All times listed in Eastern Time (US & Canada).
Download event agenda (PDF)

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

• 7:30am - 9:00am

  Registration Table Open

  Visit our registration table to pick up your name badge and welcome bag. Onsite registration is unfortunately not available, please register prior to 10/2/24.

  NOTE: This year we are not running separate concurrent inpatient/outpatient tracts after hearing feedback from last year. This year we have grouped our inpatient and outpatient focused lectures, which you will see noted on the agenda. Joint sessions are for topics that are widely applicable. Optional Add-on Workshops will run concurrent with lecture offerings.

• 9:00am - 9:30am

  Welcome

  MEAPA President, Kimberly Caldwell MPAS, PA-C

• 9:30am - 10:30am

  Obesity Treatment - Thinking with a Phenotypic Lens

  Ainsley Price, MSPA, PA-C Outpatient-1

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Name the four general phenotypes of obesity.
  2) Recognize how each of the four phenotypes may present in practice.
  3) Match commonly prescribed anti-obesity medicines with the phenotype they may work most effectively with.

• 10:30am - 11:00am

  Break/ Exhibit Hall Opens

  Menu TBD

• 11:00am - 12:00pm

  Can You 'Ear Me? A Discussion on Sudden Hearing Loss

  Gillian Croteau, MSPA, PA-C Outpatient-2

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Define criteria for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL).
  2) Identify patients with potential SSNHL based on history.
  3) Assess patients with potential SSNHL in a non-ENT setting.
  4) Develop treatment plan for SSNHL.

• 12:00pm - 1:00pm

  Lunch/Exhibit Hall Open

  Menu TBD

  Menu TBD

• 1:00pm - 2:00pm

  Patient Goals: Knowing Them, Naming Them and Achieving Them in Palliative Care

  Jacqueline Fournier, NP. c. ACHPN; Chelsea Ouellette FNP; Brianne Genschel, BSW Joint Session-1

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Define what palliative care is.
  2) What are the types of palliative care that can be delivered?
  3) Explore case studies: who qualifies for palliative care services.

• 1:00pm - 5:30pm

  Wilderness Workshop

  David Kuhns PA-C Emeritus, CCPA-Retired, MPH, DFAAPA Owen Howell PA-C

  --Separate Registration Required--
  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Describe the common minor ailments and injuries that can present in the outdoors, and demonstrate treatment options (I.e. reduction and stabilization of angulated fractures and dislocations, incorporating standard and improvised materials)
  2) Discuss options for the essential medications and supplies that should be part of your medical kit. (Demonstrate the use of an Epi Pen)
  3) Discuss strategies on how to avoid life-threatening environmental emergencies, including hypothermia, heat related emergencies and lightning injuries. (Demonstrate the “hypothermia wrap”.)

• 2:00pm - 3:00pm

  Your Vote, Your Voice, Your Power: Maine's Legislative Process 101

  Laura Harper Joint Session-2

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Discuss the importance of advocacy and legislative awareness for PAs.
  2) Describe Maine’s legislative process from creation of a bill to signing into law.
  3) Describe how PAs should be advocates and active participants in the electoral and legislative process.

• 3:30pm - 4:00pm

  Break/Exhibit Hall Open

  Menu TBD

• 3:30pm - 4:30pm

  Hip Fractures: From Fall Through Recovery

  Eric Daniels, PA-C, CAQ-OS, ATC Inpatient -1

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Identify different types of hip fractures and appropriate treatment methods.
  2) Describe the importance of hip fracture morbidity/mortality on the aging population.
  3) Describe what to order for suspected occult hip fractures.
  4) Recognize the length of recovery and its impact on the elderly population.

• 4:30pm - 5:30pm

  Breathless in Bar Harbor

  Angela Leclerc, MSPA, PA-C Inpatient -2

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Define hypoxemic and hypercapnic respiratory failure and provide examples of each form of
  respiratory distress.
  2) Identify which groups of patients with respiratory failure may benefit from Non-invasive Positive
  Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV).
  3) Identify common reasons for intubation and mechanical ventilation.
  4) Define the four major variables that can be controlled on the ventilator and how they relate to
  oxygenation and ventilation.

• 5:30pm - 8:00pm

  Lobster Bake

  Separate Ticket Required.
  Menu TBD, cash bar available.

