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APHA Process for Resolving Conflict of Interest

Conflict by Planner

If the Chair of the Program Planning Committee (in conjunction with the designated CE planner if not the same person) through review of the conflict of interest disclosure form identifies a conflict reported by a Planning Committee Member, the following steps are taken:

  • The conflict is reviewed using the ACCME Standard.
  • if a “true” conflict exists, the Planning Committee Member is required to recuse him/herself from the planning activity.
  • The Planning Committee Member may be invited to participate in a non-CE aspect of the activity (exhibit, non-CE events such as luncheons/reception) that is not related to the development, management, presentation or evaluation of the CME activity.

Conflict by Presenter

If the chair of the Program Planning Committee (in conjunction with the designated CE planner if not the same person) through review of the conflict of interest disclosure form identifies a conflict reported by a Speaker, Faculty or Presenter, the following steps are taken:

  • The conflict is reviewed using the ACCME Standard.
  • If a  “true” conflict exists, the Speaker, Faculty, or Presenter is contacted and provided a copy of the ACCME Standards and the APHA Policy on Fair and Balanced Presentations. The individual may be required to submit their slides for review by the planning committee members to determine that product names, logos, etc are removed and the presentation is fair and balanced before approval of their presentation is given.
  • If all required changes are completed prior to the activity, the Speaker, Faculty, or Presenter  is approved to present, disclosure requirements are met (written in program and PowerPoint slide) and credit is granted for the session/activity and disclosures
  • If all required changes are not completed prior to the activity, either the Speaker, Faculty, or Presenter  is removed from the presentation or the presentation is not granted CE credit.
  • The speaker, faculty, or presenter may be invited to participate in another aspect of the activity that is not related to the development, management, presentation or evaluation of the CME activity.