The Foundation For Medical Excellence

What The Foundation For Medical Excellence does

The Foundation For Medical Excellence (TFME) is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit foundation founded in 1984 in Portland, Oregon, that develops and delivers educational programs on contemporary medical issues to healthcare professionals. Its core product surface is a portfolio of continuing-medical-education conferences (the 38th Annual Safe Practice Management Conference in 2026, the Physician Well-Being Conference, the Benson-Kendall Lectureship, the Sunrise Leadership Forum), leadership development via the Northwest Healthcare Leadership Institute, the Oregon Wellness Program statewide mental health referral network, the $5,000 TFME Scholar Program for medical students, and the John Kitzhaber, M.D. Chair on Health Care Policy and annual lectureship. The underlying content assets are largely human-led, expert-delivered educational curricula with no proprietary technology platform beyond a WordPress content marketing site (tfme.org) supporting program registration, donations, and a Google Forms mailing list.

TFME serves four primary segments: healthcare professionals in distress (mental health and career stabilization via OWP), healthcare leaders and managers (leadership coaching and the Northwest Healthcare Leadership Institute), medical students (scholarships and mentorship at OHSU and COMP NW), and healthcare organizations/health systems (Charter on Professionalism consulting and endorsement). Revenue mechanics are those of a charitable foundation: tax-deductible donations directed to specific lectureships, conferences, and initiatives, supplemented by grants and program/conference fees. Distribution is regional (Oregon and Pacific Northwest with British Columbia reach) via direct program delivery to professionals and enterprises and an online donation storefront, supported by ~22 named regional health system and payer partners (Kaiser Permanente, Providence, Legacy Health, OHSU, PeaceHealth, Moda Health, Cambia Health Solutions, etc.) and 11+ national endorsers of the Charter (ANA, NCQA, Northwell Health, Council of Medical Specialty Societies).

Name

The Foundation For Medical Excellence

Legal name

The Foundation For Medical Excellence

Website

https://tfme.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Foundation For Medical Excellence (TFME) is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit foundation, founded in 1984 in Portland, Oregon, that develops and delivers continuing-education programs, conferences, leadership development, medical student scholarships, and a statewide physician wellness network for healthcare professionals in the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Professional Education and Policy

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Training Grants (Public Health) (HLAJALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Healthcare professional education
• Medical leadership development
• Physician wellness programs
• Medical student scholarships
• Organizational professionalism consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Foundation For Medical Excellence is a public non-profit foundation that develops and presents educational programs and provides consulting services focused on contemporary medical issues facing healthcare professionals. Its portfolio includes medical student scholarships, leadership development, annual conferences (e.g., Safe Practice Management, Physician Well-Being, Kitzhaber Lectureship), a statewide mental health provider network (Oregon Wellness Program), and consulting on organizational professionalism in healthcare. Programs are supported through donations, grants, sponsorships, and program/conference fees.

Product overview

The Foundation For Medical Excellence operates as a public non-profit foundation offering a portfolio of educational programs and services rather than a single unified technology product. The core offerings include the TFME Scholar Program (medical student scholarships with $5,000 awards plus leadership training and mentoring), the Northwest Healthcare Leadership Institute (professional development), and the annual Safe Practice Management Conference focused on pain management and safe prescribing. Supporting programs include the Oregon Wellness Program (state-wide mental health provider network), the John Kitzhaber, M.D. Chair on Health Care Policy (policy leadership initiative), the annual Kitzhaber Lectureship on Healthcare Policy, and the Physician Well-Being Conference. The organization also develops and endorses the Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations and provides consulting services for healthcare organizations seeking to improve professionalism and organizational culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oregon Wellness Program (OWP): A statewide network of mental health providers to respond to self-referred health care professionals in distress
• Northwest Healthcare Leadership Institute
• The John Kitzhaber, M.D. Chair on Health Care Policy

