Objectives: The primary objective of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Venous Access Device (VAD) Patient Safety Interdisciplinary Education Project was to develop a 30-hour/one clinical academic unit VAD patient safety course with the aim of expediting clinician adoption of critical concepts related to VAD-related patient safety. This paper describes the evolution of the interdisciplinary academic and continuing education courseware, and discusses the theoretical and technological underpinnings of the work. Methods: Following development of the academic course, the demand for derivative short versions was identified by clinician users and administrators based on evidence of (1) patient safety threats, such as air embolism associated with central line removal; (2) VAD competency deficits; and (3) wide variation in learner characteristics and needs. Results: Consideration for differing learning needs and time constraints of practicing clinicians led to the production of short versions of the core course, focusing on high-risk concepts related to VAD patient safety. Web-based courses using multiple media content presentation methodologies and addressing learner preferences are expected to facilitate learning, retention and transfer of the knowledge into practice. Conclusions: While the summative project evaluation is currently in progress, formative evaluation suggests the courseware is highly linked to key patient safety concerns related to VADs and that the core course, as well as the derivative short version of the content, may be institutionalized as a source of multidisciplinary clinical competency development, orientation, and training.