PHARMACOLOGY ANNUAL TRAINING TO MAINTAIN CLINICAL CREDENTIALS

Live August 27-28 2025

For VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Welcome to the information page for the VAPHS seminar scheduled for August 27-28 2028.

  • The information below displays the agenda and provides the ability to register, and print out a downloadable agenda.

    • You may only register for the course if your name is in a pre-approved list of names.

    • If you can not register, ask your supervisor to add you name to the list.

    • Please register well in advance of the live meeting to work out any technical issues.

    • Registering provides you access to a zoom link, learning materials, access to course evaluation surveys, and the ability to claim credit for attending.

    • A printable announcement is provided for your convenience. Note that courses are listed twice because of accreditation reporting requirements.

  • Zoom

    • The zoom link and password is available in the ‘materials’ section after you register.

    • The zoom link will become active approximately 30 minutes before the start of the first session for each day.

Agenda

Wednesday, August 27th

8:00 AM -12:00 PM - Topic: 01: Updates In Pain Management and Opioid Prescribing - 4HR

Dr. Stacey Hollen PharmD, BCACP

  • 1. Apply concepts of the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain to their clinical practice.

  • 2. Discuss with their patients the expected benefits and common and serious risks of opioid therapy.

  • 3. Discuss with their patients alternatives to opioids before initiating or continuing opioid therapy.

  • 4. Identify risk factors for opioid-induced respiratory depression and overdose.

  • 5. Employ risk mitigation strategies and screening tools to ensure safe opioid prescribing.

  • 6. Discuss non-opioid and safer partial opioid agonist alternatives to full agonist opioids with their patients.

  • 7. Utilize buprenorphine transdermal and buccal formulations in their clinical practice.

  • 8. List guideline directed pharmacologic and/or nonpharmacologic options to treat acute and chronic low back pain, musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and fibromyalgia.

  • 9. Explain why full agonist opioids can worsen fibromyalgia.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM - Break

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM -Topic 02: Antimicrobial Stewardship -2HR

Dr. Christopher M. Bland, Pharm.D., FCCP, FIDSA, BCPS

  • 1. Describe best practices for prescribing antimicrobials in the transitions of care and outpatient settings.

  • 2. Discuss recently approved agents as well as notable new indications for previously approved agents.

  • 3. Describe best practices for assessing and de-labeling patients with self-reported penicillin allergy.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM - Topic 03: Dental Prophylaxis - 1HR

Dr. Anna Paritsky DMD, DDS

  • 1. Discuss recommendations from the American Heart Association and American Dental Association regarding dental prophylaxis.

  • 2. Discuss which patients need dental prophylaxis need dental prophylaxis.

  • 3. Discuss which procedures require dental prophylaxis.

  • 4. Describe which antibiotics and dosages are recommended.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM- Topic 04: Immunotherapy and Biologics in Autoimmune Disease - 1HR

Dr. Kajal Jain, Pharm.D

  • 1. Describe which monoclonal antibody medications are prescribed for conditions such as psoriasis, RA, asthma

  • 2. Describe safety monitoring for patients being treated with monoclonal antibodies.

  • 3. Discuss patient education for patients being treated with monoclonal antibodies.

Thursday, August 28th

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - Topic 05: Psychopharmacology Trends - 1HR -

Dr. Joshua Caballero Pharm.D., BCPP, FCCP

  • 1. Discuss new antidepressants and antipsychotics.

  • 2. Discuss off label use of new antidepressants and antipsychotics.

  • 3. Recognize polypharmacy in mental health care management.

  • 4. Describe the use of psych meds in primary care.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM -Topic 06: Hormone Replacement Therapy Update - 1HR

Dr. Chelsea A. Keedy, PharmD, BCACP, CDTM

  • 1. Discuss new guidelines for hormone replacement menopause management.

  • 2. Discuss risks and benefits of newer formulations and delivery methods.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM -Topic 07: Pharmacogenomics in Primary Care - 1HR

Dr. Chelsea A. Keedy, PharmD, BCACP, CDTM

  • 1. Discuss personalizing drug therapies based on genetic profiles,

  • 2. Identify CYP450 interactions with antidepressions, statins, and other commonly prescribed medications.

  • 3. Describe how to interpret results of pharmacogenomic testing.

  • 4. Discuss how to apply results of pharmacogenomic testing.to prescribing practices.

11:00 AM - 12:00 AM - Topic 08: Electrolyte Imbalances - 1HR

Dr. Toral Patel, PharmD, BCPS

  • 1. Discuss when to treat electrolyte Imbalances.

