41st Annual Winter CME Conference

All times listed in Eastern Time (US & Canada).
Download event agenda (PDF)

Thursday, January 18, 2024

• 11:30am - 12:30pm

  REGISTRATION OPENS - LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

• 12:30pm - 1:30pm

  AND IT'S BEEN DOWN HILL SINCE THEN? THE EVOLUTION OF HEALTHCARE ON THE HEELS OF THE PANDEMIC - THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE ULGY

  JOSHUA WHITE, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Discuss the current challenges in the healthcare system
  2. Describe systemic drivers behind some of these challenges
  3. Identify systemic drivers behind some of these challenges

• 1:30pm - 2:30pm

  NOT SO HARD TO SWALLOW: NEW THERAPIES FOR ESOPHAGEAL DISEASES

  RICK DAVIS, PA-C
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Describe new endoscopic therapies for Zenker’s diverticulum and achalasia with per oral endoscopic myotomy vs. surgery
  2. Discuss new treatments for GERD including oral potassium-competitive acid blockers (p-CAB’s) and endoscopic trans oral incision-less fundoplication (TIF)
  3. Examine new therapies for eosinophilic esophagitis

• 2:30pm - 3:30pm

  LIFE THREATENING WEAKNESS: CAN'T MISS DIAGNOSIS THAT DO GET MISSED

  ANDREW PERRON, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Identify some emergent causes of global weakness that present to the ER
  2. Describe how to rule out life-threatening causes of weaknesses
  3. Apply the emergent treatment of life-threatening causes of weaknesses

• 3:30pm - 4:00pm

  COFFEE BREAK AND MEET THE EXHIBITORS

• 4:00pm - 5:00pm

  PRINCIPLES TO AVOID THE PRINCIPAL: A CMO'S PERSPECTIVE ON HOW TO "STAY ABOVE THE FRAY"

  JOSHUA WHITE, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Identify common reasons providers find themselves facing disciplinary action
  2. Identify the behavioral drivers behind those situation
  3. Make changes in their own practice to avoid disciplinary meetings

• 5:00pm - 6:00pm

  SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? TURNING INPATIENTS INTO OUTPATIENTS: WHEN, WHAT, AND WHERE?

  ANDREW PERRON, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Describe the evidence based decision rules for outpatient treatment of PE
  2. Discuss the limitations of pneumonis prediction scores
  3. Describe what the HEART score does and does not tell you

• 6:15pm - 9:00pm

  WELCOME RECEPTION - ORVIS FLAGSHIP STORE

  Join us for an evening of networking, shopping, food & drink, while experiencing all Orvis has to offer.

Friday, January 19, 2024

• 7:00am - 8:00am

  BREAKFAST & MEET THE EXHIBITORS

• 8:00am - 9:00am

  SH*T STORM? EMERGING TRENDS IN DIAGNOSIS/PREVENTION/MANAGEMENT OF C. DIFFICILE COLITIS

  RICK DAVIS, PA-C
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Demonstrate best testing for the diagnosis of C.difficile infection and initial therapies
  2. Discuss recent FDA-approved Live Biotherapeutic Treatments (LBTs) for recurrent C.difficile infection
  3. Recognize which patients to consider for treatment with a C.diffile toxin B monoclonal antibody for prevention of C.difficile re-infection.

• 9:00am - 10:00am

  S'NOT WHAT YOU THOUGHT: SINUSITIS DX & MANAGEMENT - STATE OF THE ART 2024

  BENOIT GOSSELIN, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Review the anatomy and pathophysiology of sinus disease
  2. Present the current management guidelines for acute and chronic sinusitis
  3. Discuss surgical management of patients with sinusitis

• 10:00am - 10:30am

  COFFEE BREAK AND MEET THE EXHIBITORS

• 10:30am - 11:30am

  PULITZER PRIZES: TOP 10 EBM REVIEWS IN THE PAST YEAR

  ADRIAN BANNING, DHSC, MMS, PA-C
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. List some of the most important patient-oriented primary care peer-reviewed publications from the past year
  2. Describe the validity of the evidence discussed
  3. Synthesize current evidence as it applies to your current practice

• 11:30am - 12:30pm

  SPECIAL K: THE EMERGING ROLE OF KETAMINE IN PSYCHIATRIC DISEASE STATES

  JONATHAN BURGESS, MD, MPH
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Discuss the acute and subacute mechanisms of classical psychedelics and ketamine
  2. Identify how the acute and subacute mechanisms may impact core symptoms of depression
  3. Describe hypothesized time course of neuroplasticity for classical psychedelics and ketamine and why classical psychedelics are monthly administrations vs ketamine which is a twice or tri-weekly administration during active treatment phase
  4. Examine what to expect regarding side effects and medication interactions with classical psychedelics vs ketamine in comparison to currently established psychiatric medications

