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NMMS Volunteer CME Member and or Surveyor Nomination Form

The Role of NMMS CME Accreditation Committee 

The New Mexico Medical Society Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (NMMS CME Committee) accredits institutions and other intrastate organizations that provide Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities on a regular, at least six (6) times yearly on recurring basis and whose participants are primarily local physicians. NMMS accredits organizations and institutions, not specific courses, programs, or activities. It is the Committee’s responsibility to assure accredited providers observe the current established ACCME requirements for accreditation. 

NMMS CME Committee members are committed to fulfilling NMMS CME Committee Mission by overseeing germane education programs and monitoring community health care patterns to identify evolving education needs. It is the expectation of the Committee that members serve as a CME Physician Surveyor.  

Alignment with Accreditation Standards 

All NMMS CME Committee and Surveyor activities are conducted in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, reinforcing NMMS’s commitment to high-quality, unbiased, and compliant CME statewide. 

Time Commitment & Service Expectations 

  • CME Committee Members: Participate in scheduled committee meetings (virtual and/or in-person), serve as CME Physician Surveyors as assigned, and contribute to accreditation deliberations and decision-making within communicated review timelines. 
  • CME Surveyors: Participate on a project-based basis, typically including document review, participation in interviews when applicable, and timely submission of surveyor findings. Physician Surveyors must be NMMS members.

Service expectations are communicated in advance to support preparedness and consistent engagement. 

Selection & Appointment Process 

Service on the NMMS CME Committee and as an NMMS CME Surveyor is a selective appointment. Applications are reviewed based on relevant experience, demonstrated engagement in continuing education, and alignment with NMMS CME and ACCME accreditation expectations. Appointments are made to ensure a balanced, highly qualified group that reflects diverse practice settings across New Mexico. 

Opportunities for Leadership 

Highly engaged Committee Members and Physician Surveyors may be considered for expanded responsibilities or future leadership roles within the NMMS and NMMS CME Committee, based on interest, service, and committee needs. 

The role of the NMMS volunteer surveyor is of critical importance to NMMS and ACCME.  NMMS CME surveyor is an authorized representative of the NMMS CME Committee, responsible for evaluating whether intrastate CME providers meet the required standards for accreditation. In conducting accreditation interviews, surveyors help to ensure that NMMS CME Committee has the information about a provider’s CME program that is needed to support the accreditation review and decision-making processes. 

By participating in this process, and through collaboration with NMMS staff, other NMMS volunteer surveyors, and accredited providers, surveyors enhance their personal and professional development and advance their understanding of the ACCME’s accreditation requirements and online processes. 

Eligibility to become and remain a volunteer NMMS surveyor is assessed using the following criteria: 1) Independence from ineligible companies; 2) Active participation in continuing medical education (CME); and 3) Adherence to the requirement that prohibits private consulting related to accreditation. In addition, applicants are required to have a minimum of three years in healthcare education, CME experience working as a volunteer or staff person with an NMMS/ACCME-accredited provider, Jointly Accredited provider, state medical society (SMS) accredited provider, or an ACCME-recognized SMS. 

Please note: An individual who is employed by an ineligible company, as defined by the ACCME (i.e., companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients) is not eligible to volunteer as a NMMS surveyor. 

Surveyors are expected and required to achieve and maintain a set of NMMS and ACCME Surveyor Competencies. Surveyors are supported by NMMS staff, and NMMS and the ACCME provides intensive initial scheduled and ongoing training, and professional development and support, including face-to-face training, conference calls, and webinars. 

The NMMS screens requests for volunteer surveyor applications to ensure that only potentially eligible candidates engage in the volunteer eligibility review process. 

With this in mind, we encourage you to nominate yourself and/or a colleague to become an NMMS volunteer surveyor. Please complete this form, and NMMS will follow-up with you and/or your colleague with information about the application process. 

Once you complete and submit the form below, you will receive an email confirming that your request has been received. If you have questions regarding volunteer surveyor eligibility or the application review process, please contact [email protected].