FACT Kicks Off the 2025 Education Season in Honolulu
FACT launched the 2025 education season with a series of annual events ahead of the Tandem Meetings in Honolulu, Hawaii. These events included the Quality Boot Camp, Cellular Therapy Accreditation Workshop, and Clinical Inspector Training Course, bringing together over 250 participants from around the world!
This year marked a special milestone—the 10th Annual Quality Boot Camp. Co-hosts Dr. Kimberly Kasow, Chair of the Quality Management Committee, and Phillip Johnson, Vice-Chair of the Quality Management Committee, and current FACT Board Member, reflected on the program’s evolution over the past decade. Themed around audits and outcomes, this year’s Boot Camp featured engaging lectures, interactive Q&A sessions, and roundtable discussions facilitated by experienced quality professionals. These sessions provided attendees with the opportunity to exchange insights, network with peers, and explore real-world challenges in quality management. The energy in the room remained high until the very end!
The Accreditation Workshop attracted new applicants beginning their accreditation journey and representatives from accredited organizations seeking to refine their processes. Led by Dr. Donna Salzman, a member of FACT’s Inspector Development Committee, the workshop featured presentations from FACT’s accreditation experts, including Dr. Phyllis I. Warkentin, FACT’s Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Joseph Schwartz, FACT’s Senior Medical Officer; and Suzanne Birnley, FACT’s Director of Operations. Key topics included accreditation preparation, leveraging FACT accreditation, correcting deficiencies, and post-inspection processes. Additionally, Suzanne provided a walkthrough of the new and improved FACT Accreditation Portal, offering attendees firsthand guidance. A new highlight of this year’s agenda was the LIVE Accreditation Success Story Panel, where representatives from three institutions shared strategies for maintaining compliance across multiple accreditation cycles. While the workshop agenda remains consistent, FACT looks for ways to incorporate the latest information and participants continue to find immense value in connecting with colleagues to discuss the nuances of accreditation.
The Inspector Training Course successfully prepared trainees and provided a refresher for active inspectors. This hands-on training is a unique opportunity for current and future inspectors to gain practical experience. An experienced FACT Inspector guided each training group, with Dr. Phyllis I. Warkentin playing a key role in outlining the inspection process—drawing from her extensive experience conducting hundreds of inspections over the past 25 years.
FACT is deeply grateful to the dedicated volunteers who arrive early to these meetings, ensuring attendees receive high-quality education and training. Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate FACT’s 30th anniversary prior to the 2026 Tandem Meetings in Salt Lake City, Utah. We hope to see you there!
