title: Lifelong Learning for the Hand Surgeon.
abstract: Hand surgeons are faced with the impossible task of mastering a rapidly expanding pool of knowledge and surgical techniques. Dedication to lifelong learning is, therefore, an essential component of delivering the best, most up-to-date care for patients. Board certification, participation in continuing medical education and maintenance of certification activities, and attendance at national meetings are essential mechanisms by which hand surgeons may foster the acquisition of essential knowledge and clinical skills, This article highlights the history, current status, and emerging needs in continuing medical education for the hand surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Adkinson
authors.affiliation: Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI. Electronic address: kecchung@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States
keywords: Continuing medical education; hand surgery; lifelong learning