Expert Dr. Anita Afzali will utilize case-based learning to illustrate the common features and pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying these two inflammatory disorders. Faculty will translate clinical data to help clinicians to select optimal treatments aimed at improving outcomes for patients impacted by PsO and IBD.
Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, is a Professor of Clinical Medicine and a gastroenterologist that specializes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). She has recently transitioned to the University of Cincinnati after successfully building the first standalone multidisciplinary IBD Center and serving as the Medical Director at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for five years. Dr. Afzali is now the Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati and Associate Chief Medical Officer of UC Health Systems and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. She received her medical degree and completed both an Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. While in fellowship, Dr. Afzali worked in outcomes research and epidemiology and graduated with a Master’s in Public Health. She recently obtained an additional Master’s in Health Care Management for physician executive leadership and business administration from Harvard University. Her areas of research interest include clinical outcomes and clinical trials for investigative therapies and diagnostics in IBD. She is a healthcare redesign leader with interests in clinical operations and transformative medical care delivery. Dr. Afzali has extensive peer-reviewed publications and is a clinical trialist in over 20 investigative drug and diagnostic trials. She is also an invited lecturer on national and international programs and serves on several international advisory boards and scientific committees. Dr. Afzali is the incoming Chair of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Educational Affairs Committee and the incoming Chair of the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) Publications Committee, as well as Co-Editor of the WGO quarterly global newsletters.
In this CME Outfitters BriefCase, Drs. Peek and Quezada will guide learners through a patient case scenario reflective of the impact of biases, disparities, and health inequities that exist in racial and ethnic underserved patients with IBD.
Sandra M. Quezada, MD, MS, received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, where she also completed her post-graduate Residency training in Internal Medicine and Fellowship training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She is passionate about Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, and brings this lens to her work in academic medicine. She is Associate Dean for Medical School Admissions and Associate Dean for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (SOM) and has worked locally, regionally, and nationally to amplify physician workforce diversity and to impact the climate in which future and current physicians train and practice.
Dr. Quezada is a practicing Gastroenterologist who subspecializes in inflammatory bowel disease and is recent past-Chair of the Diversity Committee and current co-Chair of the Equity Task Force for the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). She is also a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s National Scientific Advisory, member of the Association of American Medical Colleges Intersectionality Women of Color Workgroup, and Chair of the Intersociety Group on Diversity in Gastroenterology. She is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) National Honor Medical Society, recipient of the Leonard Tow Gold Humanism Award for Humanism in Medicine, and recipient of the AGA Distinguished Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Monica Peek, MD, MPH, MSc is an Ellen H. Block Professor of Health Justice in the Department of Medicine. She is also the Associate Director, Chicago Center for Diabetes Translation Research, and Director of Research, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. She is a practicing internist, medical educator, and clinician investigator. Her research pursues health equity and social justice, with a focus on promoting equitable doctor/patient relationships among racial minorities, integrating the medical and social needs of patients, and addressing health care discrimination and structural racism impacting health outcomes (e.g., diabetes, COVID-19). Dr. Peek has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts on health care disparities, diversity, and bias; has been the principal investigator of multiple grants to address health disparities; and has been invited to speak at numerous local and national medical meetings.
This CMEO BriefCase will discuss the health care challenges of a racially diverse young mother and her 2-year-old child, and how to encourage vaccinations as preventative measures for both.
Ray Mendez, MD, MA is a family physician from Chicago, IL dedicated to serving the global Latinx community. Dr. Mendez founded MiMedico, a primary care clinic located in Chicago’s predominantly Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen. Dr. Mendez also works at the Ingalls Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Extension and serves as a clinical educator for both Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Rush University Medical College. Dr. Mendez is honored to serve on the Executive Board of Directors at the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, an organization that advocates for equitable health policies impacting health systems. He also completes annual volunteer urgent care and health education stints in Nicaragua with aspirations of creating a sustainable, community-run primary care clinic in the country.
Dr. Otis Kirksey received both his B.S. and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida A&M University. He is a retired Professor of Pharmacy with over 25 years of experience in academia with specific focus in the area of pharmacy practice, diabetes, and primary care. His experience as a practicing pharmacist spans over almost 35 years and encompasses a variety of practice settings including hospital, community, and ambulatory pharmacy practice. Currently, he serves as the Director of Pharmacy Services for Neighborhood Medical Services, a federally qualified health center. Dr. Kirksey was recently awarded with the distinction of Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy Practice by Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
He is Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) as well as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). He is also a certified Lifestyle Coach as well as a Master Trainer for the National Diabetes Prevention Program.
