The Office of Professional Development and Accredited Continuing Education (OPDACE) at TTUHSC

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) has a long and respected history in continuing education. In 1974, TTUHSC established the Office of Educational Development and Continuing Medical Education to support the professional growth of healthcare providers. Accreditation for CME was officially granted in 1976 by the Liaison Committee for Continuing Medical Education, and in 1985 TTUHSC earned its initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Subsequent reaccreditations in 1991, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2019 reflect the institution’s ongoing commitment to educational excellence and lifelong learning.

Evolution and Integration into OPDACE

In July 2023, TTUHSC achieved Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, joining a select group of institutions recognized for advancing education that brings healthcare professionals together to improve patient care. Joint Accreditation is the nationally accepted framework for developing and delivering continuing education that supports the collaborative practice of the healthcare team. In 2025, TTUHSC combined the Office of Faculty Development and the Office of Accredited Interprofessional Continuing Medical Education to create the Office of Professional Development and Accredited Continuing Education (OPDACE).

This integration unites faculty development and accredited continuing education under one mission. By bringing these areas together, TTUHSC established a single, comprehensive resource for professional learning that supports educators in teaching and leadership, clinicians in maintaining clinical excellence, and healthcare teams in applying evidence-based strategies that improve care. The integration enhances consistency in educational quality, encourages collaboration across schools and campuses, and strengthens TTUHSC’s ability to evaluate and demonstrate learning outcomes.

Our Interprofessional Education Process

Today, OPDACE supports the growth of faculty, clinicians, and healthcare professionals throughout Lubbock, the Permian Basin, Amarillo, and surrounding regions. At Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, accredited education is developed through an interprofessional process that brings together healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines to plan, deliver, and evaluate learning. Our approach promotes teamwork, lifelong learning, and measurable improvement in patient care. The process involves several key steps:

• Needs Assessment: Each activity begins by identifying the educational and professional development needs of the healthcare team.
• Gap Analysis: Gaps are determined through data, research, and direct feedback from faculty and clinicians.
• Objectives: Goals are developed to enhance teaching, improve clinical practice, and strengthen team performance and patient outcomes.
• Collaborative Design: Interprofessional planning committees design activities that allow participants to learn with, from, and about one another.

Through inclusive and evidence-informed education grounded in adult learning and lifelong learning principles, OPDACE helps faculty deliver and evaluate curriculum that leads to meaningful change. Evaluation is conducted after every activity to assess learning outcomes and intent to change, while a follow-up evaluation measures the actual impact on performance and team collaboration.

Global Standards and Accreditation Excellence

The American Association of Continuing Medical Education® was founded to uphold the highest standards in medical education, practice, and research. Our mission is to promote global excellence in public health, by defining, reviewing, and publicizing CME standards related to CME structure, process and outcome. Since 2000, the Association has served in over 71 countries worldwide providing the highest level quality accreditation for member governmental and non-governmental hospitals, medical schools, and medical specialty societies.

American Association of Continuing Medical Education® accreditation for organizations provides many advantages, including:

• Promoting medical and educational curriculum validity.
• Improving Professional Development within the health care organization and the community.
• Creating awareness amongst physicians on the value of rigorous and monitored CME activities.
• Meeting medical annual regulatory requirements for CME.

Eligible CME Activities

These CME activities are eligible for consideration of CME accreditation:

• Courses, conferences and similar CME activities planned by the organization.
• CME workshops or small group activities.
• Seminar series, hospital grand-rounds (regularly scheduled activities), or similar recurring educational events.

Through continuous learning, collaboration, and professional growth, OPDACE empowers every member of the healthcare team to make a lasting difference in patient care and community health.