• 12:30pm - 2:00pm

  A LUNCHTIME PRESENTATION - WHERE'S THE BEEF? THE EVIDENCE FOR PLANT-BASED DIETS

  ADRIAN BANNING, DHSC, MMS, PA-C
  1.5 CE Credits

  What does it mean to eat a whole food, plant-based diet and why is everyone talking about it? In this session, conducted while you enjoy a delicious whole food, plant-based lunch, you’ll learn about the strong breadth and depth of evidence supporting this style of eating for both prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diagnosis. Bon appetite!

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Define what is meant by a "Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) Diet"
  2. Summarize the evidence that support WFBP eating
  3. List techniques of motivational interviewing that can be utilized to encourage WFPB eating

• 2:00pm - 3:30pm

  WORKSHOP 1: ECG PATTERNS YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY NEVER TAUGHT YOU

  GEORGE HIGGINS, MD
  1.5 CE Credits

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Recognize ECG patterns that portend sudden and unexpected death, including Brugada Syndrome, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and prolonged QT-interval predisposing to Torsades de Pointe
  2. Recognize ECG patterns that are associated with acute coronary syndromes including right ventricular infarction associated with acute inferior STEMI; posterior STEMI; Wellen’s Syndrome; De Winter Syndrome; and Sgarbossa Criteria for AMI in the presence of LBBB
  3. Recognize ECG patterns that are associated with anti-dromic and orthodromic supraventricular tachycardia

• 3:30pm - 4:00pm

  COFFEE BREAK AND MEET THE EXHIBITORS

• 4:00pm - 5:00pm

  ICYMI ID: CAN’T MISS NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES

  TIM LAHEY, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Review new developments in prevention of HIV and other viral infections
  2. Recognize serious infections we are learning can now be treated (at least partly) with oral antibiotics
  3. Discuss cutting edge topics in infectious diseases

• 5:00pm - 6:00pm

  IT’S ONLY ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER: AN UPDATE FORM THE NCCPA

  DAWN MORTON-RIAS, PA-C, ICE-CCP
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Describe the options available for recertifcation: The PANRE and PANRE LA exams
  2. Describe the new CAQs available for Board Certified PAs
  3. Describe the ways PAs contribute to the work of NCCPA
  4. Recognize the many ways NCCPA communicates with PAs and other resources available

• 6:00pm - 7:00pm

  PARTY FAVORS: DISLOCATIONS OF JAW, SHOULDER & KNEE - FUN PROCEDURES YOU MIGHT PERFORM AT YOUR NEXT FAMILY REUNION

  GEORGE HIGGINS, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Evaluate the patient with vertigo, including performing the HINTS exam, to differentiate central from peripheral vertigo
  2. Perform immediate reduction procedures for a number of orthopedic dislocation conditions of the jaw, shoulder and knee
  3. Perform modified Valsalva maneuver to more effectively terminate supraventricular tachycardia

Saturday, January 20, 2024

• 7:00am - 8:00am

  BREAKFAST

• 8:00am - 9:00am

  I NEVER SAID THAT! TECHNIQUES AND TIPS TO IMPROVE PATIENT COMMUNICATION, MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING AND BREAKING BAD NEWS

  ADRIAN BANNING, DHSC, MMS, PA-C
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Define motivational interviewing
  2. List evidence-based techniques for improving communication with patients, including trans-disciplinary approaches
  3. Describe improved patient outcomes with optimized clinician communication

• 9:00am - 10:00am

  PREVENTING YOUTH FIREARM SUICIDE THROUGH COUNSELING AND COLLABORATION

  REBECCA BELL, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Describe the connection between impulsivity, access to firearms, and youth suicide
  2. Describe the trends in suicide rates among adults and youth over time and the drivers in disparities across states and demographics
  3. Describe the approach to counseling families on firearm safe storage

• 10:00am - 10:30am

  COFFEE BREAK AND MEET WITH EXHIBITORS

• 10:30am - 11:30am

  DEPO MAD ROLE: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE IN 2024 - IMPROVING CARE & MINIMIZING RISK

  ROBERT BALDOR, MD, FAAFP
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Describe who gets sued
  2. Discuss why patients sue
  3. Identify the impact of the HER
  4. Describe how to minimize your risks

• 11:30am - 12:30pm

  NERVE ROOTS: SERIOUS NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE THAT PRESENTS IN SUBTLE WAYS – HOW TO STAY VIGILANT

