Presidential Greeting - American Society for Laser Medicine and ...

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2011 Annual Conference
Pre-Conference Courses: March 30-31, 2011
Annual Conference: April 1-3, 2011
Gaylord Texan TM Resort and Convention Center
Grapevine, TX
ASLMS Policy on Mechanism to Identify
and Resolve Conflict of Interest
The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing
Medical Education (ACCME). As such, we have made the choice to meet the ACCME’s criteria for our practice of
continuing medical education. Our accreditation is important to us. We look forward to working together to
provide CME at the highest standard.
The ASLMS has implemented a process where everyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational
activity must disclose to us all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest they and their
spouse/partner may have received within the last 12 months. Should it be determined that a conflict of interest
exists as a result of a financial relationship, it will need to be resolved prior to their involvement. In order to do
this, all individuals who are in a position to control the content must complete a disclosure form. If any conflict
develops between the time the disclosure form is completed and the educational activity, the individual must
notify the ASLMS in writing and disclose the additional conflict of interest. Individuals, who refuse to disclose
relevant financial relationships, will be disqualified from being a part of the planning and implementation of the
CME activity.
Process of Identifying and Resolving Conflict of Interest
Annual Conference (Program Chair, Section Chairs, Speakers)
1) The President selects the Program Chair.
2) A Disclosure of Conflict of Interest “COI” form is completed by the Program Chair.
3) If the Program Chair refuses to disclose relevant financial relationships, he/she will be disqualified from
participating in the program.
4) The CME Director reviews the Program Chair disclosure form and completes an Acknowledgement of
Disclosure Review form. If it appears that the Program Chair has a COI as a result of a financial
relationship, it will need to be resolved in order for the person to serve as Program Chair. If necessary,
determination will be made by the CME Director under the guidance of the Board of Directors whether the
proposed Program Chair can participate in the program.
5) The Program Chair selects Section Chairs.
6) A COI form is completed by all of the Section Chairs.
7) If the Section Chair refuses to disclose relevant financial relationships, he/she will be disqualified from
participating in the program.
8) The Program Chair reviews the Section Chair COI forms and completes an Acknowledgement of Disclosure
Review form. If it appears that a Section Chair has a COI as a result of a financial relationship, it will need
to be resolved in order for the person to serve as Section Chair. If necessary, determination will be made
by the Program Chair and CME Director under the guidance of the Board of Directors whether the proposed
Section Chair can participate in the program.
9) The Speakers complete the online abstract form, which contains "required fields" for disclosure. The
Section Chairs review the abstract and Speaker disclosure and completes an Acknowledgement of
Disclosure Review form. If it appears that a Speaker has a COI as a result of a financial relationship, it will
need to be resolved prior to the activity. If necessary, determination will be made by the Section Chair,
Program Chair and CME Director under the guidance of the Board of Directors whether the proposed
speaker can participate in the program.
10) If any conflicts develop between the time the disclosure form is completed and the educational activity,
the individual must notify the ASLMS in writing and disclose the additional conflict of interest.
11) The Section Chair and Speaker disclosure information is printed in the Final Program and journal.