This educational initiative is intended for PAs involved in the care of patients with chronic pain. Objectives: 1. Recognize the origin(s) and types of pain as they relate to pain management and opioid use disorder (OUD). 2. Fully assess persons experiencing pain, including risk for OUD. 3. Develop safe and effective pain management plans using nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic (non-opioid or opioid) options. 4. Partner with patients to reduce risks when taking opioid therapy.

Physician Associates frequently encounter patients affected by substance use across outpatient and acute care settings. This session provides an overview of common substances of use, current trends, and their clinical presentations and health impacts, with emphasis on practical recognition and assessment. Participants will review evidence-based screening tools and core characteristics of addictive substances to support early identification and intervention. Objectives: 1. Describe common substances of use and associated trends, with emphasis on alcohol use and alcohol-related harms. 2. Explore the common characteristics of addictive substances and factors associated with the development of substance use disorders. 3. Describe the clinical presentation and health impacts of alcohol in outpatient and acute care settings. 4. Identify some of the most common evidence-based screening tools used to support early identification and intervention for substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorder. 5. Explore how stigma, trauma exposure, barriers to healthcare access, and socioeconomic stressors contribute to substance use patterns and engagement in care.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are nearly universal and often drive the use of psychotropic medications—frequently with limited benefit and significant risk. This session provides a practical, evidence-based framework for evaluating and managing BPSD while minimizing overmedication and preserving patient safety, dignity, and quality of life. Using real-world cases and the DICE approach (Describe, Investigate, Create, Evaluate), participants will learn to identify reversible causes such as delirium, pain, medication effects, and environmental triggers before initiating pharmacologic treatment. The session emphasizes person-centered, non-pharmacologic strategies as first-line interventions and outlines when medications are appropriate, how to select them thoughtfully, and how to monitor and deprescribe safely. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to reduce polypharmacy, improve care outcomes, and confidently manage complex behavioral presentations in patients with dementia. Objectives: 1. Analyze the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) and health disparities on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) by identifying at least three contributing factors and integrating at least two practical strategies within the PA scope of practice to reduce disparities and improve patient-centered outcomes. 2. Apply the DICE (Describe, Investigate, Create, Evaluate) framework in the assessment of BPSD by identifying at least two reversible or modifiable contributors (e.g., delirium, pain, medication effects, environmental triggers) and developing a targeted, non-pharmacologic management plan. 3. Evaluate and implement appropriate pharmacologic interventions for BPSD when indicated by performing a risk–benefit analysis, selecting evidence-based treatment, and establishing a monitoring and deprescribing plan that includes defined safety parameters and reassessment timelines.

Anxiety is increasingly problematic among children and adolescents, with rising prevalence and significant impacts on functioning at home, school, and in relationships. This presentation reviews how anxiety presents across developmental stages, how to distinguish normal fears from anxiety disorders, and evidence-based strategies—including therapy, medication, and attention to social context—to support effective and equitable care.1. Identify common presentations of anxiety across developmental stages 2. Differentiate normative fears from clinical anxiety and describe key pediatric anxiety disorders 3. Evaluate the influence of social context and access to care on pediatric anxiety and identify clinician strategies to support more equitable mental health treatment. 4. Review evidence-based non-pharmacologic interventions, including therapeutic modalities and family-centered approaches 5. Review pharmacologic treatment options for pediatric anxiety and key considerations for clinical decision-making Objectives: 1. Identify common presentations of anxiety across developmental stages 2. Differentiate normative fears from clinical anxiety and describe key pediatric anxiety disorders 3. Evaluate the influence of social context and access to care on pediatric anxiety and identify clinician strategies to support more equitable mental health treatment. 4. Review evidence-based non-pharmacologic interventions, including therapeutic modalities and family-centered approaches 5. Review pharmacologic treatment options for pediatric anxiety and key considerations for clinical decision-making

Chronic disease management. Objectives: 1. Describe a functional assessment. 2. Discuss the importance of coordinating care and planning ahead. 3. Identify ways to support caregivers of individuals with chronic illnesses. 4. Discuss the impacts of social determinants of health in the lives of individuals with a chronic illness.

Shares the latest updates in the growing subspecialty as presented at the 2025 National Curriculum on Reproductive Psychiatry conference. Included topics such as risk screening, anticipatory guidance, treatment and collaboration strategies Objectives: 1. Recognize windows of risk in a woman’s life 2. Differentiate between menstrual cycle, perinatal and perimenopause disorders and normal physiological states 3. Identify how to properly manage psychiatric disorders during the perinatal period 4. Understand risk assessment and anticipatory guidance for women in windows of risk 5. Assess for trauma and understand how this and other social determinants of health affect windows of risk 6. Identify resources for patient management