The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) has announced that Pfizer, the world’s largest biopharmaceutical company, has committed $300,000 to support continuing medical education (CME) grants through OREF’s Clinician Development Program (CDP).

Pfizer’s participation brings funding for 2010–2011 OREF CDP grants to $7.5 million, compared with $3.9 million for 2009–2010. The CME grants facilitated through Pfizer’s support will be awarded to programs that address pain management and osteoarthritis.

The CDP facilitates corporate support for orthopaedic education and research grants while complying with federal mandates and reflecting best practices for transparency, independence, and accountability. All aspects of the program—inviting applications, evaluating applicant programs against qualification criteria, selecting and notifying grant recipients, disbursing grant monies, and managing reporting and archiving—reside with OREF and are free from donor bias. Grant selection is directed and overseen by the OREF Educational Grants Board, which comprises prominent orthopaedic surgeons with no industry conflicts.

Pfizer is the first pharmaceutical company among OREF’s CDP partners and has long been a major supporter of orthopaedic education and research through OREF. Its participation in OREF’s CDP reflects the company’s commitment to highest-quality care and the value it places on distinctive and innovative CME programs.

“We value our long-standing relationship with Pfizer and its continued leadership in supporting OREF’s mission to advance orthopaedic care through research and education,” said William P. Cooney III, MD, immediate past chair of the OREF board. “We also appreciate the value of focused training on pain management and osteoarthritis for orthopaedists in all subspecialties.”

“Pfizer is proud to be partners with OREF to establish innovative approaches that improve the quality of continuing medical education and ensure the independence of those who provide it,” said Freda Lewis-Hall, MD, chief medical officer for Pfizer. “Continuing medical education, when done right, gives physicians access to the latest science and treatment information, presented in ways that keep the interests of the patient first.”

For additional information, visit www.oref.org