  GEORGE HIGGINS, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Use illness scripts to avoid harmful biases that lead to anchoring and premature closure
  2. Recognize the risk factors and subtle signs and symptoms in young adults presenting with headache resulting from cerebral venous thrombosis and idiopathic intracrancial hypertension
  3. Recognize the risk factors and subtle signs and symptoms in patients presenting with low back pain resulting from spinal epidural abscess and vertebral osteomyelitis

• 12:30pm - 3:30pm

  FREE TIME - LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

• 12:45pm - 2:45pm

  BOARD MEETING (LUNCH PROVIDED)

• 3:30pm - 4:00pm

  COFFEE BREAK AND MEET WITH EXHIBITORS

• 4:00pm - 5:00pm

  FOCUS PEOPLE: A PSYCHIATRIST'S GUIDE TO MANAGING ADHD FOR THE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER

  KRISTA BUCKLEY
  1.0 CE Credit

• 5:00pm - 6:00pm

  ENDOCRINE IN THE ELDERLY: THE NUANCES OF DIABETIC MANAGEMENT IN THE GERIATRIC PATIENT; STATE OF THE ART 2024

  MATTHEW GILBERT, DO
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Identify clinical characteristics that should be considered when individualizing an A1c target for older adults
  2. Discuss ways to mitigate the risk of hypoglycemia in older adults with diabetes
  3. Describe a systematic approach to simplify complex insulin therapy in older adults

• 6:00pm - 7:00pm

  SAVE MY KIDNEYS: EMERGING THERAPIES FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

  KIM ZUBER, PA-C, DFAPA
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Review the introduction of the race-neutral eGFR calculator
  2. Discuss the causes, complications, and comorbidities of CKD
  3. Using the 2023 KDIGO CKD guidelines, demonstrate peer reviewed, proven methods to prevent progression of CKD

Sunday, January 21, 2024

• 7:00am - 8:00am

  BREAKFAST

• 8:00am - 9:00am

  HEADACHE FOR BOTH PATIENT AND PROVIDER: HOW TO SAFELY EVALUATE AND MANAGE A COMMON YET COMPLEX COMPLAINT

  GEORGE HIGGINS, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Develop an evidence-based, safe, and effective therapeutic “cocktail” for patients presenting with an acute exacerbation of their migraine headache syndrome that will relieve their pain and help prevent headache recurrence
  2. Incorporate therapeutic injection therapy into their management of patients presenting with acute primary headache
  3. Appropriately apply diagnostic tests to risk stratify patients presenting with possible Acute Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

• 9:00am - 10:00am

  FAINT'S THAT AIN'T: SYNCOPE MIMICS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!

  BRIAN KLOSS, DO, JD, PA-C
  1.0 CE Credit

  Syncope, while often a benign process, may be a symptom of an underlying catastrophic disease process. This lecture will go through several cases of syncope and syncope mimics that resulted in a miss or near-miss regarding patient care. By adding several syncope mimics to the provider's differential diagnosis toolbox, it is hoped that sinister diseases may be considered more frequently and adverse outcomes minimized.
  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Review the differential diagnosis of a syncope event and introduce the syncope mimics.
  2. Discuss the importance of a thorough history and physical exam to the patient care process.
  3. Introduce a simple formula "Syncope + _______ = Bad" and apply it in a head to toe fashion to recall the more sister disease processes presenting as syncope.

• 10:15am - 10:30am

  COFFEE BREAK & HOTEL CHECK-OUT

• 10:15am - 11:15am

  GO WITH THE FLOW? ABNORMAL UTERINE BLEEDING

  Bronwyn Kenny, MD
  1.0 CE Credit

  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Describe normal and abnormal patterns of vaginal bleeding in reproductive aged women
  2. Formulate a differential diagnosis and workup for women presenting with abnormal bleeding
  3. Discuss the rationale behind the treatment options for abnormal bleeding

• 11:30am - 12:30pm

  PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTO-IMMUNITY: COMMON TRAVEL RELATED DISEASE ON THE HEELS OF THE PANDEMIC

  BRIAN KLOSS, PA-C
  1.0 CE Credit

  Given people's return to global travel post-pandemic clinicians would benefit from a refresher course on tropical and travel related infectious disease. The lecturer will review mosquito-borne illnesses and prophylaxis, recommended vaccinations to potential tropical illnesses, and the treatment and management of traveler's diarrhea.
  OBJECTIVES:
  1. Encourage practitioners to provide travel advice and medical prophylaxis to their patients.
  2. Review mosquito-borne illnesses, risk mitigation and malaria prophylaxis.
  3. Review vaccine preventable travel related illnesses and recommendations.
  4. Recognize the causes of traveler's diarrhea and its management.