15th Annual Focus on Pharmacology Conference

15th Annual Focus on Pharmacology Conference is organized by Penn State University (PSU) College of Medicine Continuing Education and will be held on Apr 05, 2025 at Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.

Purpose:
The purpose of this activity is to provide pharmacology information in multiple areas, and to promote clinical excellence through improving the quality of care to patients.

Highlights:
This activity includes two hours of opioid continuing education.

Agenda and Objectives:
7:30 a.m. Check-In/Continental Breakfast/Visit Exhibitors

7:55 a.m. Welcome
Carol Forsyth, MSN, CRNP, FNP-BC, Committee Chair

8 a.m. Plenary Session
Breaking Barriers, Building Immunity: Bridging Gaps in Care Across All Ages

Deshaun Richards, PharmD, MBA

Objectives

• Review current CDC recommendations for adult and pediatric immunizations, including updates on schedules and guidelines for special populations.
• Identify key social determinants of health that influence vaccine uptake and address barriers to immunization access in diverse populations.

9 a.m. Move to Concurrent Session

9:05 a.m. Concurrent Session 1

1A Pediatric Track
Review of Evaluation and Treatment Options for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Eve May, MD

Objectives

• Review types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and key diagnostic features.
• Describe current theories of why IBD occurs.
• Outline the appropriate initial workup of IBD and review diagnostic tools.
• Identify the common treatments used and treatment goals of IBD.

1B Acute Care Track
Riding the High – Management of Hypertension in the Acute Setting
Katherine Pavlos, MSPAS, PA-C

Objectives

• Review different acute hypertensive scenarios.
• Review treatment guidelines.
• Review medications used for acute treatment of hypertension.

1C Primary Care Track
Symptom Management at End of Life
Susan Glod, MD, MEd

Objectives

• Predict and proactively manage pain, nausea, and agitation in the last hours to days of life.
• Describe pharmacologic management of pain, nausea, and agitation at end of life.
• Review indications and contraindications for commonly used symptom focused medications.

10:05 a.m.Break/Visit Exhibitors/Posters

10:20 a.m.Plenary Session
Opioids: An Update on the Epidemic and Overview of Prescribing and Weaning Strategies (Opioid)
David Giampetro, MD

Objectives

• Discuss the changes in the opioid epidemic over the last 10 to 15 years and why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines needed to be revised.
• Describe how to taper opioid therapy, recognize the risks of tapering opioids and list five signs/symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
• Define buprenorphine and explain why it is probably the best choice of presently available opioids for chronic pain.

11:20 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch/Visit Exhibitors/Posters/Product Theater

11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Product Theater (optional and not for CME credit)

Understanding CRYSVITA (burosumab-twza), a Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) Targeted Therapy
Courtney Reints, DNP, ARNP, CPNP-PC
Blank Children’s Hospital
Pediatric Endocrinology

12:30 p.m. Move to Concurrent Session

12:35 p.m. Concurrent Session 2

2A Pediatric Track
From Headache to Healing: Medication Management in Pediatric Concussion Care
Samantha Willer, DO, MA

Objectives

• Discuss the role of medications in pediatric concussion management by identifying appropriate indications, contraindications, and potential side effects of medications commonly used in managing symptoms of pediatric concussion.
• Formulate evidence-based treatment strategies by applying current guidelines and best practices to customize medication regimens for individual pediatric concussion patients, considering their symptom profiles and recovery goals.

2B Acute Care Track
The Preoperative Prescription Playbook: Managing Medications for Optimal Outcomes
Lauren Zug, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C

Objectives

• Discuss the complexities of medication management in the perioperative setting for optimal patient outcomes.

2C Primary Care Track
Pediatric Infectious Diseases for the Generalist
Patrick Gavigan, MD

Objectives

• Describe the presentation of common pediatric infections.
• Discuss appropriate antibiotic treatment for common pediatric infections.

1:35 p.m.Move to Concurrent Session

1:40 p.m.Concurrent Session 3

3A Pediatric Track
Updates in the Treatment of Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis
Laurie Krnjaic, CRNP

Objectives

• Recognize most recent updates in the biologic treatment options for pediatric patients.
• Explain the mechanisms of action of janus kinase (JAK) and interleukin inhibitors, and identify the criteria for appropriate patient selection for these drugs.

3B Acute Care Track
Individualized Perioperative Pain Management
Jennifer Nasser, MSPAS, PA-C

Objectives

• Explain how to assess pain medication safety concerns in relation to health history, chronic medications, and proposed level and length of perioperative pain needs.
• Describe the perioperative pain medication options and how to dose and titrate them to fit each patient’s risks and needs.

3C Primary Care Track
Diabetes Medications: Beyond Glycemic Control
David Bradley, MD

Objectives

• Review the available therapeutic options for Type 2 diabetes.
• List the non-glycemic benefits of Type 2 diabetes medications, including their effects on cardiovascular health, kidney function, weight loss and others.

2:40 p.m. Break/Visit Exhibitors/Posters

3 p.m. Plenary Session
Drugs of Addiction and Medications to Treat Addiction (Opioid)
Donald Dissinger, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP

Objectives

• Describe the substances currently being seen in Central PA drug supply.
• Describe one treatment modality for each of the above substances.

4 p.m. Adjournment