In an effort to help shield its researchers from the commercial influences of drug and medical device manufacturers, Stanford University is expected to begin restricting industry financing of doctors' continuing education programs at its medical school. Nearly all doctors in the US are required to take refresher courses each year to stay abreast of advances in techniques, medications and medical devices. Most of the time these courses are paid for by drug or device manufacturers, who claim the money is an investment in the doctors to keep them up to date. Far too often however, these companies choose to only fund classes that promote their particular products - clearly a bias that results in increased sales from the extra promotion and exposure.

Today, Stanford announced that drug and medical device companies will no longer be able to specify which courses they wish to finance. Instead corporate contributions will be funneled into a schoolwide pool of money that can be used for any medical education class. Stanford becomes the sixth major medical school to revamp this continuing education program - including the universities of California at Davis, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts and Pittsburgh.

Dr. Philip A. Pizzo, dean of Stanford’s School of Medicine, outlined the new policies in his August 25, Dean's Newsletter. As stated in the updated policy, "The guiding principle is that all continuing medical education (CME) programs must be free of commercial influence, be based on the best scientific evidence available, and be focused on improving the knowledge of learners. Effective September 1, 2008, new commercial funding for specific CME courses or programs is prohibited". The policy states that any industry support received will be "directed to the Office of Continuing Medical Education - who will be responsible for distributing funds for continuing education programs in the following general categories: medical, pediatric and surgical specialties; diagnostic and imaging technologies and disciplines; health policy and disease prevention; or other areas approved by the Office of the CME. Furthermore, any commercial support received by faculty or academic units for other purposes cannot be used to support CMS. The faculty, in conjunction with the office of the CME will decide the choice of topic and content for all Stanford CME activities, and curricula will be chosen based on the educational needs of our learner populations."

Dr. Pizzo went on to say, "The goal and purpose of this policy are to provide the most effective and unbiased CME programs to our faculty and community."