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Adam Belanger, MD - Medical Staff Secretary/Treasurer

Jenifir J. Bruno, MD - Chief Medical Officer

Brian S. Burlingame, MD - Medical Staff President

Michael B. Daley, MD - Internal Medicine

Stephen Davies, MD - Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Amy Hamilton-Forester - Director-Health, Wellness and Social Well-Being

William Harris, MD - Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease

Paul S. Jawanda, MD - Medical Staff Vice President

Mindi Kelso (Coordinator)

Drew Kessell, PharmD, MBA, MS - Director, Clinical Pharmacy

Sun Moon Kim, MD, FACP, FACC - Interventional Cardiology

Christopher J. Lundberg, DO - Emergency Medicine

Cindy McDonald, MSN, RN, CHE, CPHQ - Vice President

Viet-Nhan Nguyen, DO - Gastroenterology

Katherine Stains, Director - Medical Staff Services

Robert M. Watt, MD - Hospitalist

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Functional Medicine Open Q&A with Scott Jamison, MD

For calendar invite, please email dkrupp@firsthealth.org.

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FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE EVENING EVENT - 4.15.2026

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Your Role in Maintaining Trust in Accredited CME

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Watch this brief video for a 3-minute overview of how you can help to ensure that accredited CE delivers educational value to health professional learners. For more assistance contact the CME/CE staff at your organization or visit https://www.accme.org/standards.

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In your NetLearning account, locate your RQI course in the "Completed" tab and relaunch it. Within the RQI course, you will find the option to "Claim CME/CE Credit." Please fill this out to obtain your credits.

*Contact Ashley Parker, Life Support Coordinator, with additional questions regarding RQI.

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*All meetings offer both in person and virtual attendance options from 5:30-6:30 PM.

Wednesday, March 11

Wednesday, June 10

Wednesday, September 9

Wednesday, December 9

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Jonathan E. Brower, MD - Emergency Medicine

Jenifir J. Bruno, MD - Chief Medical Officer

Brian S. Burlingame, MD - General Surgery

Alexander Chatham, MD - Emergency Medicine

Michael B. Daley, MD - Internal Medicine

Joseph F. Hakas, Jr., MD, FACC

Chair - Cardiology

Amy Hamilton-Forester - Director-Health, Wellness and Social Well-Being

Mindi Kelso (Coordinator)

Laura Keown, CRNA - Anesthesiology

Drew Kessell, PharmD, MBA, MS - Director, Clinical Pharmacy

Sun Moon Kim, MD, FACP, FACC - Interventional Cardiology

Dyane Krupp (Coordinator)

Olujide Lawal, MD - Cardiology

Christopher J. Lundberg, DO - Emergency Medicine

Cindy McDonald, MSN, RN, CHE, CPHQ - Vice President

Katherine Stains, Director - Medical Staff Services

Michol Stanzione, MD - Internal Medicine

Robert M. Watt, MD - Hospitalist

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Joseph F. Hakas, Jr., MD, FACC Chair - Cardiology

Jonathan E. Brower, MD - Emergency Medicine

Jenifir J. Bruno, MD - Chief Medical Officer

Brian S. Burlingame, MD - General Surgery

Amy Hamilton-Forester - Director-Health, Wellness and Social Well-Being

G.P. Henderson, MD - ENT

Jaspaul S. Jawanda, MD - Infectious Disease

Mindi Kelso (Coordinator)

Drew Kessell, PharmD, MBA, MS - Director, Clinical Pharmacy

Sun Moon Kim, MD, FACP, FACC - Interventional Cardiology

Dyane Krupp (Coordinator)

Charles S. Kuzma, MD - Hematology & Oncology

Christopher J. Lundberg, DO - Emergency Medicine

Mary T. Mandell, MD - Psychiatry

Cindy McDonald, MSN, RN, CHE, CPHQ - Vice President

Anthony R. Plunkett, MD - Anesthesiology

Joel G. Puleo, MD - Gynecology

Michol Stanzione, MD - Internal Medicine

Robert M. Watt, MD - Hospitalist

Wendy Wagner - Strategy & Innovation Sr. Planning Analyst

Kathleen White, RD, LDN, CNSC - Clinical Nutrition Manager

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Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act

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Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act

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Letter from Anne Milgram, Administrator
See original signed document

Please see the letter which outlines the requirements for training for Medication Assisted Treatment as part of the MATE Act, which was part of the Omnibus Bill at the end of December 2022. DEA was given 90 days to let practitioners know how to meet the MATE Act's training requirement which is tied to their initial or renewal DEA registration beginning on June 27, 2023. This letter provides the information to the practitioners as to how they can meet those training requirements.