Thursday, October 3, 2024

• 6:30am - 7:30am

  Breakfast

  Menu TBD

• 7:00am - 12:00pm

  ACLS for the Experienced Provider Renewal Workshop

  Chistopher Bates-Withers PA-C

  --Separate Registration Required--
  Must have prior ACLS for the Experienced Provider certification, which has not expired more than 1 year ago.

• 7:30am - 8:30am

  Rising Rates of Cancer in Young Patients; Implications In A Rural State

  Dr. Lisa Rutstein, MD Inpatient-3

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Understand causative factors for early age presentation of colorectal cancer
  2) Implications of early age diagnosis for a rural state such as Maine
  3) Recommendations for screening and genetic testing for young patients

• 8:30am - 9:30am

  Too Slow: Bradycardia, Heart Blocks, and What We Do for Our Patients

  Scott Smith, MSN, APRN-CNP, ACNP-BC, NRP, I/C Inpatient-4

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Identify the following ECG rhythms: sinus bradycardia, idioventricular
  rhythm/ventricular escape rhythm, junctional escape rhythm, sick sinus
  syndrome, 1 st degree AV block, 2 nd degree AV block Type I (Wenckebach), 2 nd
  degree AV block Type II, and 3 rd degree AV block.
  2) Discuss management of symptomatic and asymptomatic bradycardia.
  3) Analyze a case study and describe correct management of the bradycardic
  patient per AHA Guidelines.

• 9:30am - 10:00am

  Break/Exhibitor Hall Open

  Menu TBD

• 10:00am - 11:00am

  Pearls for Delivering Age-Friendly Healthcare in Any Practice Setting

  Maria Egger, PA-C Joint Session-3

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Recognize the unique characteristics of the older adult population that influence healthcare decisions.
  2) Explain the four components of Age-Friendly Healthcare, the 4 Ms.
  3) Illustrate the impact of implicit, explicit, and structural ageism on healthcare disparities for older adults.
  4) Demonstrate practical approaches to delivering age-friendly care in both inpatient and outpatient settings through participant-generated patient cases.

• 11:00am - 12:00pm

  Pediatric Cardiology: Matters of the Heart

  Don Solimini, PA-C, MHA Joint Session- 4

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Obtain appropriate history
  2) Conduct appropriate exam
  3) Use general knowledge of cardiovascular physiology to develop differential dx
  4) Use chest xray, echo, angio to complement
  5) Recognize clinical patterns that characterize common pediatric cardiac
  conditions
  6) No, you will not become a pediatric cardiologist after this presentation,
  but should have better understanding for a PC or Peds practice.

• 12:00pm - 1:00pm

  Lunch/Membership Meeting/Exhibit Hall Open

  Membership vote needed on the following topics: -Change of organization name -Bylaw update adoption

  Menu TBD

• 1:00pm - 2:00pm

  Update from NCCPA: Focus on the PANRE/PANRE-LA

  Alicia Quella, PhD, PA-C Joint Session -5

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Describe the options, resources and details on recertification for PAs: focusing on the PANRE and PANRE-LA.
  2) Describe the CAQ program and the new CAQs available for PAs.
  3) Describe the ways PAs contribute to the work of NCCPA.
  4) Update on recent legislation guiding PA Practice, the PA Licensure Compact and title change.
  5) Describe the practice characteristics of Maine PAs.

• 1:00pm - 5:30pm

  Critical Care Skills Workshop

  TBD

  --Separate Registration Required--
  Hands on skills with Critical Care Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS), airway management, central line and chest tube insertion.

• 2:00pm - 3:00pm

  Pediatric Rashes

  Don Solimini, PA-C, MHA Outpatient -3

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Discuss some common and not so common pediatric dermatologic issues.
  2) Identify by site and clinical presentation rashes you ought not miss.
  3) Describe treatment options for the various conditions.

• 3:00pm - 3:30pm

  Break/Exhibit Hall Open

  Menu TBD

• 3:30pm - 4:30pm

  Recognizing and Treating Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care

  Dana Villmore, PhD, PA-C Outpatient -4

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Recognize the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders in the primary care setting across the lifespan.
  2) Implement appropriate mental health questionnaires to screen for anxiety disorders and common comorbid conditions in primary care patients.
  3) Utilize appropriate pharmacotherapy for patients with anxiety disorders across the lifespan.
  4) Formulate holistic non-pharmacologic treatment plans for patients with anxiety disorders.

• 4:30pm - 5:30pm

  Buprenorphine for Management of Chronic Pain

  Ryan Trosper, PA-C Outpatient -5

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Discuss the pharmacodynamics of buprenorphine
  2) Identify different formulations of buprenorphine utilized for chronic pain management
  3) Review indications, contraindications, adverse effects, dosing, and monitoring of buprenorphine

• 5:30pm - 8:00pm

  Vendor Reception (non-CME event)

  Menu TBD, Cash Bar

Friday, October 4, 2024

• 6:30am - 7:30pm

  Breakfast/Exhibit Hall Open

  Menu TBD

• 7:30am - 8:30am

  Treatment of Obesity in Adults: Weighing In on the Drug Therapy Options

  Sara Hoffman, PA-C Outpatient -6

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Describe the widespread epidemic of obesity in the U.S. and its adverse health implications.
  2) Define the FDA-approved medications for the treatment of obesity in the U.S. and select the best agent for each individual patient based on key considerations (e.g., contraindications, availability, cost).
  3) Explain each drug category’s mechanism of action, dosing and monitoring, efficacy for weight loss, duration of therapy, adverse effects, and contraindications.

• 8:30am - 9:30am

  Dermatology Update 2024: What's New and What you might not remember from PA school

  Sarah Patton, MSHS, PA-C Outpatient -7

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Recognize the etiology and signs and symptoms of common dermatologic conditions across the lifespan in the primary care setting.
  2) Implement new and old treatment regimens for common dermatologic conditions in the primary care setting.
  3) Determine the appropriate patients for referral to a specialty dermatology office and formulate the best referral plan.

• 9:30am - 10:00am

  Break/ Exhibit Hall Open

  Menu TBD

• 10:00am - 11:30am

  Keynote: Lewiston Mass Shooting Event October 25th 2023

  Dr. Timothy Counihan, MD Hannah Stonebreaker, PA-C

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Provide a review of the hospital emergency response to the Lewiston shooting.
  2) Review mass casualty emergency response procedures.
  3) Explain how to participate in a mass casualty response as medical provider.
  4) Describe the patterns of injury of military style assault rifle injuries.
  5) Recall the initial assessment and resuscitation of penetrating trauma patients. 
  6) Describe the barriers to mental health care in the acute setting.

• 11:30am - 1:00pm

  UNE Luncheon

  Award and Scholarship Ceremony. Raffle Baskets Give-Away (must be present to win)

  ALL WELCOME!
  Menu TBD

• 1:00pm - 2:00pm

  A State of Shock! Demystifying The Shock State

  Marc Igdalsky, PA-C Inpatient -5

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Recognize the clinical presentation of a shock state.
  2) Compare hypovolemic, distributive, obstructive, and cardiogenic shock.
  3) Demonstrate an understanding of the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and
  management of various shock states.
  4) Interpret pertinent clinical exam findings and data as it relates to the work-up and
  treatment of shock.
  5) Formulate appropriate care plans, including both resuscitative and curative measures,
  targeting shock.

• 1:00pm - 4:00pm

  Primary Care Skills Workshop

  TBD

  --Separate Registration Required--
  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:

• 2:00pm - 3:00pm

  Management of Diverticulitis

  Dr. Timothy Counihan, MD Inpatient -6

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Describe the pathophysiology and epidemiology of diverticular disease.
  2) Describe how to assess and treat mild diverticulitis.
  3) Recall the grading systems for diverticulitis.
  4) Determine the appropriate assessment and treatment of complex diverticulitis including the role of interventional radiology.
  5) Describe the surgical options for complex diverticulitis.

• 3:00pm - 4:00pm

  Ways To Effectively Discuss Firearm Safety with Patients in a Non-Partisan Manner

  Michael Smith MS, PA-C, Christopher Bates-Withers, MSPharm, MMS, PA-C, CAQ-HM, CAQ-CVTS, CHSE Inpatient-7

  At the conclusion of the session, attendees should be able to:
  1) Define basic firearm terminology necessary for informed and effective discussion with patients about firearm safety.
  2) Identify potential barriers to therapeutic communication between healthcare providers and patients who own firearms.
  3) Discuss the role of firearms in suicides and ways to limit their use.
  4) Apply principles of harm reduction to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with firearms in families and communities.
  5) Discuss basic functionality of firearms safety devices and provide basic instruction to patients about selection and use of these devices.
  6) Identify the relatively small number of people most likely at increased risk of gun violence and self-harm and ways to effectively reduce their use of firearms.

• 4:00pm - 4:15pm

  Closing

  Kimberly Caldwell MPAS, PA-C MEAPA President