A continuing medical education (CME) program is designed to help physicians and other healthcare professionals maintain and update their medical knowledge, improve their skills and enhance patient care.
The course from the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM) offers “guidance on the benefits, risks and ethical considerations of medical interventions for gender-dysphoric youth.” The series, derived from SEGM’s 2023 international academic conference, addresses topics such as “transgender identities and the brain,” “misconceptions in youth gender medicine,” and the international debate around hormone treatments for gender-dysphoric youth.
WSU approved the videos on June 2 after what SEGM said was a nine-month vetting process that found the materials met national accreditation requirements for scientific balance and educational integrity.
Controversy erupted after transgender activist Erin Reed drew attention to the course on Oct. 29. On Wednesday, 31 LGBTQ activist groups released a letter urging WSU to revoke SEGM’s accreditation, the Spokesman-Review reported.
In 2023, the Southern Poverty Law Center designated SEGM as an “anti-LGBTQ hate group,” a characterization SEGM strongly disputes as politically motivated and lacking evidence.
After SEGM’s Oct. 21 press release drew attention to the CME series at WSU, Reed published a critical report from a guest author on the “Erin in the Morning” Substack on Oct. 29 labeling SEGM an “anti-trans hate group” and invited readers to file complaints with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), which accredits institutions such as WSU that offer these education courses for healthcare professionals to maintain their license.
Dr. Graham McMahon, president of the ACCME, reportedly told “Erin in the Morning” that its characterization of SEGM “raises questions that appear appropriate for an inquiry.”
Other LGBTQ websites followed with critical reports targeting the medical school. Bluesky users identifying as WSU alumni expressed outrage and called for action, according to journalist Benjamin Ryan, who first reported on the fallout in a report for The New York Sun.
On Oct. 29, the same day the article was published, the university’s continuing medical education office suspended learning credit for SEGM’s CME series, according to an email obtained by Fox News Digital. The office told SEGM its team had been notified by ACCME’s complaints department that an inquiry into the course materials had been opened.
The university said it was tasked with providing a response by Nov. 16 demonstrating how it approved the videos and was asked to suspend learner access to the videos while the investigation is ongoing. The videos remain available online for public viewing but healthcare professionals cannot earn CME credit.
“I am very sorry about this situation — I’ve never seen anything like this from a national accrediting body,” a director of the university’s continuing medical education office told SEGM.
Reed celebrated the decision, writing on Bluesky on Oct. 31, “I’m pleased to announce that following our reporting, multiple people have reported that a formal inquiry is being made into SEGM’s accreditation, and that the CME courses are at least temporarily pulled down.”
A SEGM spokesperson told Fox News Digital she was surprised by the speed of the inquiry.
Reed celebrated the decision, writing on Bluesky on Oct. 31, “I’m pleased to announce that following our reporting, multiple people have reported that a formal inquiry is being made into SEGM’s accreditation, and that the CME courses are at least temporarily pulled down.”
“We were perplexed by how quickly the ACCME acted to open an inquiry into the course — and by how rapidly it was suspended. The timing was striking: it occurred almost immediately after an activist published a blog post criticizing the course. That simply isn’t enough time to have meaningfully reviewed several hours of educational content for factual accuracy or compliance,” the spokesperson said.
“The course had been available for months without any intervention,” the spokesperson added. “The sudden reversal suggests the process was driven more by external pressure than by a careful scientific review. We hope the ACCME’s formal investigation will now proceed in a transparent, evidence-based manner consistent with its own standards of fairness.”
WSU spokesperson Pam Scott said in a statement to Fox News Digital, “We are working with the ACCME to confirm that all accredited materials comply with ACCME standards. While this process is ongoing, course materials are suspended. We remain committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based Continuing Medical Education courses.”
ACCME spokesperson Ellen J. Sullivan said the organization cannot comment on “specific providers or activities that may be under review.” She added that anyone with concerns about accredited continuing education may file a complaint with ACCME and that all accredited CME must be “based on current science and best available evidence” to meet ACCME Standard 1.
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Please provide a valid email.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.