Accreditation and disclosure

Accreditation and Disclosure

Accreditation: 

BioSymposia, Inc., formerly known as Serono Symposia International, Inc., conducts continuing medical education for scientists, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals as its principal activity. BioSymposia, Inc. has a proud history of continuous accreditation for its educational activities in the following areas:

Medical

BioSymposia has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) since 1986. BioSymposia was reviewed and reaccredited in 2004 and found to be fully compliant in all areas, and in exemplary compliance – the highest designation – in needs assessment and program evaluation.

Nursing

BioSymposia is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). BioSymposia is also approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Pharmacist

BioSymposia is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Disclosure:

BioSymposia is an independent, non-profit corporation exempt from federal income tax as a 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

BioSymposia's principal activity is the conduct of continuing medical education programs accredited by ACCME, ANCC and ACPE. BioSymposia's accredited educational programs are generally supported by unrestricted educational grants from third parties, including pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, professional trade associations, government agencies, and other non-profit organizations, and from registration fees paid by participants. BioSymposia has received an unrestricted educational grant from EMD Serono, Inc. for its accredited educational programs. In addition, BioSymposia personnel are employees of EMD Serono, Inc. and BioSymposia also receives other in-kind support from Serono, Inc. in the form of space and administrative services.

BioSymposia also undertakes certain ancillary activities, such as exhibitions, designed to complement the accredited education programs by furthering the education of participants or providing participants with information about relevant products and services. BioSymposia's ancillary activities are generally supported by fees paid by exhibitors or payments from sponsors.

All BioSymposia's accredited educational programs are organized solely to promote the exchange and dissemination of scientific and medical information. No forms of promotional activities are permitted. There may be presentations discussing investigational uses of various products. These views are the responsibility of the named speakers, and do not represent an endorsement or recommendation on the part of BioSymposia.

BioSymposia seeks to achieve fair balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its accredited educational programs by ensuring that commercial interests do not influence the content of continuing educational activities and that participants are informed about financial relationships with commercial interests. All individuals involved in the substantive development of the programs, including speakers, are required to disclose any financial relationships with commercial interests. Financial relationships are then disclosed to the participants of the education program. BioSymposia may also take additional action to prevent the financial relationship from influencing the content of the program. Speakers are expected to openly disclose any discussion of off-label and/or investigational uses of drugs or devices in their presentation.