Surviving Family Practice
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 8:00 – 9:00am
Speaker: Jennifer Richardson, PA-C
In the ever-evolving landscape of family medicine, effective patient care often necessitates collaboration with sub-specialists. This course, “Surviving Family Practice,” is designed to equip family practitioners with the knowledge and skills they need to streamline patient referrals, improve patient outcomes, and foster stronger relationships with sub-specialists.
Botox Workshop*
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 8:00 – 10:00am
Speaker: Heather Gates PA-C & Tiffani Botts, PA-C
This workshop provides a comprehensive learning experience for individuals interested in mastering the administration of neurotoxin-based cosmetic treatments. Participants will gain valuable insights and practical skills in the field of aesthetic enhancements.
*This course requires an additional purchase.
Nourishing the Future: The Importance of Nutrition during Pregnancy and Postpartum
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 9:00 – 10:00am
Speaker: Erin Sherer, EdD, PA-C, RD
Nutrition during pregnancy and the postpartum period is crucial for maternal and fetal health. PAs play a vital role in counseling patients on healthy eating habits during these critical stages. This presentation will provide an overview of the nutrient needs during pregnancy and the postpartum period, strategies for optimizing nutrition, and the impact of inadequate nutrition on maternal and fetal health. Participants will learn about evidence-based dietary recommendations for pregnant and postpartum women, the role of prenatal vitamins and other supplements, and how to address common nutrition-related concerns during these stages.
Pediatric Arrhythmias: Identification and Management
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 10:30 – 11:00am
Speaker: Lisa Roelle, PA-C
This session will review common pediatric arrhythmia identification using standard ECGs as well as direct to consumer devices such as the AppleWatch and KardiaMobile and updated management guidelines for SVT, LQTS, Brugada syndrome, CPVT, Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathies and Heart block which will include medication management, imaging, and Implantable Cardiac Electronic Devices such as pacemakers, ICDs and Implanted Loop Recorders (ILRs).
Female urinary and fecal incontinence for the APP: What to do in the Primary Care setting and when to refer
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 11:00 am – 11:30am
Speaker: Amanda Stanton, DMSc, PA-C
Description: Fecal and urinary incontinence in the female population can be socially stigmatizing and devastating to a patient’s quality of life. Despite this, a large majority of females do not seek evaluation or treatment from a medical provider. As practitioners, we need to ask the right questions and provide a comfortable space for patients to discuss their symptoms.
Orthopedics for Primary Care
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30pm
Speaker: Kieran Coughlin Zalar, PA-C
The session provides primary care providers with foundational knowledge in general orthopedics. It guides them on what they can effectively treat and how, as well as when to refer cases to specialists. Additionally, the course covers the appropriate use of diagnostic imaging and initial management techniques for orthopedic conditions.
How to Spot Zebras in a Herd of Horses in an Urgent Care Setting
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 2:30pm
Speaker: Diana Cantero, DMSc, PA-C
The lecture will address typical chief complaints encountered in the Urgent Care setting, offering a concise overview of their management while emphasizing crucial red flags. Through patient cases, the lecture will spotlight uncommon but important scenarios, known as “zebras,” ensuring attendees learn how to handle such cases effectively.
Fragility Fractures: The Silver Tsunami
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 2:30 – 3:30pm
Speaker: Jacqi Kernaghan, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA
Osteoporosis has become a global epidemic that many patients and healthcare professionals are still unaware exists. The statistics are staggering: over 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, over 40 million Americans have low bone mass (previously called osteopenia), 1 out of every 2 women over the age of 50 will suffer a fragility fracture, and 1 out of every 4 men over the age of 50 will suffer a fragility fracture. Osteoporosis is clearly a silent disease and patients continue to be under-screened and undertreated. This talk will review the need for screening, as well as discuss current treatment options.
Atopic Dermatitis Update
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Speaker: Heather Gates, PA-C
Understand the clinical manifestations, differential diagnoses, and up to date treatment options of Atopic Dermatitis, as this is truly the golden age of atopic dermatitis therapy as many revolutionary medications have hit the market over the past year.
Building your Family: Why did no one tell me it could be this hard?
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 5:00 – 6:00pm
Speaker: Sarah Bazzetta, MMS, PA-C
As a profession dominated by women, PAs are on the frontlines of women’s healthcare across almost all specialties. Wait times to see a reproductive endocrinologists continue to grow longer, sometimes surpassing a year depending on where you live. Whether it be for their own personal journey or to help their patients struggling, there are simple ways PAs can guide the approximately 20% of couples that struggle with infertility.
Vicarious Trauma & Moral Injury in Healthcare Providers: Taking Better Care of Ourselves
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Time: 8:00 – 9:00am
Speaker: Erin Lunn, MHS, PA-C
Many times, in medicine, we are called as providers to keep deadlines and boost numbers all while making difficult decisions in caring for others. It is no shock that the burden of the COVID19 pandemic has elevated the crisis burnout on healthcare providers to include physician associates. This session will seek to understand the relevance of vicarious trauma and moral injury and how we, as healthcare providers, can do a better job of supporting our colleagues, while also recognizing the need for respite in ourselves.
Psychiatry for Primary Care
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Time: 9:00 – 10:00am
Speaker: Julie Romeis, DMSc, PA-C
The Psychiatry for Primary Care lecture covers several key topics, including selecting appropriate antidepressants, establishing effective anxiety treatment plans, addressing the surge in ADHD diagnoses, and utilizing the treatment-resistant depression indication with “third-gen” antipsychotics.