Guidance / Questions and Answers

Please visit SAMSHA for additional information:

https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/provider-support-services/recommendations-curricular-elements-substance-use-disorders-training https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/removal-data-waiver-requirement https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment

For information regarding DEA's Diversion Control Division, contact the Diversion Control Division Policy Section at ODLP@dea.gov if you seek additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

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Letter from Anne Milgram, Administrator See original signed document Please see the letter which outlines the requirements for training for Medication Assisted Treatment as part of the MATE Act, which was part of the Omnibus Bill at the end of December 2022.

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Mindi Kelso (910) 715-1928

cme-corp-ed@firsthealth.org

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The Continuing Medical Education (CME) program supports FirstHealth's Mission "To Care for People" by planning, providing, evaluating and continuously improving educational activities designed for healthcare professionals that will positively impact learners' competence, performance and/or patient outcomes.

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Sign Up Here to Receive the CME Monthly Newsletter 

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Sign Up Here to Receive the CME Monthly Newsletter 

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Easily create surveys and polls to collect customer feedback, measure employee satisfaction, and organize team events.

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The overall purpose of FirstHealth’s Continuing Medical Education Program is to provide educational opportunities for physicians to update their knowledge, competence, performance
and improve patient outcomes when possible. The program will also support FirstHealth’s strategic plan, particularly the focus for top decile performance in clinical quality, patient safety and service.
The activities will be developed in the context of favorable physician attributes and address identified needs underlying practice gaps that relate ultimately to the delivery of patient care. Content will focus on updates for best practices for clinical care, patient safety, performance
improvement, communications, and leadership. Expected results from FirstHealth’s continuing medical education activities are for participating physicians to update their knowledge, improve
their confidence in their current practice, commit to change their practices when indicated, and/or to improve patient outcomes.

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Activities will include single offerings, serial activities and symposia, and are planned to address the assessed needs of the learners based on the North Carolina Medical Society Essentials and Standards of Accreditation. All offerings will be evaluated. FirstHealth’s overall Continuing Medical Education Program will be evaluated annually for the following: participants’ demographics, participants’ satisfaction with programming, updates in knowledge, improved
competence, improved performance/practice, and outcomes.

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The target group of FirstHealth of the Carolinas continuing medical education programming is primarily physicians on our medical staffs. Other interested physicians from our service area and health care professionals (e.g. nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, therapists) may make up the
secondary audience. The intended target audiences will be clearly described on
announcements for each educational offering.

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The scope of the CME program is to provide educational programming for the medical staff of FirstHealth of the Carolinas. FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a private, not-for-profit health care network, is headquartered in Pinehurst. Its more than 5,000 employees serve 15 counties in the mid-Carolinas. Licensed for four hospitals with 610 beds and also including facilities for inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, a hospice, a palliative care program, a home care program, community outreach programs, behavioral services, fitness facilities, primary and convenient care practices, a hospitality house, EMS and critical care transport services, a non-profit insurance plan, a philanthropic foundation and a host of other services, FirstHealth demonstrates a commitment to treating the whole patient and to providing quality health care for the entire community – especially those in need. Moore Regional Hospital, FirstHealth’s flagship hospital, is an acute-care facility with 402 licensed beds. With a broad spectrum of
specialties and a full range of health care services, Moore Regional continues to refine its knowledge of the most advanced technology – all for the patients it serves. FirstHealth of the Carolinas also provides services with its four other campuses located in Hoke, Montgomery,
Lee and Richmond counties.

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The Medical Education Committee is a medical staff committee whose goal is to ensure that the individual educational activities and the overall program comply with the North Carolina Medical

Society’s Essentials and Standards of Accreditation. Committee members will serve as resources on issues relating to continuing medical education and will disclose any potential conflicts of interest. The Medical Education Committee will collaborate as needed with key

stakeholders that represent the following areas: Quality, Leadership, Clinical Settings and the Community.

Programming will be free from commercial influence and/or bias by complying with the organization’s policy for commercial support and continuing medical education activities and disclosures.

