Evolution of women’s healthcare focus of URI’s annual Youngken Clinic

October 19, 2026
Transforming and expanding women’s health across the lifespan is the overall theme for the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy’s 69th annual Heber W. Youngken, Jr. “Last Chance” Pharmacy Clinic on Nov. 5.
Transforming and expanding women’s health across the lifespan is the overall theme for the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy’s 69th annual Heber W. Youngken, Jr. “Last Chance” Pharmacy Clinic on Nov. 5.

Registration now open for URI College of Pharmacy’s 69th annual conference on Nov. 5, offering CE credit for pharmacists

Women’s healthcare is evolving rapidly, and while greater emphasis has been placed on comprehensive care, women still face more barriers to healthcare than men, according to the National Institutes of Health. Pharmacists are key players in helping break down those barriers, playing an increasingly important role in improving access, counseling patients, and optimizing outcomes for women.

Transforming and expanding women’s health across the lifespan is the overall theme for the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy’s 69th annual Heber W. Youngken, Jr. “Last Chance” Pharmacy Clinic. Hosted by the college’s Office of Continuing Professional Development, “From Buzz to Best Practice: Advancing Women’s Health and Pharmacy Care” is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

“Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, making them an essential resource for women seeking reliable information and guidance at every stage of life,” said Mary-Jane Kanaczet, director of continuing professional development programming for the college. “At the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, we are committed to supporting pharmacists throughout their careers with education that translates emerging evidence into better patient care. The Youngken Clinic brings that commitment to life by helping pharmacists address gaps in women’s health in the communities they serve.”

Through evidence-based presentations and patient cases, participants will gain practical strategies they can use to strengthen patient care in a variety of practice settings. The clinic provides 5.0 live contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit for pharmacists, including 1 hour of immunization CE and 1 hour of pharmacy law CE. Registration is now open for the seminar, which will be presented virtually via Zoom.

In addition to insightful discussions on some of the key pharmaceutical issues facing the profession today, national experts will provide practical updates on menopause management, hormone and non-hormonal therapies, GLP-1 medications beyond weight loss, metabolic health, reproductive health, preventive care through immunization, and pharmacy law. URI College of Pharmacy Associate Dean Kelly Orr will announce scholarship recipients among URI students during a virtual lunch break.

Presenters include professionals from industry and academia, including:

  • Oluwatobi Akinsanya, clinical quality evolution fellow at CVS Health.
  • Paris Dade, assistant professor, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
  • Kathleen Hill-Besinque, professor emerita, Chapman University School of Pharmacy.
  • Jennifer Leavitt, director of clinical pharmacy, Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Corporation.
  • Zumar Smith, pharmacy fellow in retail clinical and quality standards, CVS Health.
  • Veronica Vernon, associate professor and department chair, Butler University College of Health Professions, Pharmacy Practice.

For more information or to register, visit the 69th Annual Heber W. Youngken, Jr. Pharmacy Clinic website.