Alicia Quella, PhD, PA-C

Program Description

NCCPA will provide detailed information on the recertification options for PAs- the PANRE and the PANRE-LA. We will give an update for PAs in the 2029 recertification cohort, review application deadlines and assessment options. We will also provide a review of the new Provider Bridge Program and the CAQ program (highlighting the new Occupational Medicine and Geriatric Medicine CAQs). In addition, we will describe the various ways PAs contribute to the work of NCCPA and other resources available to Arizona PAs.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives: Describe the options, resources and details on recertification for PAs: focusing on the PANRE and PANRE-LA Describe the Provider Bridge Program, the CAQ program and the new CAQs (Geriatric Medicine) available for PAs Describe volunteer opportunities and the ways PAs contribute to the work of NCCPA. Update on recent legislation guiding PA Practice, the PA Licensure Compact and title change. Describe the practice characteristics of Arizona PAs.

Jed Grant, DMSc, PA-C

Program Description

All PAs will eventually encounter a concerning blood pressure. How high is too high? Is this an emergency, or can it wait? This presentation will focus on point of care ultrasound to differentiate hypertensive urgency from emergency and briefly review the treatment of both conditions for PAs in primary care and acute care settings.

Learning Objectives

Participants in this session will learn to: Differentiate between a hypertensive episode, hypertensive urgency, and hypertensive emergency Describe the appropriate clinical evaluation of a patient with hypertensive emergency Identify the appropriate treatment of hypertensive emergencies.

Melinda Rawcliffe, DMSc, PA-C

Program Description

Emergency departments are increasingly challenged by high patient volumes, complex presentations, and limited continuity of care. This session explores the application of integrated patient care models, blending behavioral health, medical interventions, and interdisciplinary collaboration, to enhance outcomes in the emergency setting. Drawing from clinical experience and evidence-based practices, the session will demonstrate how integrating psychosocial assessment, behavioral strategies, and care coordination into emergency workflows can improve patient satisfaction, reduce recidivism, and promote safety for both patients and providers.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Define integrated care and describe its relevance and application in the emergency department setting. 2. Identify common behavioral health challenges encountered in the ER and describe strategies for immediate behavioral intervention. 3. Discuss evidence-based benefits of integrating behavioral and medical approaches in emergency medicine. 4. Apply practical tools and workflows to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and improve patient outcomes in acute care settings.

Clay Walker, PA-C | Brittney Hulsey, DMSc, PA-C | Sylvia Dory

Program Description

This session equips clinicians with the knowledge to recognize, diagnose, and manage Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), a complex condition affecting athletes of all genders. Attendees gain an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, including low energy availability, hormonal adaptations, and multisystem consequences ranging from menstrual dysfunction to impaired bone health and performance decline. Emphasis is placed on practical strategies for early identification through clinical history, physical exam, and lab work, as well as evidence-based treatment approaches including nutritional rehabilitation and return-to-play guidelines. The session also addresses long-term health outcomes and challenges in patient education and interprofessional coordination. Attendees leave with actionable tools to improve athlete care, reduce risk of underdiagnosis, and support optimal health and performance.

Learning Objectives

1) Identify the clinical features and physiological consequences of low energy availability in athletes, including hormonal, skeletal, and performance-related effects. 2) Apply evidence-based strategies for diagnosing RED-S through clinical assessment, laboratory evaluation, and risk stratification tools. 3) Develop individualized, multidisciplinary management plans to restore energy balance, monitor progress, and support safe return to sport.

Dana Carter, MPA, MSML

Program Description

AAPA advocacy staff will provide an overview of top legislative priorities across the country at the state level.

Learning Objectives

• Identify positive changes recently made to PA practice laws/regulations across the US • Define elements of modern PA practice • Describe strategies for advocating for the PA profession

Brittney Hulsey, DMSc, PA-C

Program Description

Breast Implant Illness is an emerging and complex condition reported by patients with breast implants who experience a range of systemic symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, chronic pain, and unexplained rashes. Although not yet formally recognized as a distinct medical diagnosis, breast implant illness presents a growing challenge in primary care as patients seek validation and symptom relief. This lecture will explore the current understanding of breast implant illness, including pathophysiologic theories, patient-reported symptoms, differential diagnosis, and approaches to clinical management. Primary care providers play a crucial role in identifying symptoms, ruling out other causes, and guiding referrals when necessary.

Learning Objectives

Define Breast Implant Illness and identify commonly reported symptoms. Describe proposed mechanisms and risk factors associated with Breast Implant Illness. Implement an evidence-informed approach to evaluating patients who present with symptoms consistent with Breast Implant Illness. Differentiate BII from other autoimmune, endocrine, or psychological conditions with overlapping symptoms. Develop a patient-centered management plan that includes symptom relief, referral strategies, and shared decision-making for explantation.

Kelli Kronsberg, PharmD | Tho H. Pham, PharmD

Program Description

Although the 2019 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Clinical Practice Guidelines on the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria, as well as the 2016 IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of candidiasis candiduria recommendations, identify very narrow patient populations who should receive antimicrobial therapy for these conditions, overtreatment remains common. In this presentation, the Arizona Department of Health Services’ (ADHS) Office of Healthcare-Associated Infections’ Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance Experts will be discussing antimicrobial use for urinary indications in the state of Arizona, how to differentiate asymptomatic bacteriuria and candiduria from a urinary tract infection, pitfalls of common signs associated with urinary tract infections, such as pyuria, altered mental status, and cloudy or foul-smelling urine, what patient populations benefit from treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria or candiduria as well as what groups are more likely to experience harm, and relevant ADHS materials related to these conditions.

Learning Objectives

Differentiate asymptomatic bacteriuria and candiduria from urinary tract infection Review pitfalls in evaluating signs historically associated with urinary tract infections Discuss the evidence-based management of asymptomatic bacteriuria and candiduria

Justine Danielson, DMS, PA-C

Program Description

As a Primary Care Physician Assistant, groin pain and abdominal bulges can be a common clinical complaint. Understanding various types of hernias, how to diagnose them on physical examination, and appropriate imaging modalities can assist you in efficient referrals and further management for your patient. Additionally, recognizing risk factors for hernias and assisting in optimization of patients preoperatively can decrease risk of hernia recurrence postoperatively and lead to overall increased quality of life. Through providing patient education for hernias that need urgent attention this can lead to increased positive patient outcomes and ideally fewer need for emergency operations for strangulated hernias.

Learning Objectives

- Describe the definition of a hernia its prevalence in the United States - Identify various types of hernias including: inguinal, femoral, ventral, umbilical, spigelian, flank, and hiatal hernias - Recognize the presentation of a diastasis recti - Identify risk factors for hernias - Conduct a physical examination for evaluation of both abdominal and groin hernias - Describe the typical presentation of a hernia in an outpatient and acute setting - Recognize the management of hernias including conservative treatment versus referral to a surgeon