Continuing Medical Education’s goal is to ensure that all programming is current, scientifically rigorous, based on need, has specific learner objectives, is followed up by evaluation for effectiveness and results, and incorporates performance improvement as a routine part of the

program. Maintenance of records of attendance will also be ensured. Resources for continuing medical education programming will be administered through FHC’s Office of Continuing Medical Education

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Joseph F. Hakas, Jr., MD, FACC Chair - Cardiology

Jennifer Ballinger, MD - Urologic Surgery

Eric S. Bishop, MD - Hospitalist

Barry K. Buchele, MD - General Obstetrics & Gynecology

Jenifir J. Bruno, MD - Chief Medical Officer

Joshua K. Cho, MD - Radiologist

Amy Hamilton-Forester - Outreach Manager

G.P. Henderson, MD - ENT

Mindi Kelso (Coordinator)

Drew Kessell, PharmD, MBA, MS - Clinical Director, Pharmacy

Sun Moon Kim, MD, FACP, FACC - Structural Cardiologist

Dyane Krupp (Coordinator)

Alexander C. Lemons, MD - Orthopaedic Surgery

Christopher J. Lundberg, DO - Emergency Medicine

Scott M. Luneau, MD - Internal Medicine

Matthew S. MacKrell, DO - Emergency Medicine

Mary T. Mandell, MD - Psychiatrist

Cindy McDonald, MSN, RN, CHE, CPHQ - Vice President

Erin Morstad, PT, DPT, NCS - Physical Therapist

Joel G. Puleo, MD - Gynecology

Meredith M. Stanton, MD - Psychiatrist

Michol Stanzione, MD - Internal Medicine

Robert M. Watt, MD - Hospitalist

Kathy White, RD, LDN, CNSC - Clinical Nutrition Manager

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Due to the growth of Moore Regional Hospital (MRH) medical staff and in-house educational resources, the organization felt it was ready to pursue provider status through the North Carolina Medical Society. FirstHealth's efforts to pursue accreditation as a CME provider began in 1994, and FirstHealth of the Carolinas received Provisional Accreditation for a period of two years as Moore Regional Hospital in October, 1994.

The Office of Continuing Medical Education/Corporate Education was assigned to manage the CME functions and its logistics. The Medical Education Committee was organized and functioned as a Moore Regional Hospital medical staff committee. The composition of the committee was outlined in policy and the president of the MRH Medical Staff appointed members of the medical staff to serve on the committee.

In March of 1997, FirstHealth of the Carolinas was awarded full accreditation as a Sponsor of Continuing Medical Education for four years. The program's primary purpose was for the continuing medical education of the physicians of Moore Regional Hospital.

Early programming focused on single offerings, one series program and an annual symposium. The organization initially included joint provider status as one of its activities, but in March 2005 chose to drop the joint provider status due to not having adequate resources to fulfill the responsibilities required of a joint provider.

As the organization grew, the provider status moved into the name of FirstHealth of the Carolinas (FHC) and the Medical Education Committee membership included representatives from Montgomery Memorial (MMH) and Richmond Memorial Hospitals (RMH) as well as Moore Regional Hospital. The scope of the program was revisited and it was reestablished that the focus is FirstHealth physicians, other physicians and other interested healthcare professionals from our service area.

FirstHealth's provider status was renewed with exemplary compliance in 2001 and again in 2007. The program was reaccredited on January 1, 2014 for a period of four years. FirstHealth's CME program was reaccredited with commendation on December 11, 2017 for a period of six years, January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2023.

The Southern States CME Collaborative’s Accreditation Review Committee (ARC) reaccredited FirstHealth's CME program for a period of three years, March 23, 2025 though March 31, 2028.

