on current information and extend working knowledge; and get a tax deduction in the process.
I really enjoyed myself. I think that it was an ideal situation for my family. I felt that the learning experience was not at all hindered by the vacation experience
A good blend of learning and relaxation that prevents the "learning burnout" that can happen with day after day of lectures.
Love it- wish I figured it out years ago
I love the concept of work - work - play! I could bring my family rather than leave alone for a conference. I learned a lot and had a great break too.
I have a bucket list of places to visit - I enjoy learning at the same time and meeting other people. Look forward to the next one.
Love it! This provides an opportunity to have some "me" time in the form of enjoying the activities available at the same time as I learn an approach that will also make life easier as I apply it in my day to day life.
This is the first time I actually did a vacation CME. I enjoyed it immensely and would think of doing one again.
I find it a very effective combination of family, self and CME requirements. I have done it since starting my career, and hope to continue long into the future.
It worked well. The schedule 1. helped pace the learning making it easier to assimilate and integrate. 2. allowed me time for my family 3. allowed some down time. I do not have CME time allotted as part of my positions so it is indeed taken from vacation time. Because of the downtime, I was able to return to work refreshed rather than tired. So, I feel good about "vacation CME".
Fantastic: allowed me to treat my family to a great vacation, and treat myself to a great course.
I like it... a few days of brain stimulation re the practice of medicine and a few days of relaxation or doing something completely not medicine. I think that it is a good way to combine two important parts of a doctor's career - continuing education as well as some relaxation once in a while!
A great way to learn and spend some time in a fun location with family and friends. Vacation CME is the way to go!
I think it is a civilized way to escape the mental and physical demands of home and work, allowing the mind to be fresh and ready to absorb new information.
This was my first vacation CME ever, and I absolutely loved it. I felt productive and not "guilty" for going on vacation as I was also learning at the same time. I could bring my partner and we could both enjoy the CME together as it was in such a beautiful place. I plan on making at least one of these types of trips per year.
It is a perfect combination especially if you add on some vacation days. When far from home you forget everyday worries and are more open to family and being less tired it is earlier to learn.
Excellent, very relaxing and informative in nice setting with a chance to meet new colleagues. I enjoy meeting other professionals in the context of CME and combining this with a break from work increases the enjoyment.
An excellent way to learn without the pressures and distractions of regular day to day work. Allows one to focus more directly on the subject matter and meet with peers across the country whom we might not necessarily meet.
I love it. It prompts me to look for CME that I am interested in, in places I may not otherwise visit. The exposure to a new culture/place in itself is educational. It gives me more of a chance and incentive to get away with family as well.
Great to take a vacation with my family and take a mental health break, important in sustaining my challenging practice.
It was beneficial to me. Financially and professionally!
It is an opportunity to fulfill some learning needs in a relaxed pleasant environment that often allows some down time with my family and mitigates the family complaint about "going away again by yourself?".
Excellent way to learn and improve clinical practice while revitalizing and recharging your "protoplasm".
Nice break from the usual routine. Plenty of time for 'vacation' and 'CME'
This was my first "vacation CME" and certainly not my last.
Great idea, already signed up for another one
Very good. I fully support it.
An excellent opportunity to learn something useful and at the same time see more of the world we live and work in. It provides the family with an opportunity to travel to an interesting destination.
Great way to mix relaxation with learning. My brain is more receptive to learning when I am away from the distractions of home, therefore I spend more time after each event day processing the information I have learned.
Extremely worthwhile. Very useful CME information. Fantastic cruise experience. Wonderful meeting other CME participants and their families.
I feel it was a fantastic experience and allowed me to consider my own personal well-being as well as learn at the same time. I would highly recommend this style of training.

Vacation CME is win-win-win

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