DALLAS, June 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announced today it has purchased the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC) program from the International Medical Meeting Professionals Association (IMMPA). Launched in 2013, the certificate program is accredited through Saint Louis University and teaches participants critical information on compliance regulations, laws and techniques for managing healthcare meetings. MPI will deliver an enhanced HMCC course on August 2, 2014, before the opening of its upcoming World Education Congress (WEC) at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
As part of the acquisition, MPI will partner with Saint Louis University's Center for Workforce & Organizational Development to facilitate the HMCC program. The association has also appointed Pat Schaumann, CMP, CSEP, DMCP, HMCC, founder of IMMPA and principal instructor of the HMCC program, as its new director of professional development, healthcare sector. Schaumann will lead content development of new healthcare educational offerings and continue to manage the certificate program for MPI, ensuring a seamless transition from IMMPA, which recently discontinued operations.
"MPI is committed to providing the best education for our members and the broader meeting and event community – whether through partnerships, developing new content or acquiring existing programs," explains Cynthia D'Aoust, COO of MPI. "We conducted an extensive audit of the HMCC program and believe the curriculum provides an excellent foundation for the growing healthcare meeting sector and its complex regulatory environment. Last year, we announced our strategic plan to provide education specifically for this segment of meeting professionals and the acquisition of the HMCC program is just the beginning."
Each year, MPI plans to offer numerous HMCC sessions during industry conferences, at Saint Louis University and via private sessions for companies and organizations. MPI has enhanced the program by extending the course from three hours to four hours of robust lecture and discussion activities. Moreover, program participants will now earn 0.4 clock hours compared to the previous 0.3 clock hours upon completion of the class, which complements the healthcare subspecialty of the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program offered by the Convention Industry Council (CIC).
"When CIC introduced the CMP healthcare sub-specialty last year, we knew there was an industry need for more resources and education," said CIC's CEO, Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP. "The addition of MPI's HMCC course creates additional opportunities for meeting professionals to learn and succeed in a changing healthcare climate. And it also paves the path for the CMP-HC exam. The hours spent pursuing the HMCC certificate qualify for a part of the required continuing education hours needed to sit for the CMP-HC exam."
Detailed information on MPI's HMCC program will be published on the association's website this summer. In the meantime, please visit http://tinyurl.com/MPIHMCC for program details provided by Saint Louis University. To register for the HMCC class and other healthcare education sessions offered at WEC 2014, see www.mpiweb.org/wec.
About MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest and most vibrant global meeting and event industry association. The organization provides innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges, and acts as a prominent voice for the promotion and growth of the industry. MPI membership is comprised of approximately 18,500 members belonging to 70 chapters and clubs worldwide. For additional information or to join, visit www.mpiweb.org.