16th Annual Focus on Pharmacology Conference

D7093

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Poster abstracts are now being accepted. Posters can be research based or related to evidence-based practice and practice improvement. Posters must be Pharmacology related and may include decision making regarding medication management in disease management.

Submission Guidelines:

Poster Abstracts

Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026

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.

The primary audience is nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and advanced practice clinicians; however, the program content is relevant to physicians and the broader health care community.

This activity includes two hours of opioid continuing education.

• 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. | Opening Plenary
  Evidence-Based Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: What Works and Why it Matters
  (opioid)
  Jonathan Nunez, MD

  Objectives

  • Describe the current clinical landscape of the opioid epidemic.
  • Describe the evidence of FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder.
  • Apply evidence-based treatment strategies for opioid use disorder in clinical practice.
• 9 a.m. | Move to Concurrent Session
• 9:05 a.m. | Concurrent Session 1
  

  1A Pediatric Track

  POTS/Dysautonomia in the Young
  Marnie O’Donnell, MS, PA-C

  Objectives

  • Explain the physiology of dysautonomia.
  • Identify a treatment plan for patients with dysautonomia.

  1B Acute Care Track

  Antidepressants: Mechanisms, Treatment, and Side Effects
  Alexis Magazino, MSN, RN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC and Janet Passley-Clarke, PhD, DNP, MS, RN, CRNP, PMH-BC, FADLN

  Objectives

  • State standard antidepressants available for use.
  • State common adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and contraindications of antidepressants.

  1C Primary Care Track

  Prescribing for Late-Life Depression and Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia: Clinical Pitfalls and Rational Pharmacology
  Daniel Thomas, MD

  Objectives

  • Distinguish typical from atypical presentations of depression and anxiety in older adults and explain how these presentations alter diagnostic and prescribing decisions.
  • Compare first-line pharmacologic options for depression, anxiety, and dementia-related behavioral symptoms in outpatient and nursing home settings, including expected benefits, time to effect, and risk tradeoffs.
  • Identify high-risk and potentially inappropriate medications in older adults (Beers, anticholinergics, sedative-hypnotics) and apply deprescribing principles to real-world cases.
• 10:05 a.m. | Break / Visit Exhibitors / Posters
• 10:20 a.m. | Concurrent Session 2
  

  2A Pediatric Track

  Heart of the Matter: Prescriptive Pathways for Ventricular Preservation in Pediatric Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
  Marie Shaner, MMS, PA-C

  Objectives

  • Describe the current evidence-based pharmacologic strategies used to preserve ventricular function in pediatric patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
  • Identify appropriate timing, indications and clinical monitoring for cardioprotective medications to optimize long-term cardiac outcomes and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

  2B Acute Care Track

  Presenter and Presentation Title – To Be Announced

  2C Primary Care Track

  Pharmacologic and Non-pharmacologic Management of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
  Jessica Orner, MD

  Objectives

  • Review how to elicit an adequate history from the patient and/or informant of the symptoms and precipitating factors.
  • Develop a differential for medical, environmental, and caregiving causes of behavioral problems.
  • Explain how to initiate non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic management for behavioral disturbance.
• 11:20 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch / Visit Exhibitors / Posters
• 11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Product Theater (optional and not for CME credit)
• 12:30 p.m. | Move to Plenary Session
• 12:35 p.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.
• 1:35 p.m. | Move to Concurrent Session
• 1:40 p.m. | Concurrent Session 3
  

  3A Pediatric Track

  Adolescent Contraceptive Care
  Rosemary Claire Roden, MD

  Objectives

  • Identify three common contraindications to contraceptive estrogen and one condition that does not contraindicate it.
  • Discuss Pennsylvania laws surrounding minor consent to contraception.
  • Review shared decision-making as it pertains to contraceptive care.

  3B Acute Care Track

  Comfort Without Compromise: Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in the Intensive Care Unit
  Kelly Rothbart, CRNP, ACNP-BC

  Objectives

  • Describe best practices for safe procedural sedation in critically ill patients.
  • Identify and manage common complications of sedation and analgesia, including respiratory depression, hypotension, and delirium.

  3C Primary Care Track

  Should I use an NSAID Instead?: Update on the use of NSAIDs in the Primary Care Setting
  Joseph Andrie, MD

  Objectives

  • Compare and contrast the different NSAID medications on the market including their uses, risks and benefits.
  • Discuss the role of NSAIDs in treating musculoskeletal related pain.
• 2:40 p.m. | Break / Visit Exhibitors / Posters
• 3 p.m. | Plenary Session
  Clearing the Smoke: A Guide to Medical Marijuana in Healthcare
  Patrick Gut, PharmD

  Objectives

  • Identify different applications for medical marijuana.
  • Compare and contrast side effect profiles based on marijuana usage.
  • Interpret drug-drug interactions between marijuana and common medications.
  • Assess how special populations interact with marijuana.
  • Interpret pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of marijuana.
• 4 p.m. | Adjournment

Carol Forsyth, MSN, CRNP, FNP-BC
Committee Chair
Family Nurse Practitioner
Penn State Bone and Joint Institute

