Health professionals from around the region met to discuss some of the most pressing healthcare issues of the day while earning continuing education credit during the 36th annual Seminar by the Sea Northeast Regional Conference presented by University of Rhode Island Office of Continuing Professional Development.

Seminar By the Sea brings together pharmacists, nurses, students and clinicians from multiple health care disciplines for three days of seminars and discussions. Ordinarily held in-person over three days in Newport, R.I., this year’s conference March 17-19 was held vitually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Continuing Professional Development website for information on next year’s conference, as well as the several CE events available throughout the year.

This year’s conference includes discussions and workshops covering many health issues, including extensive coverage of the pandemic. Presentations included:

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  Keynote Presentation: Put Your Oxygen Mask on First: Well-being Beyond COVID — Ana Maria Lopez, MD, MPH, MACP, Professor and Vice Chair, Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College; Chief of Cancer Services, Jefferson Health New Jersey, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University.

• Palliative Telehealth: Meeting A Critical Need — Kelly Baxter, DNP, FNP-BC, ACHPN, Baxter Palliative Consulting, LLC.

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  Telemedicine for Asthma Management: An Opportunity to Improve Care — Jennifer R. Mammen, PhD, NP-BC, Assistant Professor, University of Rhode Island College of Nursing.

• Exploring the Tides of Change in the Use of Biologics for Inflammatory Conditions — Renee Rayburg, RPh, Vice President, Specialty Clinical Consulting, Artemetrx Specialty Drug Solutions.
• Drug Pipeline: Traditional Pharmaceuticals and Biosimilars — Jeff Casberg, RPh, MS, Vice President, Clinical Pharmacy, IPD Analytics; and Leslie Fish, RPh, PharmD, Vice President, Clinical Pharmacy, IPD Analytics.

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  Keynote Presentation: COVID-19: What Comes Next? — Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH, FACEP, Director, Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health; Warren Alpert Endowed Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine; Associate Dean of Strategy and Innovation, School of Public Health, Brown University.

• Driving Quality Improvement with Just Culture and High Reliability — Donald McKaig, RPh,CDOE, CVDOE, Pharmacy Manager, Medication Safety, Quality and Informatics, Lifespan.
• There’s No Place Like Home: Exploring Home Monitoring Devices — Sara Panahi, PharmD, PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, Coastal Medical; and Andrea Lauren Johnson, PharmD, PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident, Kent Hospital.
• COVID-19 Vaccines: Safety, Efficacy and Access — Professor Kerry LaPlante, PharmD, FCCP, FIDSA, Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy.
• Combatting the Opioid Crisis: Improving Access to Medication Assisted Treatment Through Pharmacies — Timothy D. Fensky, RPh, DPh, FACA, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Sullivan’s Pharmacy, Inc.