Show-Me Pharmacy Seminars

Show-Me Pharmacy Seminars will Provide Professional Development Opportunity to Pharmacists throughout Missouri

ST. LOUIS – Pharmacists have an important role in our health care system and greatly impact the quality of care for patients. Nonetheless, like all health care professionals, pharmacists too are required to stay abreast with current medicine and health care trends. In doing so, pharmacists throughout Missouri will attend “Show-Me Pharmacy,” a series of statewide continuing education seminars sponsored by St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

In most communities, pharmacists are among the most accessible health care providers; they deal with a variety of health-related issues which require up-to-date solutions. The seminars will provide the latest information on a variety of topics like new drugs, treating chronic diseases during pregnancy, the management of acute coronary syndromes, and management of gram-negative infections.

The seminar locations are:

• Columbia – Sunday, Jan. 31, Holiday Inn Select-Executive center, 2200 I-70 Drive SW;
• Cape Girardeau – Saturday, Feb. 6, Drury Lodge, 104 South Vantage Drive; and
• Springfield – Sunday, Feb. 21, Doubletree Hotel, 2431 N. Glenstone.

Each seminar is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. St. Louis College of Pharmacy faculty members will lead the discussions. Participating independent and community pharmacists will have an opportunity to earn eight continuing education hours. The state requires pharmacists to earn at least 30 continuing education hours every two years to remain licensed.

Michelle Katsiyiannis, director of the College’s continuing education department, said the three-city format helps with accessibility for pharmacists with limited access to professional development opportunities.

 “I’m hopeful participants will take something away from the seminars they can actually use in their practice sites to improve the health of Missourians,” Katsiyiannis said. “The mission of the College’s continuing education department is to promote optimal patient health. For that to happen, pharmacists must continually improve their knowledge of medicine and health-related issues. The seminars will allow pharmacist to attain that knowledge, which benefits patients.”

Show-Me Pharmacy Schedule
8 – 10 a.m. (New Drugs 2010 by Leonard Naeger, Ph.D.)
 
 Program Objectives:
• Describe major characteristics of new products.
• Compare newer agents with those currently being used.
• Suggest ways in which drug toxicity and/or drug interactions may be minimized or eliminated.
• Counsel patients on use of newer agents.

10 – 10:15 a.m.  BREAK

10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (Treating Chronic Diseases in Pregnancy by Alicia Forinash, Pharm.D, BCPS, CCD)
 
Program Objectives: 
• Understand the changes in maternal physiology and how it affects medication use in pregnancy.
• Understand the principles involved with medication usage in pregnancy.
• Recommend appropriate therapy for chronic diseases including hypertension, seizure, asthma, thyroid, migraine, nicotine dependence, and anticoagulation during pregnancy based on medication safety and literature.
• Educate patients on the purpose, proper use, and potential adverse events regarding therapy choices during pregnancy.

12:15 – 1:45 p.m.  LUNCH: EXPLORE NEARBY OPPORTUNITIES

1:45 – 3:45 p.m. (The Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes by Zach Stacy, MS, Pharm.D, BCPS)
 
Program Objectives:
• Discuss the prevalence and pathogenesis of ACS.
• Describe the typical ACS patient presentation.
• Compare and contrast the role of various anticoagulants in patients with ACS.
• Recommend appropriate anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy for a patient with ACS.
  
3:45 – 4:00 p.m.  BREAK

4 – 6 p.m. (Management of Emerging Gram-Negative Infections by Ryan Moenster, Pharm.D, BCPS) 

Program Objectives:
• Identify risk-factors for developing multi-drug resistant infections.
• Identify common gram-negative pathogens and what types and mechanisms of resistance they exhibit.
• Evaluate drug therapy in patients at high risk for developing multi-drug resistant gram-negative infections.
• Select and recommend appropriate therapy for resistant gram-negative pathogens.
• Assess formulary decisions and antimicrobial stewardship and how they affect resistance patterns.

About St. Louis College of Pharmacy: Founded in 1864, St. Louis College of Pharmacy is one of the oldest and largest colleges of pharmacy in America. The College admits students directly from high school and integrates the liberal arts and sciences with a six-year professional curriculum leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Approximately 1,250 students attend, and more than 72 percent of practicing pharmacists in the St. Louis metropolitan area are alumni.