An Intensive Continuing Education Course to Enhance Care of the Performing Arts Athlete: The “Essentials of Performing Arts Medicine”

A new continuing education course from Performing Arts Medicine Association and American College of Sports Medicine enables sports medical health professionals to better care for performing artists. Abstract High occupational injury rates have been reported in performing artists, yet the quality of preventive and clinical care remains highly variable. Through the Athletes and the Arts collaboration, The Performing Arts Medicine Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine identified that health care practitioners’ existing expertise should be enhanced to address the complex psychophysical needs of performing artists. In response, a 2-d continuing education course, “The Essentials of Performing Arts Medicine” (EOPAM), was developed and has been delivered at least annually since 2016. This course has been well-received by 149 physicians and 240 allied health professionals to date (average ratings, ≥3.5/5 from 2018 to present), with course quality significantly improved by a transition to online delivery in 2020 (average ratings ≥4.5/5; P < 0.01). Accordingly, EOPAM demonstrates that a brief continuing education course can enhance health professionals’ understanding of the unique needs and demands of performing artists, addressing a key barrier to improved care.