SHIM Mission Statement

The mission of the Society for Humanism in Medicine (SHIM) is to convene an annual forum, with nationally and internationally renowned thought leaders, to expand participants’ understanding of humanism and cultural awareness as they apply to the science and art of medicine.

Education Statement

The Society for Humanism in Medicine (SHIM) is organized to foster the understanding and appreciation of humanism as it applies to the science and art of medicine. 

Purpose

The Society's educational goal is to increase the membership's understanding of humanism, and through better understanding, promulgate the principles of humanism in their teaching and practice of medicine. 

Content Areas

The content of the subject material presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society should fall within the confines of the overall purpose of the Society, and be applicable to the art and practice of medicine 

Target Audience

The target audience is the membership of the Society and its invited guests.  Participants in the Society's activities and annual meeting include active, emeritus, and honorary members and invited guests.  Membership in the Society is open to any physician or member of the healing or humanistic community and is limited to 250 active members.  (Each faculty speaker is offered honorary membership in the Society). 

Educational Activities

The educational activities of the Society include:

a. The annual winter meeting of formal conferences and lectures, and participant and faculty discussion session following the lectures

b. Periodic international meetings to foster global networking and encourage membership from other countries, for the purpose of exposure to other systems of medical practice. 

Assessment

The Society measures the impact and practice/educational outcomes of its continuing education activities by maintaining an ongoing dialogue with and between its members as well as by surveys of the attendees immediately following each session and at the conclusion of each annual meeting. The final survey of each annual meeting includes a request for each attendee's educational needs, for recommendations of speakers and topics, for suggestions to improve the educational program, for their perception of how the meeting enhanced their professional effectiveness, whether the meeting helped them improve their professional lives, and if it will result in a perceptible change in their practice of medicine.

The results of each evaluation and comment are tallied and a summary kept for presentation to the Program and CME Committee and to the Board.  A copy of the summary for each session is given to each lecturer.

The post-meeting questionnaire is accompanied by a specific request for the participant to indicate individual educational needs.  These are added to previous needs lists, and used to help the Program Committee plan subsequent programs.  

Sponsorship 

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care and the Society for Humanism in Medicine. The Colorado Foundation for Medical Care is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  

The Colorado Foundation for Medical Care designates this educational activity for AMA PRA Category1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity."