Overview

The University of Rhode Island (URI) will present the 41st Annual Seminar by the Sea Northeast Regional Hybrid Conference March 19-20, 2026, in Newport, RI. Seminar by the Sea is the flagship professional development conference of the URI College of Pharmacy, and approximately 300 pharmacists and other healthcare professionals from throughout New England attend. The conference offers 15 contact hours of continuing education credit for pharmacists as well as opportunities for professional networking with colleagues and healthcare industry representatives in meeting rooms and in our exhibit hall.

The conference is organized into two days of plenary sessions (March 19 and 20) with 7.5 live contact hours each day. Two (2.0) contact hours of Pharmacy Law CE and 1.0 contact hour of Immunization CE will be available on Friday, March 20. Participants will be able to attend the plenary sessions and a preceptor workshop in person in Newport, RI or virtually via Zoom Events.

The goal of this year’s Seminar by the Sea is to enhance pharmacists’ ability to apply current clinical evidence, regulatory updates, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to support safe, effective, and patient-centered care. Through expert-led, application-based education, this program aims to strengthen clinical decision-making, communication, and professional judgment across diverse pharmacy practice settings.

Target audience

Pharmacists in all practice settings. 

Location

Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa
25 America’s Cup Avenue Newport, Rhode Island 02840

Parking

Complimentary Parking for all guests is available at the Newport Gateway Transportation Center located next to the Marriott. Valet parking is available at $30.00 per day and is subject to change. 

Agenda

Speakers

Plenary Sessions

• Philip A. Chan, MD, MS
  Associate Professor, Brown University, School of Medicine
  Consultant Medical Director, Rhode Island Department of Health
  Chief Medical Officer, Open Door Health
• Tara Higgins, RPh, PharmD, CDOE, CVDOE
  Senior Clinical Consultant
  Pharmaceutical Strategies Group
• Sean Jeffery, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP, FNAP, AGSF
  Professor Pharmacy Practice, UCONN School of Pharmacy
  Director of Pharmacy, Hartford Healthcare Group, Integrated Care Partners
• Makoto M. Jones, MD, MS
  Professor of Medicine, University of Utah, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, Internal Medicine
  Research Investigator and Staff Physician, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
• Brianna Kimball, PharmD, BCACP, CDOE
  Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Care New England
  Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, URI
• Jerome Larkin, MD
  Director, Rhode Island Department of Health
• Bernice Man, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, CPHQ, CSP, DPLA
  Clinical Pharmacy Manager, University of Chicago, School of Medicine, Specialty Pharmacy
• Christina Michalek, BS, RPh, FASHP
  Director Membership & PSO, The Institute for Safe Medication Practices
• Amy Nunn, MS, ScD
  Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, School of Public Health
  Chief Executive Officer, Rhode Island Public Health Institute
• Rhonda Pacheco, PharmD, MBA
  President, U.S. Business Unit and U.S. Country Head, Takeda
• Baley Rochefort, PharmD, CDOE, CVDOE
  Clinical Pharmacist Ambulatory, Special Pharmacy, Brown University Health 
• Matthew Samore, MD
  Professor of Medicine, University of Utah, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine
  PI, Salt Lake Informatics Decision Enhancement and Surveillance (IDEAS) Center and VA Consortium for Healthcare Informatics Research
• Celia Wright, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP
  Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Kent Memorial Hospital, Cardiology

URI Preceptor Panel

• Brett Feret, PharmD
  Clinical Professor and Director of Experiential Education
  The University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy
• Matthew Lacroix, PharmD, MS, BCPS, FAPhA
  Director of Accreditation and Assessment
  University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy
• Alexandria O’Brien, PharmD
  PGY1 Resident, Rhode Island Hospital
• Kelly Orr, PharmD
  Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs, Clinical Professor
  The University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy
• Elizabeth St. Louis, PharmD
  Director, Co-Curriculum and Experiential Engagement
  The University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy

CE Credit

Accreditation

Pharmacy

The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Pharmacists can earn up to 15 contact hours of CE credit for the plenary sessions.  7.5 live contact hours (0.75 ceus) are available each day on Thursday and Friday, March 19 & 20, including 2.0 contact hours of pharmacy law and 1.0 contact hour of immunization on Friday, March 20. The preceptor workshop offers 2.0 contact hours. 