Products and services

• TFME Scholar Program Medical student scholarship program providing $5,000 scholarships to exceptional medical students, along with leadership training, communication coaching, wellness and resilience programs, and residency application mentoring.
• Northwest Healthcare Leadership Institute Leadership development program for healthcare professionals focusing on team communication, organizational culture, and professional excellence.
• Safe Practice Management Conference Annual conference (38th edition in 2026) focused on safe prescribing practices, managing chronic pain, and navigating patient requests for opioids and anxiolytics, with CME credits available.
• Physician Well-Being Conference Conference addressing physician wellness, resilience, creating positive work environments, and self-care practices for healthcare professionals.
• John Kitzhaber, M.D. Chair on Health Care Policy A chaired position focused on healthcare policy leadership, research, writing, and speaking on national healthcare reform and making quality healthcare affordable and available.
• John Kitzhaber, M.D. Lectureship on Healthcare Policy Annual lectureship and dinner event featuring healthcare policy discussions with national experts, including remarks by former Governor John Kitzhaber.
• Oregon Wellness Program (OWP) State-wide network of mental health providers developed in partnership with health systems and the State of Oregon to respond to self-referred healthcare professionals experiencing distress.
• Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations A multistakeholder-developed charter providing a roadmap for healthcare organizations to implement professionalism principles, endorsed by TFME and numerous healthcare organizations.
• Benson-Kendall Lectureship Educational lectureship established in the 1990s bringing national experts to the Northwest on healthcare topics.
• Sunrise Leadership Forum Leadership forum created in the 1990s bringing national experts to the Northwest for healthcare leadership development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Medical student scholarships of $5,000 per recipient supporting future healthcare leaders
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Patient Advocate FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Endorsed the Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations.
• PatientsLikeMecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Endorsed the Charter, supporting patient-centered organizational professionalism.
• Council of Medical Specialty SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018Endorsed the Charter, representing medical specialty societies in organizational professionalism.
• Oregon Health & Science UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018OHSU endorsed the Charter and partners on medical student scholarships and TFME Scholar Program.
• National Minority Quality ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2017Endorsed the Charter on Professionalism, supporting quality and equity in healthcare.
• Society for Social Work Leadership in Health CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2017Endorsed the Charter, supporting social work leadership in healthcare professionalism.
• Northwell HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Northwell Health endorsed the Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations as a model health care organization.
• Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/NorthwellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Endorsed the Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations, integrating professionalism into medical education.
• Hofstra/Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Endorsed the Charter, supporting professionalism in graduate nursing and physician assistant education.
• Academy on Communication in HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2017Endorsed the Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations, supporting communication-focused professionalism in healthcare.
• National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2017NCQA endorsed the Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations, supporting quality-driven organizational professionalism.
• American Nurses AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2017ANA endorsed the Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations, supporting implementation of professionalism standards in nursing.
• Legacy HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2017Legacy Health endorsed the Charter on Professionalism for Healthcare Organizations, demonstrating commitment to organizational professionalism principles.
• Asante Health SystemsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME programs and initiatives in healthcare education and policy.
• Cambia Health SolutionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME healthcare education initiatives.
• CareOregonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME healthcare programs.
• CHI Mercy HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME healthcare education.
• CHI St. AnthonysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME programs.
• College of Physicians & Surgeons of British ColumbiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner supporting TFME healthcare professional education.
• Eastern Oregon Coordinate Care OrganizationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME healthcare initiatives.
• Kaiser PermanentesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor supporting health system partner for TFME programs.
• Keating Jones, HughessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME legal and compliance-related healthcare education.
• Moda HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME healthcare programs.
• NW Permanente, PCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME physician-focused initiatives.
• Oregon Association of Hospitals & Health SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey supporting partner representing Oregon hospitals and health systems.
• Oregon Medical AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner for Physician Well-Being Conference and physician-focused programs.
• Oregon Medical BoardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for physician-related healthcare education.
• Oregon Wellness ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network of mental health providers developed by TFME for healthcare professionals in distress.
• PacificSource Health PlanssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME healthcare programs.
• PeaceHealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting health system for TFME programs.
• Providence Health & ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor supporting health system for TFME initiatives.
• St. Charles Health SystemsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME Central Oregon healthcare programs.
• Salem HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME programs.
• Samaritan Health ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME healthcare initiatives.
• Tenfold HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for TFME health programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Medical Association (AMA): Largest US physician professional association with extensive CME, advocacy, and policy programs. Operates in the same space as TFME but at vastly larger national scale.
• AMA Foundation: The philanthropic arm of the American Medical Association, funding medical education, scholarships, and physician well-being. Comparable to TFME's Scholar Program and grant-funded initiatives at much larger scale.
• American College of Physicians (ACP): Large internal medicine professional society offering CME, leadership development, and chapter-based programming. Comparable in audience (physicians) and education/conference model, but at national scale.
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI): National nonprofit focused on healthcare quality improvement, leadership, and patient safety education. Comparable to TFME's Charter on Professionalism and consulting work with health systems.

Regional players

• Massachusetts Medical Society: State-level professional medical society providing CME, advocacy, and physician support. Functionally similar to TFME's regional convener and educator role, but for Massachusetts.

Emerging players

• Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation: National foundation focused on reducing physician burnout and removing mental-health barriers to care. Closely aligned with TFME's Oregon Wellness Program and Physician Well-Being Conference.

Direct peers

• Physicians Foundation: National nonprofit focused on physician well-being, leadership, and practice sustainability through grants and research. Highly comparable to TFME in mission, audience, and grantmaking/support model.
• American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL): National physician leadership development and education organization offering courses, certifications, and conferences. Directly comparable to TFME's Northwest Healthcare Leadership Institute and CME programs.
• National Medical Fellowships: Nonprofit providing scholarships and leadership development for medical students. Directly comparable to TFME's Scholar Program and partnership model with medical schools.

Others

• Foundation for the National Institutes of Health: Nonprofit foundation convening partners to support NIH research and training programs. Comparable as a healthcare-focused foundation leveraging partnerships, but oriented toward research rather than physician education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-foundation-for-medical-excellence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Foundation For Medical Excellence