One of the most likely sources for coordination of continuing
medical education activity and motivational influence of the
participating physician is the state medical association.
Several state associations have been active in this field and
have proceeded to assume increasingly important roles. Early in
1968 the AMA Board of Trustees approved plans for a National
Conference of State Medical Associations to permit thorough
discussion of the subject of continuing medical education in its
various aspects. With the assistance of the Board's Committee on
Continuing Medical Education, and with guidance from the Council
on Medical Education, and additional assistance from the
Council's Advisory Committee on Continuing Medical Education,
the conference was held in November 1968. The objectives of the
conference were simple: to provide assistance to the component
societies of the American Medical Association on the subject of
continuing medical education, pointing out the problems and
attempting to suggest solutions