  • 2. Discuss treatment of electrolyte imbalances.in inpatient, outpatient, critical care and med-surg settings.

  • 3. Discuss the treatment of abnormal sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous levels.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM - Break

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM - Topic 09: Cannabis and Cannabinoid-Based Therapies - 1HR

Dr. Randell L. Tackett, Ph.D

  • 1. Describe medical cannabis prescribing regulations and clinical applications.

  • 2. Describe cannabis pharmacokinetics and interactions with other medications

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM -Topic 10: Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment from ER Through Discharge - 1HR

Dr. Randell L. Tackett, Ph.D

  • 1. Describe drug and alcohol withdrawal treatment from ER through discharge.

2:30PM - 3:30PM - Topic 11: Drug induced Nutrient Depletions - 1HR

Dr. Sanford H Levy, MD

  • 1. Explain how common medications affect the patient nutritional status.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM -Topic 12: New Hypertension Guidelines - 1 HR

Dr. Joseph Saseen, Pharm.D., FASHP, FCCP, BCPS, BCACP

  • 1. Describe the latest updates on first line preferences for the treatment of hypertension.

  • 2. Discuss the recommended use of combinations therapies for hypertension.

    • 3. Discuss treatment guidelines for resistant hypertension.

Expert Clinical Faculty

  • Smiling man in a suit with a checkered shirt standing indoors.

    Christopher M. Bland, Pharm.D., FCCP, FIDSA, BCPS

    Clinical Professor, Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharma- cy Specialist, St. Joseph’s/ Candler Health System, Sa- vannah, Georgia. Co-founder of SERGE-45, practice-based research network, co-founder of TeachMePharm, drug therapy teaching platform.

  • Dr. Joshua Caballero

    Dr. Joshua Caballero

    Associate Professor (Limited Term) for Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy at the College of Pharmacy. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Florida and his PharmD from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. During his postdoctoral training, he completed a PGY2 in Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and a Pharmacotherapy Fellowship at The Ohio State University

  • Dr. Kajal Jain, Pharm.D

    Dr. Kajal Jain, Pharm.D

    Dr. Kajal Jain, Pharm.D Ambulatory Care Specialty Pharmacis Yale New Haven Health Hospitals and Health Care New Haven, CT

  • Dr. Stacey Hollen PharmD, BCACP

    Dr. Stacey Hollen PharmD, BCACP

    Dr. Stacey Hollen PharmD, BCACP
    Clinical Assistant Professor
    Department of Clinical Pharmacy
    University of Colorado
    Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

  • Dr. Chelsea A. Keedy, PharmD, BCACP, CDTM

    Dr. Chelsea A. Keedy, PharmD, BCACP, CDTM

    Dr. Keedy is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care at SJ/C Medical Group – Eisenhower. She is a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) and holds a collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) agreement. She is a member of ASHP, GSHP, and AACP and was selected as the GSHP Outstanding New Practitioner of the Year in 2020. She previously helped establish the health system’s Hepatitis C treatment clinic.

  • Dr. Sanford H Levy, MD

    Dr. Sanford H Levy, MD

    Sanford H Levy, MD 

    Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine,  Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine  Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY

  • Dr, Anna Paritsky DMD, DDS

    Dr, Anna Paritsky DMD, DDS

    Endowed Assistant Clinical Professor
    Dept: Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy Nova Southeastern University, Diplomate American Clinical Board of Nutrition, Master Herbalist .

  • Dr. Toral Patel, PharmD, BCPS

    Dr. Toral Patel, PharmD, BCPS

    Associate Professor
    Department of Clinical Pharmacy
    University Of Colorado
    Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aurora, CO

  • Smiling bald man with a beard wearing a blue shirt and tie

    Joseph Saseen, Pharm.D., FASHP, FCCP, BCPS, BCACP

    Joseph Saseen is Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and a Professor of Family Medicine. He also served as Vice Chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy for 10 years. Dr. Saseen has responsibilities for enhancing the school’s clinical enterprise, further developing sustainable clinical service models, and advocating for advancing the practice of pharmacy in the State of Colorado. His scholarly work includes almost 200 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.

  • Dr. Randell L. Tackett, Ph.D

    Dr. Randell L. Tackett, Ph.D

    Dr. Randell L. Tackett Ph.D
    Clinical And Administrative Pharmacy
    Professor, The University of Georgia
    College Of Pharmacy, Athens GA