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Audience: Cardiac Sonographers and Cardiologists

Contact: Lynne Everett

Facilitator: Sun Moon Kim, MD, FACP, FACC

Last Friday of each month, 7:00-8:00 AM

Reid Heart Center Conference Room and Microsoft Teams

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Audience: Cardiologists and Cardiothoracic Surgeons

Facilitators: Joseph F. Hakas, Jr., MD, FACC and Steven Kent, MD, FACC

4th Wednesday of each month, 5:00-6:00 PM

Reid Heart Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room

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Tuesday of each week
12:00 - 1:00 PM

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Facilitator: Meredith Stanton, MD

First Tuesday of each month, 12:30-1:00 PM

Behavioral Health Outpatient Conference Room

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Contact: Erin "Paige" Howard

Facilitator: Michael Sundborg, MD and Brian Burgess, DO, PhD

2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, 7:15-8:15 AM

Webex

Dates:

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Contact: Erin "Paige" Howard

Facilitator: Thomas Richard, MD

1st Tuesday and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7:00-8:00 AM

Webex

Dates:

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Contact: Erin "Paige" Howard

Facilitator: Thomas Richard, MD

4th Thursday of the month, 7:00-8:00 AM

Webex

Dates:

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Take control of your CME
-Find CME and track your CME credits
-Generate CME transcripts
-Focus on your patients - not paperwork

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The NC AHEC Program provides and supports educational activities and services with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources to recruit, train, and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina.

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NC AHEC has partnered with the NC HIEA to deliver virtual and on-site training programs to educate providers about the features available in NC HealthConnex, the state-designated health information exchange.

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NC AHEC has partnered with the NC HIEA to deliver virtual and on-site training programs to educate providers about the features available in NC HealthConnex, the state-designated health information exchange.

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To provide leadership in medicine by uniting, serving, and representing physicians and their health care teams to enhance the health of North Carolinians.

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North Carolina Medical Society - Providing Leadership in Medicine

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NCMS unites, serves, and represents physicians and their health care teams to enhance the health of North Carolinians.

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Six modules Are available online, including:

1. Structural Racism

2. Cultural Humility

3. Implicit Bias

4. Communication in Healthcare

5. Microaggressions

6. Social Determinants of Health

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Register now for this online, self-guided course! Healthcare providers are required to be competent not only in medicine but also in communication and caring for people with different disease burdens, socio-cultural...

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Online Self-Paced Learning - Free

These courses are geared to a multidisciplinary audience of clinical preceptors who work with students, residents, or other advanced learners who are completing academic or program requirements in a clinical environment.  Participants may complete any combination of courses.

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The National Headache Foundation (NHF) launched Primary Care Migraine, a new educational training program available at no cost to health practitioners. The program was announced by Tom Dabertin, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Headache Foundation. The course also offers a diagnosis tool to assist one in quickly diagnosing migraines while interviewing and examining patients.

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TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity is targeted to any clinician with interest in education on migraine, including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, emergency room physicians, and pediatricians.

For more information, please contact Valerie Stevens at Vstevens@headaches.org or 312-274-2651

Disclaimer:
The above tool does not establish a diagnosis of migraine, but only shows if the symptoms provided met the headache characteristics and associated symptoms required for a diagnosis of migraine without aura or probable migraine. A diagnosis of migraine without aura or probable migraine typically has a normal neurological & fundoscopic exam and no red flags for a secondary headache disorder. If red flags are present then an appropriate evaluation has been done to rule out secondary headache disorders. The diagnostic criteria also require 5 attacks during a person's lifetime and that there is not some other headache disorder that better accounts for the headaches. This tool will not help identify those with aura.

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TARGET AUDIENCEThis activity is targeted to any clinician with interest in education on migraine, including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, emergency room physicians, and pediatricians.

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Lung Cancer Education for Primary Care Physicians

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Lung Cancer Education for Primary Care Physicians

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On March 9, 2021, the USPSTF issued a final recommendation statement for lung cancer screening based on new evidence. The new recommendation will help many more people get screened for lung cancer including those who are younger and have smoked less. This education will provide the current USPSTF recommendation as well as evidence supporting the recommendation and harms and benefits of screening.

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Mission Statement: The NC AHEC Program provides and supports educational activities and services with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources to recruit, train, and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina.

With locations in Greenville and Elizabeth City, Eastern AHEC is one of nine centers in the NC AHEC Program and partners with ECU and other educational and health organizations to serve 23 counties in the eastern part of our state.

About Our Area Health Education Center in Greenville, NC

Eastern AHEC is governed by a board of directors that includes representation from regional healthcare institutions, the community and community college system. To maximize our resources, we are associated with East Carolina University (ECU) schools of medicine, nursing and allied health. We also work with the dentistry, pharmacy and public health programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH).