Empowering Wellbeing
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Time: 10:30 –11:30am
Speaker: Margaret Leddy, MMSc, PA-C
The aim of this session is to challenge the prevailing culture of medicine, which often neglects well-being. The speaker intends to empower participants with knowledge and practical tips that can be seamlessly incorporated into their hectic schedules, fostering their own well-being.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30pm
Speaker: Kerry Jenkins, PA-C, MPAS, IFMCP, AFMC
This session will delve into the intricacies of integrative and functional medicine, examining both their commonalities and distinctions when compared to conventional medicine.
Ditching diet culture to improve patient outcomes
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 2:30pm
Speaker: Megan Hudson, DMSc, PA-C
America’s population seems to get heavier each year despite the release of new and improved diet and dieting ideals. In this lecture, we will explore why fad diets don’t work for our patients and how clinicians can cultivate more meaningful conversations with their patients to truly improve long-term health outcomes.
Career Transition Panel
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Time: 2:30 – 3:30pm
Panleists: Peggy Sims, MSPAS, PA-C; Rachel Jurgenson, PA-C; Abby Rogers, PA-C, DMSc; Megan Fox, PA-C; Janelle Bludorn, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA
The Career Transition Panel for PAs is designed to support PAs who are contemplating a shift from clinical practice to alternative PA careers. This panel discussion brings together experienced professionals from various PA career paths to provide valuable insights, guidance, and inspiration for those seeking to make a successful transition. Through interactive discussions, real-life examples, and practical tips, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the diverse opportunities available to PAs outside of traditional clinical settings. This course aims to equip PAs with the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to navigate a career transition and find fulfilling roles in non-clinical areas.
Advocacy Talk
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Start Time: 4:00 – 5:00pm
Speaker: Speaker TBD
Description forthcoming.
Safe Travels!
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Time: 5:00 – 6:00pm
Speaker: Katherine Gwen Baer, PA-C
This presentation will serve as an introductory guide to fundamental pre- and post-travel medicine essentials that are essential knowledge for every PA.
Parenting Strategies: Behavioral interventions we should all know both as a clinician and parent
On Demand Session
Speaker: Mercedes Dodge, MPAS, PA-C, CAQ-Psychiatry
This session explores effective parenting strategies as clinical tools in your practice. The challenges we face in this endeavor require us to equip ourselves with an extensive toolkit of interventions and approaches. We’ll cover core concepts, research findings, practical pearls, and principles to navigate family dynamics. You’ll receive a comprehensive Resource Handout, recommended videos, and books for further learning. The session includes four sections: research findings, parenting pearls, clinical tools, and a brief overview of common behavioral or psychiatric disorders. Gain a solid foundation, valuable resources, and practical knowledge to positively impact the families you serve, and your own.
Utilizing Motivational Interviewing to Empower Patients
On Demand Session
Speaker: Jessica Gavzer, PA-C
Overview of Motivational Interviewing skills and how to simply implement them during visits. These strategies enhance provider-patient communication and empower patients to take charge of their health by creating achievable goals towards a healthier lifestyle.
Pediatric Orthopedics: What’s Normal, Whats Not?
On Demand Session
Speaker: Brittany Jones, PA-C
The range of normal in pediatrics varies greatly. Pediatricians and family physicians often don’t know when to appropriately refer vs. monitor themselves for many conditions. Some are found too late through inappropriate self-monitoring or missed diagnoses. Children are also often put through unnecessary x-rays prior to referral as well. My goal is to help clarify normal developmental motor milestones, identify variants of normal with certain conditions such as knock knees/bow legs/toe walking/etc, and teach some simple physical exam findings to do at all regular check ups. Hopefully with establishing what is normal will help identify things that are abnormal and prompt more timely referrals.
Telemedicine: The History, Benefits, and Challenges
On Demand Session
Speaker: Katarina Astrup, MSPAS, PA-C
Although many PAs started using telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, the history of telemedicine surprisingly goes back several decades. There are many benefits of telemedicine for both the patients and the providers. However, there are also some challenges that come with using telemedicine. We will discuss tips to optimize telemedicine visits. We will also cover how to find a telemedicine job or how to add telemedicine to your current role.
Medical Spanish 101
On Demand Session
Speaker: Brittany Scurto, PA-C
Description TBD
How To Get Into Aesthetics
On Demand Session
Speaker: Adrienne Easterling, PA-C
Description TBD
Student Loan Repayment, Scholarships and Working at the VHA
On Demand Session
Speaker: Kathleen Howard, MSPAS, PA-C
Presentation of options for Student Loan Repayment, Scholarships and working at the VHA.
Opioid Risk: Discussion of Risk Mitigation Strategies
On Demand Session
Speaker: Amanda Novak, PA-C
In the United States, the opioid epidemic continues to persist. You’ve likely heard this term before, but what does it mean for the country and for you personally? As PAs, we hold a crucial role in opioid management across various medical specialties. Do you feel confident in prescribing opioids? Are you familiar with the associated risks and strategies for risk mitigation to safeguard both your liability and patient safety? This presentation aims to shed light on these risks, emphasize their significance, and discuss their relevance to your practice. It’s essential to ensure you are well-informed about the guidelines and available tools as you take on the responsibility of opioid management in your practice and with your patients.
Vulvar Dermatoses: What’s Up Down There?
On Demand Session
Speaker: Amanda Stanton, PA-DMSc
Vulvar and vaginal disorders are among the most common problems seen in ambulatory care. The cause is usually infectious, but noninfectious causes should also be considered, and differentiating them can be challenging. Accurate diagnosis based on patient history, physical examination, and laboratory testing is necessary so that effective therapy can be chosen. This session will review pruritic vulvar skin disorders and provide treatment options for symptom control.