Insights and Outcomes
Continuing Medical Education Information

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Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of dermatologists, surgical oncologists, general surgeons, medical oncologists, and oncology nurses involved in the management of patients with melanoma.

Purpose

To present the latest research in melanoma and discuss current approaches to patient care.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Compare and contrast preventive strategies in the management of melanoma
• Define the interrelationship among genetics, basic science, and melanoma development and progression
• Compare and contrast adjuvant therapies for locoregional metastatic melanoma
• Evaluate the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of melanoma

Faculty

John M. Kirkwood, MD
Director, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Professor and Vice Chairman for Clinical Research
Department of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Susan M. Swetter, MD
Associate Professor of Dermatology
Director, Pigmented Lesion & Cutaneous Melanoma Clinic
Stanford University Medical Center/VCA Palo Alto Health
Care System
Codirector, Stanford Multidisciplinary Melanoma Clinic
Stanford, California

Jeffrey E. Gershenwald, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery and Cancer Biology
The University of Texas
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) and PharmAdura, LLC.

PIM is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and nurses.

Credit Designation

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.75 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity.

Nursing Continuing Education

CNA/ANCC

This educational activity for 2.0 contact hours is provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM). PIM is an approved provider of continuing education by the Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

California Board of Registered Nursing

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 13485, for 2.0 contact hours.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Name of Faculty or Presenter - Reported Financial Relationship

Jeffrey E. Gershenwald, MD, FACS - Speakers' Bureau: Schering-Plough Corporation.

John M. Kirkwood, MD - Speakers' Bureau: Schering-Plough Corporation, Roche Corporation, Immunex.

Susan M. Swetter, MD - Speakers' Bureau: Schering-Plough Corporation.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Name of Planner or Manager - Reported Financial Relationship

Jan Hixon, RN, MSN, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine - No financial relationships related to this activity.

Lisa A. Faltyn, PhD, PharmAdura, LCC - No financial relationships related to this activity.

William T. Riley, PharmAdura, LCC - No financial relationships related to this activity.

Method of Participation

There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period February 2006 through March 2007 participants must 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the posttest by recording the best answer to each question in the answer key on the evaluation form; 4) complete the evaluation form; and 5) mail or fax the evaluation form with answer key to Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed posttest with a score of 70% or better. Your statement of credit will be mailed to you within three weeks.

Media

Monograph

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), PharmAdura, LLC, and Schering-Plough Corporation do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of PIM, PharmAdura, LLC, and Schering-Plough Corporation. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Release date: February, 2006
Expiration date: March, 2007
Estimated time to complete activity: 1.75 hours