A Q&A with Andriana Aroni, Head of Project Management at touchIME
Continuing medical education (CME) activities involve coordinating multiple stakeholders and processes, from working with leading faculty and accreditation partners to managing internal teams, timelines, and compliance requirements. Effective project management plays a critical role in ensuring that accredited educational activities are delivered efficiently, meet the highest quality standards, and provide meaningful learning opportunities for busy healthcare professionals (HCPs).
We spoke with Andriana Aroni, Head of Project Management at touchIME, about the role of project management in delivering high-quality medical education, the importance of accreditation, and how strong collaboration helps bring impactful educational programs to life.
What do you see as the most important aspects of successful project management in CME?
At its core, successful project management in CME requires structure, clarity, and consistency. Delivering on time and within budget is a given. However, CME projects come with an additional layer of complexity, particularly around accreditation and faculty management.
We need to ensure that every aspect of the project aligns with strict accreditation standards, from content development to internal and external communication. There is no margin for error; every detail matters when you are producing educational content that must be fair, balanced, and compliant at a global level.
If I had to summarize it, I would say it is the orchestration of multiple moving parts—timelines, stakeholders, scientific integrity, and compliance—all working seamlessly together within a clear framework.
One principle I always emphasize to the team is this: never assume. In project management, assumptions create risk. Clarity, proactivity, robust processes, and staying one step ahead are what keep projects running smoothly, especially in CME.
Why is accreditation so important in CME activity development?
Accreditation is fundamental to CME activity development. It acts as a safeguard, ensuring that the content we deliver is credible, balanced, unbiased, and up to date.
For healthcare professionals, this is essential. They rely on high-quality CME not only to stay informed, but also to make decisions that directly impact patient care. Accreditation provides that additional layer of trust.
At the same time, we have a responsibility to support learners in obtaining their educational credits through activities that meet the highest global standards. This means ensuring that everything we deliver is built on robust, compliant processes and reflects the quality and integrity expected in medical education.
How do you keep complex CME projects on track while managing faculty relationships?
Faculty relationships are absolutely central to the success of any CME project. The quality of our programs is closely linked to the expertise and engagement of the faculty we collaborate with, so we place great emphasis on working with leading experts in their fields.
Our approach is to involve faculty at every key stage and brief them thoroughly, while being mindful of their time. The goal is to make their involvement meaningful, not burdensome. We want their input, but in a way that respects their already demanding schedules.
Internally, this means everything needs to run like a well-oiled machine. Clear timelines, strong coordination, and open communication are essential. Regular check-ins, transparency, and defined responsibilities ensure alignment across teams.
I am particularly proud of the touchIME project management team in this regard. They are not only highly organized and detail-oriented, but also exceptional at building strong, long-term relationships with faculty and accreditation partners.
How do you manage working with accreditation partners throughout a CME project?
At touchIME, we have built strong, long-standing relationships with both US-based and European accreditation partners, which is a key strength in how we deliver our projects.
We have well-established internal processes to ensure alignment at every stage. This includes coordinating conflict-of-interest documentation, facilitating content reviews, and maintaining clear and consistent communication throughout the project lifecycle.
We work closely with our accreditation partners through regular calls and ongoing updates, ensuring they remain engaged from project inception through to delivery. We do not launch any activity without final sign-off from our accreditation partners, ensuring full compliance at every stage. Equally important is the timely sharing of all required documentation and outcomes reports.
Ultimately, it is about maintaining a collaborative and transparent approach, ensuring that all parties are aligned and working toward the same goal: delivering high-quality, engaging, and compliant educational content that supports HCPs in staying up to date and improving patient outcomes.
Connect with Andriana on LinkedIn
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