Our staff is filled with professionals that are passionate about serving healthcare providers, from students to experts. You can contact a staff member through our directory, or apply to an open position if you would like to work with us at Eastern AHEC.

Our center understands that supporting the pipeline of healthcare professionals and current providers is an effective way to improve healthcare for our entire region. If you are looking for healthcare resources in Greenville or a surrounding area of NC, Eastern AHEC is here to help you find continuing education, conferences, student housing and more. To learn more, view our calendar to see what events are available. Feel free to contact us at 252.744.5221 with your questions.
Eastern AHEC is proud to serve the community of eastern NC through healthcare education in Greenville and the surrounding region.

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About Eastern AHEC Greenville NC | Healthcare Education

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Mission Statement: The NC AHEC Program provides and supports educational activities and services with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources to recruit, train, and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina.

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Learn how to diagnose, manage and treat common conditions to improve your patients' health. Browse a variety of trending topics from the AMA, JAMA Network and other medical specialty collaborators.

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Featured Educational CME and MOC Activities from the AMA Ed Hub

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Learn how to diagnose, manage and treat common conditions to improve your patients’ health.

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Special Publication from the National Academy of Medicine to Address Opioid Epidemic

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Special Publication from the National Academy of Medicine to Address Opioid Epidemic

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Strategies for preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals and educators to tackle an ever-evolving opioid crisis.

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GME-CME Wellbeing Podcast Series (Episode One: The Wellbeing Problem  in Healthcare)

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GME-CME Wellbeing Podcast Series (Episode One: The Wellbeing Problem  in Healthcare)

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Online Self-Paced Learning - Free

Current literature indicates that podcasts can be an effective educational format to reach health professionals across the continuum of medical education, addressing a myriad of topics pertinent to providers. This module serves as an overview for what wellbeing and burnout look like in today's medical environment.

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Mission Statement: The NC AHEC Program provides and supports educational activities and services with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources to recruit, train, and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina.

With locations in Greenville and Elizabeth City, Eastern AHEC is one of nine centers in the NC AHEC Program and partners with ECU and other educational and health organizations to serve 23 counties in the eastern part of our state.

About Our Area Health Education Center in Greenville, NC

Eastern AHEC is governed by a board of directors that includes representation from regional healthcare institutions, the community and community college system. To maximize our resources, we are associated with East Carolina University (ECU) schools of medicine, nursing and allied health. We also work with the dentistry, pharmacy and public health programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH).

Our staff is filled with professionals that are passionate about serving healthcare providers, from students to experts. You can contact a staff member through our directory, or apply to an open position if you would like to work with us at Eastern AHEC.

Our center understands that supporting the pipeline of healthcare professionals and current providers is an effective way to improve healthcare for our entire region. If you are looking for healthcare resources in Greenville or a surrounding area of NC, Eastern AHEC is here to help you find continuing education, conferences, student housing and more. To learn more, view our calendar to see what events are available. Feel free to contact us at 252.744.5221 with your questions.
Eastern AHEC is proud to serve the community of eastern NC through healthcare education in Greenville and the surrounding region.

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About Eastern AHEC Greenville NC | Healthcare Education

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Mission Statement: The NC AHEC Program provides and supports educational activities and services with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources to recruit, train, and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina.

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Digital PANS/PANDAS Diagnosis and Treatment Guides

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Digital PANS/PANDAS Diagnosis and Treatment Guides

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Contents Introduction Patient Questionnaire PANS Symptoms and Diagnosis PANDAS Symptoms and Diagnosis Alternative Diagnoses Supporting evidence that your patient has PANS/PANDAS or other related Inflammatory Basal Ganglia Disorder Differential Diagnosis of Neuropsychiatric Deteriorations PANS/PANDAS Treatment 31

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Frequently Asked Questions About PANS and PANDAS

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Frequently Asked Questions About PANS and PANDAS

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Members of our Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board have graciously answered some of the most frequently asked questions. Medical Disclaimer Are you a clinician with a question you would like to submit for inclusion in our FAQs? Please login to your clinician's account to submit it on our Clinician Access page.