Evaluation

All participants will have the opportunity to review the educational sessions and speakers and identify future educational needs.

Program attendees can earn Continuing Education (CE) credits for this program by electronically logging onto the website: https://www.uripharmacycpd.org/, inserting the activity-specific access codes, and completing the activity learning assessment and program evaluation form. Participant names will be checked against program registrations for verification of attendance.

Participants have 60 days to complete evaluations. After 60 days from the live program date, no credit will be available for this program. No exceptions will be made for failure to complete program evaluations by the deadline.

Detailed instructions for completing a program evaluation and reporting credit are below. Pharmacists’ CE data will be electronically transferred to the CPE Monitor System upon successful completion of the program evaluation and post-test.

Program Evaluation Instructions

1. Keep track of the evaluation codes for the sessions you are registered for and attend.
2. After the program concludes, complete the program evaluations within 60 days of the program date.

• • Log onto uripharmacycpd.org
  • Select Complete Live Activity Post-Test/Evaluations and select the program date and title of the activity (see below).
  • Enter the program evaluation code and complete the program evaluation.
  • Select submit at the bottom of the page.
  • Pharmacists will receive a confirmation message of evaluation completion and notification that CE data was reported to the CPE Monitor.

• CPE Monitor - Before registering for programs that offer CPE credit, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must obtain their NABP e-Profile ID.

Pharmacists, please note: ACPE will only accept CPE data that is reported by providers within 60 days of the live program or completing the home study. CPE data is reported immediately to the CPE Monitor upon completion of this evaluation, although it may take 48-72 hours to appear in your CPE Monitor profile.  You will be notified of any problems transmitting your participant data via email. Most transmission problems are related to errors in transcribing date of birth and or NABP ID number. It is strongly recommended that you check your CPE Monitor profile to verify your participation in this program has been reported. CPE Monitor will reject CE data submitted after 60 days. *Your license number, date of birth, and NABP ID number are required to create an account in the URI CPD online registration and evaluation system to report participant data to the CPE Monitor.  Pharmacy license numbers will not be used for any other purpose.

Statement of Disclosure

In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education, and the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy requires that program faculty disclose any relationship (e.g., shareholder, recipient of research grant, consultant or member of an advisory committee) that the faculty may have with commercial companies whose products or services may be mentioned in their presentations. Such disclosure will be made available on the program day.

Faculty Disclosure

Relevant financial relationships for anyone involved in the planning or delivery of this program will be disclosed prior to the start of the educational activity. 

Registration/Tech

REGISTER

Registration Rates

Plenary Sessions – Thursday and Friday, March 19 & 20, 2026

Early Registration Fees                                                              

One day $229
Two day $399                                                                            

Late Registration Fees (after February 28, 2026):

One day $279
Two day $449

The plenary sessions registration fees include:

• Up to 15.0 contact hours (1.5 CEUs) of live continuing education (CE) credit for pharmacists including 1.0 contact hour of Immunization CE and 2.0 contact hours of Pharmacy Law CE on Friday. Each lecture is accredited separately.
• Access to the Zoom Events website
• Access to the in-person Exhibit Hall
• Live stream presentations via Zoom
• Live Q+A with speakers
• Presentation slides and handouts
• Continental breakfast, luncheon, and coffee breaks
• Dedicated meeting room wi-fi
• One complimentary drink ticket and access to the URI Alumni and Friends Networking Reception in the exhibit hall on Thursday

Preceptor Workshop – Thursday, March 19, 2026

Registration fee: $79
Registration fee is waived for URI preceptors

Registration Technical Note: Follow the registration button above to register for all programs on the URI Learning Management System. We recommend use of Chrome, Mozilla and IE Version 10 and higher browsers to complete the registration and payment process. If you receive an error message when completing your payment, please clear your browser cache and try again.

Refunds: Registration fee, subject to a $75 processing fee, will be refunded provided an email notification of registration cancellation is received ten days prior to the seminar. 

