Although Mayo Clinic has provided continuing medical education since its beginnings, Mayo School of Continuing Education was formally organized in 1996. Health care professionals from across the United States and from around the world rely on Mayo Clinic for information on state-of-the-art care in a wide range of specialty fields. Its programs reach practicing physicians and scientists; physicians in training; allied health professionals; patients; and professional administrators and managers. The school instructs more than 23,000 medical professionals annually through 200 courses.