36th annual Seminar By the Sea to address major health care issues; continuing education credit available

February 24, 2021
URI Pharmacy Professor Jeffrey Bratberg speaks during last year's in-person Seminar By the Sea. This year, the conference will be delivered virtually.
URI Pharmacy Professor Jeffrey Bratberg speaks during last year's in-person Seminar By the Sea. This year, the conference will be delivered virtually.

URI College of Pharmacy hosts ‘Surviving the Tsunami of COVID-19: A Healthcare Provider’s Survival Kit’ virtually March 17-19

Health professionals from around the region will earn valuable continuing education credits while discussing some of the most pressing healthcare issues of the day during the 36th annual Seminar by the Sea Northeast Regional Conference presented by University of Rhode Island Office of Continuing Professional Development.

The flagship professional development conference hosted by the URI College of Pharmacy is ordinarily held in person in early March, and brings health care professionals from all over the region to Rhode Island. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conference, “Surviving the Tsunami of COVID-19: A Healthcare Provider’s Survival Kit,” will be delivered virtually March 17-19, using Zoom. Attendees will receive links to the app after registering for the event.

Seminar By the Sea brings together pharmacists, nurses, students and clinicians from multiple health care disciplines for three days of seminars and discussions. Continuing education credits are available for pharmacists and nurses, including pharmacology, immunization and law.

Seminar By the Sea 2020
Seminar By the Sea 2020

This year’s conference includes discussions and workshops covering many health issues, including extensive coverage of the pandemic. The Thursday keynote, to be delivered by Jefferson University Professor and Chair of Medical Oncology Dr. Ana Maria Lopez, will focus on the stressors health care professionals face during the pandemic with a discussion on opportunities for healing, community, and coming together. The Friday keynote, to be delivered by emergency room physician and Brown University Professor Dr. Megan Ranney, will discuss pandemic problem solving. Ranney has been a frequent contributor to the national conversation throughout the pandemic.

Seminar By the Sea 2020
Seminar By the Sea 2020

URI College of Pharmacy faculty members will play a significant role in the conference. Professor Kerry LaPlante, who is also a member of Rhode Island’s Vaccine Subcommittee, will present “COVID-19 Vaccines: Safety, Efficacy and Access” on Thursday, March 18. Clinical Professors Virginia Lemay and Kelly Matson, along with Pharmacy Resident Jessica Silva, will present “Pediatric Immunizations Should Not be a Sticking Point,” a pre-conference session on Wednesday, March 17 which fulfills the newly required pediatric immunization continuing education requirements for pharmacists. A preceptor workshop moderated by Professor Brett Feret on March 17 will include a panel discussion with URI pharmacy students and preceptors. 

Health care professionals and educators from URI and beyond will present on such topics as palliative telehealth, home monitoring devices, specialty drugs, asthma management through telemedicine, COVID-19 vaccines, medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and many more

During the live, online Seminar By the Sea, pharmacists can obtain 5 hours of live continuing education credit each day (March 18-19), with additional hours available for the pre-conference sessions on March 17. Two hours of pharmacy law are available on March 19 and immunization credit is available on March 17 and 18. Advanced registration is required. The full program schedule and registration are available on the URI College of Pharmacy CE website.