"Healing Together – Collaborative Approaches to Overcome Healthcare Barriers"

Program Chair: Mercedez Bernard, DO

Program Description

Needs Assessment:

Healthcare providers across rural and underserved communities frequently encounter patients with complex medical and social needs that are compounded by systemic barriers. Additionally, providers often lack formal training in assessing and treating special populations in resource-limited settings leading to fragmented care and suboptimal outcomes. 

This CME will address these gaps by equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to identify healthcare barriers experienced by growing burden of chronic disease, behavioral health crises, addiction, and health inequity in rural and low-resource areas.

Learning Objective: 

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Identify healthcare barriers faced by special populations in resource-limited settings, including individuals experiencing homelessness, incarceration, addiction, and chronic illness.
2. Describe interdisciplinary and community-based care models that improve outcomes for underserved populations, including those with complex social and medical needs.
3. Integrate local and state resources into care plans to support marginalized groups in low-resource environments.
4. Collaborate effectively across disciplines to enhance continuity of care and reduce disparities for vulnerable patient populations.

Register Here to Attend

 Addiction Medicine for Primary Care 

Christopher Fernandez, D.O.

 Environmental Exposures and associated disease processes since Gulf War: Closer look at Veteran population

Jennifer Thomas, D.O.

Papulosquamous and Hyperkeratotic Diseases

Advances in HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

 Spinal Cord Stimulators: Practical Considerations in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

Collin Mychak, D.O.

"The Role of Foreign Medical Graduates in Strengthening U.S. Healthcare Systems: Addressing Shortages and 
Enhancing Care in Rural and Underserved Areas"
Luegenia Ndi, D.O.

Alpha - Gal Syndrome: An Emerging Public Health Challenge 

Collaborating for a cure: Treating HCV in Family Medicine
Dr. Michelle Coady, PharmD

Proper Prescribing 

Chad Owens, D.O. 

 Integrating Equity and Community in your Leadership Journey

Santina Wheat M.D., MPH FAAFP

 Surgical Management of GERD 

Jared Lepley, D.O., FACS  

Accessing Lectures & Obtaining Credit

Registrants will be emailed the Zoom link to access the live lectures during the seminar week. If you are new to Zoom or encounter any difficulties, it is advisable to contact OOA staff to assist you before the program dates. You can reach the OOA staff at (405) 528-4848. 

Your link to attest to your attendance will be sent to you in the Zoom meeting "chat" feature via email to the email address you used to register for the course, and a link will also be provided here. 

Proper prescribing and risk management lectures have separate sign-in forms. These will be posted in the Zoom "chat" and emailed to you.

If you have any questions, please contact the OOA staff at (405) 528-4848 or email [email protected].