Directed and Supported by the Advanced Practice Advisory Board

Betsy Avinash, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
Department of Urology
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Dean Campbell, CRNP
Geriatric Medicine Nurse Practitioner
Fracture Liaison Service
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Suzanne Frazier, MS, CRNP, CHFN, NP-C
Heart Failure Nurse Practitioner
Heart Failure Disease Management Program
Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute

Rachel Fultz, MSPAS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

David Giampetro, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Director of Inpatient and Outpatient Opioid Stewardship
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State College of Medicine

Jaime Halin, MHS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Penn State Bone and Joint Institute

Marnie O’Donnell, MS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Children’s Heart Group
Pediatric Electrophysiology
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

Joseph Andrie, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Family and Community Medicine
Department of Orthopaedics and Therapy Services
Penn State College of Medicine
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

David Giampetro, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Director of Inpatient and Outpatient Opioid Stewardship
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State College of Medicine

Patrick Gut, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist – Emergency Medicine, ICU Float
Department of Pharmacy
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Alexis Magazino, MSN, RN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC
Outpatient Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute

Jonathan Nunez, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State College of Medicine

Marnie O’Donnell, MS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Children’s Heart Group
Pediatric Electrophysiology
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

Jessica Orner, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Janet Passley-Clarke, PhD, DNP, MS, RN, CRNP, PMH-BC, FADLN
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Vice Chair, Health Advancement & Community Engagement
Advanced Practice Manager-Psychiatry
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute

Rosemary Claire Roden, MD
Medical Director
Alder Health Services

Kelly Rothbart, CRNP, ACNP-BC
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Lead Advanced Practice Provider, Heart and Vascular ICU Intensivist Services
Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute
Penn State College of Medicine
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Marie Shaner, MMS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Pediatric Cardiology
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

Daniel Thomas, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Please note: Recordings of the concurrent sessions will be available for two weeks following the activity for registered participants only. To receive the maximum credits, 12 hours, you must attend or view all the sessions listed on the agenda within the two-week time frame. The plenary sessions will not be recorded and must be attended in person.

AMA

Penn State College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Penn State College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

• Saturday, April 11, 2026 – 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)
• Recorded sessions – 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)

Nurse practitioners, please note: This program includes a maximum of 12 hours of pharmacology continuing education as required for certification renewal by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). All presentations qualify for pharmacology education.

• Saturday, April 11, 2026 – 6 hours of pharmacy continuing education
• Recorded sessions – 6 hours of pharmacy continuing education

Opioid

This program includes a maximum of 2 hours of identification of addiction or the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids as required for certification renewal by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Please see the agenda for presentation marked with (opioid).

Nurses using AMA credit

Nurses will receive a certificate from Penn State College of Medicine verifying their participation in approved continuing medical education. Continuing education activities which are approved by accredited institutions of higher education and that are relevant to patient care or professional nursing meet the requirements of mandatory continuing education for registered nurses in Pennsylvania, as required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The Board of Nursing recommends that nurses retain their certificates for a period of at least five years. Additional information is available through the State Board of Nursing.

These credits meet the criteria set by the ANCC, American Nurses Credentialing Center as contact hours that are acceptable for renewal certification. Additional information is available through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The fee is $195 per person and includes the cost of instruction, listed meals and online handout materials.

Student Fee: $135 per person

To receive the reduced student rates, email verification of student status to ContinuingEd@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Payment is required at the time of registration. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at ContinuingEd@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Registrations received after Friday, April 10, 2026 will incur a $25 late fee.

Cancellations received after Saturday, April 4, 2026, will be assessed a $25 processing fee.

No refunds will be made for cancellations received after Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Accommodations are the responsibility of the activity participant.

Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey
4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111

April 10-11, 2026 – $125 reduced rate per night
Cut Off Date: March 27, 2026

Reservations can be made at (717) 939-7841, toll free at 800-637-4817 or online:

Penn State Focus on Pharmacology Booking Link

A completed evaluation is required in order to receive a certificate for attending this activity. Please complete and submit the evaluation within the specified time frame.

The University reserves the right to cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, the University will refund any program registration fees paid but cannot be held responsible for any related costs, charges or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines or travel agencies.

Program registrants who are experiencing illness or have been exposed to anyone who is ill should contact the Continuing Education office before attending any in-person activities.

Content and speakers for all programs are subject to change. Registrants will be notified of any significant updates.

On-campus educational activities provided by Penn State College of Medicine Continuing Education are required to follow healthcare facility guidelines. Off-campus events provided by Penn State College of Medicine Continuing Education follow the COVID-19 requirements of that venue. We ask that all participants respect that some attendees may still choose to wear masks for activities. Check the venue website for the latest requirements and recommendations. Please do not attend this activity if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. By attending the activity, you attest that you do not have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, which may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste, loss of smell or any other sign of illness.

Penn State encourages people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Participants who anticipate needing any type of special accommodation or who have questions about the physical access provided should contact the Continuing Education office at least one week in advance of participation or visit.

It is Penn State policy to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all educational activities. Penn State has a process in place to mitigate any relevant financial relationships with commercial companies disclosed by faculty, course directors and planning committee members. Complete disclosure information will be provided to participants at the beginning of the activity.

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