Preceptors: URI registered preceptors should enter the promotional code emailed to them by URI to obtain a discounted rate to the pre-conference sessions. Preceptor registrations will be verified with the preceptor registration database.

Students: Students receive 50% off the current registration rate. Additional financial assistance may be available. Please email an inquiry to pharmce@etal.uri.edu

Opt-out Vendor Policy: Program attendee lists may be shared with third-party vendors who support continuing education. If you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please email pharmce@etal.uri.edu with “Opt-Out Vendors” in the subject line.

Pet Policy: Pets are not allowed. Service animals are allowed to accompany their owner during the seminar. 

Intended Audience & Registration Policy: Seminar by the Sea is a private, invitation-only event hosted by the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy’s Office of Healthcare Workforce Development. Attendance is limited to invited URI alumni and preceptors and other regional pharmacists, affiliated healthcare professionals, students, speakers, exhibitors, and registered participants. Registration Review: All registrations are subject to review by event organizers. Due to venue capacity and program requirements, registration does not guarantee admittance. Individuals who are not part of the intended audience may be contacted for clarification or have their registration declined. On-Site Attendance: Walk-in or on-site registration is not guaranteed and may be restricted. This event is not open to the general public. Participants must be pre-registered or have received a formal invitation to attend. Event Access: Attendees may be asked to provide proof of registration or credentials at check-in. Conference issued  name badges will be checked upon entry and re-entry to the meeting room. 

Code of Conduct: The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy’s Office of Healthcare Workforce Development is committed to fostering a professional, respectful, and inclusive environment at the Seminar by the Sea. All participants—including attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and staff—are expected to engage in a manner that promotes learning, collaboration, and mutual respect. As such we have a few expectations while you are with us. Specifically, all participants are expected to:

1. Demonstrate professionalism and respect in all interactions.
2. Engage in discussions constructively and ensure speech and behavior are appropriate for a professional setting.
3. Respect personal and professional boundaries of fellow participants.

By registering and participating in our event, you acknowledge and agree that the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Office of Healthcare Workforce Development or its agents, reserves the right to remove anyone from the conference, meeting or event if we, in our sole discretion, determine that your participation or behavior violates our code of conduct, creates a disruption or hinders the meeting or event, or the enjoyment of the meeting or event for other participants.

Technical Requirements for Virtual Attendance

A computer or mobile device with an internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE). It is recommended to download the Zoom app (no account sign-up required) before joining the conference.

Virtual Training Consent 

The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Seminar By the Sea Conference will be available in a virtual format. Zoom Video Conferencing will be used to deliver the live streaming session. By registering for this program and attending virtually, you agree to participate in the live portion of the course by using active video and audio feed through your computer or mobile device. 

Lodging

Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa
25 America’s Cup Ave, Newport, RI 02840

Book Lodging at Newport Marriott

Room Reservations: A special room rate of $134 per night plus tax and fees has been arranged at the Newport Marriott. This cost is not included in the registration fee, and each attendee will be responsible for making their accommodation arrangements.

Room rate available through Wednesday, February 18, 2026. 

Parking

Valet parking is available at $30.00 per day and is subject to change. 
Complimentary Parking for all guests is available at the Newport Gateway Transportation Center located next to the Marriott.

Pet Policy

Pets are not allowed on-site. Service animals are allowed to accompany their owner during the seminar. 

Exhibit

The University of Rhode Island invites your company to become a conference sponsor and participate in the live exhibit theater at the 41st Annual Seminar by the Sea Northeast Regional Conference, March 19 – 20, 2026.

Consistent with previous years, we expect to attract more than 300 retail, hospital, academic, long-term, primary and managed care pharmacists, and allied health care professionals from throughout the Northeast for two days of professional networking and continuing education. This program will be accredited for pharmacists.

Your support helps provide quality continuing education opportunities to health care providers as well as invaluable networking opportunities. Sponsors have served as an integral part of our program since our first year, and we invite you to join us for our 40th anniversary. Limited sponsorship opportunities are available.

Please complete and return the exhibit application to secure your company’s space in our exhibit theater. The URI W-9 will be provided upon request. Email: pharmce@etal.uri.edu.