Dr. Kirksey has received funding for research from federal and private sponsors including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, the National Library of Medicine, and the Minority Health Professions Foundation. Dr. Kirksey has authored or co-authored over 20 manuscripts published in refereed and un-refereed journals and newspapers.
He currently serves as President-Elect of Health Care and Education for the American Diabetes Association. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and serves as the director of the Prince Hall Shriners National Community Health Initiative.
Monica Peek, MD, MPH, MSc is an Ellen H. Block Professor of Health Justice in the Department of Medicine. She is also the Associate Director, Chicago Center for Diabetes Translation Research, and Director of Research, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. She is a practicing internist, medical educator, and clinician investigator. Her research pursues health equity and social justice, with a focus on promoting equitable doctor/patient relationships among racial minorities, integrating the medical and social needs of patients, and addressing health care discrimination and structural racism impacting health outcomes (e.g., diabetes, COVID-19). Dr. Peek has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts on health care disparities, diversity, and bias; has been the principal investigator of multiple grants to address health disparities; and has been invited to speak at numerous local and national medical meetings.
Expert faculty follows the journey of a 48-year-old Black female with AF to illuminate disparities in the quality of care she is offered. Frank questions and candid discussions about the impact of implicit bias, social determinants of health, shared decision making, and health literacy provide actionable and individualized strategies to improve outcomes for all patients with AF.
Utibe R. Essien, MD, MPH, is an assistant professor and health equity researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, recently recruited there after an outstanding tenure as a junior faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Essien’s research focuses on racial disparities in the use of novel medications and technologies in the management of cardiovascular diseases. He is a fierce advocate for diversity and equity in medicine and is a highly sought-after speaker on racism and health. He also co-directed a podcast series on “Antiracism in Medicine.” Dr. Essien’s leadership in advancing health equity has resulted in several national awards, including the National Minority Quality Forum’s 40-Under-40 Leaders in Minority Health Award and the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Herbert W. Nickens Faculty Fellowship Award. He was also named one of the “30 Leaders Under 40 Transforming Healthcare” by Business Insider and one of the “20 Top Black Physician Social Media Influencers in 2020” by Medscape.
Rachel M. Bond, MD, FACC is a board-certified attending cardiologist in Arizona who has devoted her career to the treatment of heart disease through early detection, education, and prevention. She is a women’s heart health & prevention specialist and the author of several review papers referencing maternal health, sex and gender differences and cardiovascular conditions that predominantly affect women, along with opinion pieces aimed at addressing health equity, reducing health disparities, and promoting the professional development of women and minorities in the health-science profession. She has a passion for advocacy of education and mentorship and has advised as an expert source through news and media outlets. Her clinical interests include heart health prevention and maternal health. Dr. Bond is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology, Association of Black Cardiologists, and the American Heart Association, where she is a national spokesperson for the “Go Red for Women” campaign and sits on the board of directors.
Monica Peek, MD, MPH, MSc is an Ellen H. Block Professor of Health Justice in the Department of Medicine. She is also the Associate Director, Chicago Center for Diabetes Translation Research, and Director of Research, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. She is a practicing internist, medical educator, and clinician investigator. Her research pursues health equity and social justice, with a focus on promoting equitable doctor/patient relationships among racial minorities, integrating the medical and social needs of patients, and addressing health care discrimination and structural racism impacting health outcomes (e.g., diabetes, COVID-19). Dr. Peek has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts on health care disparities, diversity, and bias; has been the principal investigator of multiple grants to address health disparities; and has been invited to speak at numerous local and national medical meetings.
In this CME Outfitters BriefCase, expert faculty will guide learners through a case involving a patient who presents with escalating symptoms of an irAE over multiple visits.
Jordan McPherson, PharmD, MS, BCOP, is an Oncology Clinical Pharmacist in the outpatient solid tumor clinics at Huntsman Cancer Institute, an NCI-designated cancer hospital on the campus of the University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. McPherson specializes in the treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers using immunotherapy and other targeted therapies. He serves as a panel member on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for the Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities, and as Past President of the Utah Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Dr. McPherson is passionate about pharmacist involvement in the recognition and management of immune-related adverse events in both oncology and non-oncology settings. Dr. McPherson’s research efforts are well published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC), Pharmacotherapy, JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, and Haemophilia.
