Last Fall, SSO conducted a Member Learner Survey to gain an accurate assessment of educational needs, including preferences for accessibility and format. A total of 194 members participated in the survey. While attendance at live meetings was the most valued and utilization of print-based guidelines, journals and white papers reflects current learning styles, delivery of this type of content in convenient and efficient formats was highly desired. These preferred formats included short videos and podcasts. The survey also asked participants to explain their primary motivations for participating in educational activities, which a majority of survey responders indicated that providing quality patient care and staying up to date with recent advances and changing guidelines was their goal.
Armed with this information, the SSO Education Council, chaired by Steven Libutti, MD, recommended a new plan to the SSO Executive Council. The plan focuses on new, online micro-learning initiatives that focus on practice changing information. Podcasts, webinars and case-based webinars ranging between 10 and 30 minutes comprise the bulk of the 2020 programming. Content will leverage practice changing studies presented during SSO 2020 and updates on new treatment guidelines.
Content will be available via SSO’s Learning Management System, ExpertED@SSO. 
This platform has recently been updated to provide a better user experience and easier access to programs. Over 100 programs are available in ExpertED@SSO, including recordings from past annual symposia. Look for the first ExpertED@SSO Podcast in February, titled, “The Most Influential Articles of 2019 in GI Surgical Oncology.”