Dr. Kerry Reynolds is an oncologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She currently serves as the Director of the Severe Immunotherapy Complications (SIC) Service and the Clinical Director for Inpatient Cancer Services at Mass General Cancer Center. She joined the Harvard Medical School faculty in 2014, after completing her residency and chief residency at Massachusetts General and fellowship training in Oncology at Dana-Farber/Partners Cancer Care.
The SIC Service is the first program of its kind in the country. Every hospitalized patient at Mass General Cancer Center who has received immunotherapy and is suspected to be experiencing an immune-related adverse event (irAE) is seen by one of the Service’s dedicated oncologists, resulting in unparalleled care for this type of toxicity. Under the leadership of Dr. Reynolds, the SIC Service now provides care to a significant number of patients every year and has grown to comprise more than 50 clinicians and researchers across 19 different areas of the hospital, including subspecialists from oncology, cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and many more relevant disciplines.
In addition to providing clinical care, supervising and educating trainees, and participating in administrative affairs, Dr. Reynolds leverages the work of the SIC Service to conduct research on the severe toxicities associated with immunotherapy. Her ultimate goal is to improve the lives of patients undergoing immunotherapy by uncovering irAE predictors and biomarkers, characterizing the clinical presentations of irAEs, developing best practices for managing irAEs, and elucidating the mechanisms that drive irAEs in order to develop novel therapies. To pursue this goal, she is working with Dr. Alexandra-Chloe Villani to systematically collect blood and tissue samples from patients with irAEs and analyze them using cutting-edge technologies. Dr. Reynolds has also authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters, and she was lead editor of Facing Immunotherapy: A Guide for Patients and Their Families.
This CMEO BriefCase will discuss the mental health care challenges of a 28-year-old Black male, with a history of schizophrenia and previous failed attempts at treatment.
Javeed Sukhera, MD, PhD, FRCPC, is the Chair of Psychiatry at the Institute of Living and Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Sukhera comes to Hartford HealthCare from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, where he held various clinical and academic leadership roles.
Dr. Sukhera graduated from the University of Toronto and Ben-Gurion University and completed his residency and child/adolescent fellowship training at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He completed his PhD in Health Professions Education from Maastricht University in Maastricht, Netherlands. He is an internationally recognized health professions education researcher. His research program explores novel approaches to addressing stigma and bias among health professionals, and he has also been involved in advocacy and cross-sectoral work in education, policing, and community services. He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) and Deputy Editor of Perspectives on Medical Education.
Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, MD, FAED, CEDS is the co-founder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Clinical Officer of Within Health and the CEO and co-founder of Galen Hope and BrightQuest programs operating through Galen Mental Health. She is a board-certified psychiatrist and world-leading expert on treating eating disorders with more than 25 years of clinical experience. She has developed five separate treatment programs all grounded in a strong bio-psycho-social foundation and incorporating intensive psychotherapy with behavioral foundations and high medical standards. Dr. Oliver-Pyatt is known for her innovative, humane, and dignity-enhancing approach to medically and psychiatrically thorough care. She has developed a unique treatment approach that delves into the underlying issues that place a person at risk for mental health conditions and eating disorders, leading to healing, health, and inner peace.
Dr. Oliver-Pyatt received her specialty training at New York University-NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and has held faculty positions at New York University, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, and University of Nevada School of Medicine where she first developed her passion as a mentor and educator. She is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, has served on the Joint Commission’s Advisory Committee, and has received U.S. Senatorial Recognition for her commitment to the mental health treatment community.
Described by colleagues as warm and wise, Dr. Oliver-Pyatt matches her comprehensive training with an unwavering belief in compassionate and scientifically sound treatment.
Monica Peek, MD, MPH, MSc is an Ellen H. Block Professor of Health Justice in the Department of Medicine. She is also the Associate Director, Chicago Center for Diabetes Translation Research, and Director of Research, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. She is a practicing internist, medical educator, and clinician investigator. Her research pursues health equity and social justice, with a focus on promoting equitable doctor/patient relationships among racial minorities, integrating the medical and social needs of patients, and addressing health care discrimination and structural racism impacting health outcomes (e.g., diabetes, COVID-19). Dr. Peek has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts on health care disparities, diversity, and bias; has been the principal investigator of multiple grants to address health disparities; and has been invited to speak at numerous local and national medical meetings.