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Exclusive Content for North Carolina Clinicians

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Exclusive Content for North Carolina Clinicians

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North Carolina Physicians Create an account to access exclusive content Digital PANS Guides Inflammatory Brain Disorders Conference Expert Consultation Panel PANS/PANDAS Publications Research Roundup Join Circle of Clinicians

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PANS/PANDAS Diagnosis and Treatment Guides

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PANS/PANDAS Diagnosis and Treatment Guides

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Research in the field of neuroimmunology will ultimately lead to lasting remission for those affected by these disorders. We are encouraged by the groundbreaking research that continues to further scientific understanding. We have shared some of this research here.

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PANS/PANDAS Related Publications Research and publications relevant to PANS, PANDAS, encephalitis, and related inflammatory brain conditions are grouped below by topic. For more, visit

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CME Opportunities - FREE for NC Physicians

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CME Opportunities - FREE for NC Physicians

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Hosted by Neuroimmune Foundation
and accredited in collaboration with
The Wisconsin Medical Society

Contents

The Inflammatory Brain Disorders Series features nationally and internationally renowned experts skilled in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches who will present a diverse range of emerging clinical and research challenges, insights, and advances in the field of inflammatory brain disorders.

Target Audience

The intended audience is pediatric and adult physicians. Both generalists as well as specialists will find the conference valuable to their practices. The conference is designed for pediatricians, family physicians, psychiatrists, rheumatologists, immunologists, neurologists, and infectious disease physicians. Though the conference is designed for physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners will find the series valuable to their practices as well.

Though all content is geared towards clinicians, patients and families are welcome to view the recorded lectures. Additional follow up support will be provided through monthly Case-Based Q&A webinars for clinicians featuring experts in the field.

Statement of Need

Immune-mediated causes of neuropsychiatric deteriorations are frequently misdiagnosed. There is a pressing need for medical knowledge in this area to advance. The need is increasing due to post-COVID-19 sequelae. Failure to utilize immunomodulatory therapies can lead to a dramatic worsening in symptoms and even permanent neurologic impairment as well as dramatically reduced quality of life for patients with these conditions, and physicians are not adequately educated in these areas.

Additional Information

Neuroimmune Foundation subscribes to the articles of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Should you or anyone accompanying you require special assistance, please notify us by contacting cme@neuroimmune.org or 608-381-0367. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

If you are a North Carolina physician wishing to access this CME series free of charge, please fill out the form . Once your credentials have been verified, you will be provided access to the materials.
Copyright to this series is held by Neuroimmune Foundation.
February 1, 2023 Date of release:
Date of expiration: December 31, 2023

Instructions to Receive Credit

This continuing medical education enduring material is in a video format. References are linked to online resources. In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must view the video presentations and complete the post-test and evaluation. Upon completing this activity as designed, participants should complete the post-test on the website. After achieving a passing score on the post-test (80%), participants will submit their signed evaluation and registration form on the website below and will receive their CME certificates via email. Multiple attempts of the post-test are allowed.

List of references from the literature for future reading

Exploratory analysis of the potential for advanced diagnostic testing to reduce healthcare expenditures of patients hospitalized with meningitis or encephalitis , Fulton BD et al, PLoS One. 2020 Jan 15

Clinical Metagenomic Sequencing for Diagnosis of Meningitis and Encephalitis , Wilson MR et al, N Engl J Med. 2019 Jun 13

Pan-viral serology implicates enteroviruses in acute flaccid myelitis , Schubert RD et al, Nat Med. 2019 Nov

Kelch-like Protein II Antibodies in Seminoma-Associated Paraneoplastic Encephalitis , Mandel-Brehm C et al, N Engl J Med. 2019

PANS Research Consortium Treatment Recommendations 2017: JCAP Volume: 27 Issue 7: September 1, 2017 , Clinical Management of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome:

BiteSized Immunology: https://www.immunology.org/public-information/bitesized-immunology

Neuroscientifically Challenged: https://www.neuroscientificallychallenged.com

CDC page on Group A Strep https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-hcp/index.html

Activity Director:

Executive Director and Founder, Neuroimmune Foundation Anna Conkey

Ms. Conkey has no relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients .

Planning committee member:
Amy Malik, MD
Dr. Malik has no relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Hosts/Moderators:

Anna Conkey
Executive Director and Founder, Neuroimmune Foundation

Lawrence Steinman, MD
Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine
Dr. Steinman is a consultant for BristolMeyersSquibb. All of the relevant financial relationships for this individual have been mitigated.
Dr. Lawrence Steinman is Professor of Neurology, Neurological Sciences and Pediatrics at Stanford University. He was Chair of the Stanford Program in Immunology from 2001 to 2011. His research focuses on what provokes relapses and remissions in multiple sclerosis (MS), and on the quest for antigen specific therapy in autoimmune disease. Steinman was senior author on the 1992 article that led to the drug Tysabri, approved for MS and Crohn's disease. He is currently applying insights from Tysabri to develop new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, aimed at blocking macrophages and microglia from eating neurons and axons "in danger." Dr. Steinman graduated from Dartmouth College, Magna Cum Laude in Physics. His MD is from Harvard Medical School. He was a post-doctoral fellow in chemical immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science. After neurology residency, he remained on the faculty in 1980. He has received numerous honors, including the John M. Dystel Prize in 2004, the Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from the NINDS twice, the Charcot Prize in MS research, and the Cerami Prize in Translational Medicine. Dr. Steinman is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Steinman cofounded several biotech companies, including Neurocrine, Atreca, 180 Life Sciences, 5 Integrin LLC, and Pasithea. He was a Director of Centocor from 1988 until its sale to Johnson and Johnson. He is a Director of BioAtla, an immune-oncology company, co-Executive Chair of 180 Life Sciences, and Executive Chair of Pasithea.

Samuel Pleasure, MD, PhD
Glenn W. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Endowed Chair Professor, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Director Neuroscience Graduate Program, UCSF
Dr. Pleasure has no relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Dr. Samuel Pleasure is the Glenn W. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Endowed Chair in Neurology at UCSF. Dr. Pleasure is a neurologist who specializes in caring for patients with multiple sclerosis. He also has expertise in caring for patients with epilepsy as well as years of experience in managing a variety of neurological conditions in both clinic and hospital settings. Dr. Pleasure has two main areas of inquiry for his research. He studies processes that regulate early brain development in both normal and diseased situations. He also studies autoimmune forms of meningoencephalitis, where inflammation in specific brain areas causes severe neurologic dysfunction. He received his medical degree and a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. He was chief resident during his neurology residency at UCSF, where he then completed a research fellowship in neuroscience. Dr. Pleasure is a fellow of the American Neurological Association and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, Society for Neuroscience, Society for Developmental Biology, and Cajal Club. He has won numerous awards for his research and has received research funding from a wide variety of private, state, and federal sources. He has served in leadership roles in national organizations and in the UCSF Department of Neurology.

Eyal Muscal, MD
Section Chief, Pediatric Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. Muscal has no relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Dr. Eyal Muscal is a pediatric rheumatologist with a MS Degree in Clinical Research whose activities include patient care, fellowship education, quality improvement, and clinical research. His research, quality improvement, and clinical interests include neurologic manifestations of systemic autoimmune disorders (primarily autoimmune encephalitis, NPSLE, APS, and CNS vasculitis), systemic vasculitides, and patient-powered research in rare diseases. Dr. Muscal is the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) registry PI and co-director of the CARRA autoimmune encephalitis work group. An increased portion of his clinical effort is spent on standardizing and enhancing care of children with inflammatory brain disorders. As part of this effort, he obtained additional training in advanced QI. During the COVID-19 pandemic Dr. Muscal has been one of his section's champions on the pathophysiology and treatment of MIS-C. This has included providing educational sessions at his institution and also to international audiences. He has coordinated evidence-based guidelines for MIS-C at his institution and has insured timely, rational, and multi-disciplinary MIS-C care in both general floor and critical care areas. He is also the rheumatology lead for a joint cardiology-rheumatology clinic that follows MIS-C patients after hospital discharge. Dr. Muscal is well suited to support institutional efforts regarding COVID-19 and MIS-C care and specifically the Artificial Intelligence COVID-19 Risk Assessment for Kids (AICORE-kids) program.

Learning and Outcome Objectives

Learn how to effectively treat inflammatory brain conditions as well as the circumstances in which each treatment is appropriate.

Learn the clinical work up required to accurately diagnose immune mediated causes of neurologic and psychiatric deteriorations.

Recognize that neuropsychiatric sequelae can result from infections, autoimmune, and inflammatory conditions.

Accurately diagnose various inflammatory brain conditions.

Describe appropriate treatments for patients with inflammatory brain conditions.

Identify the various immune and inflammatory markers that can present in patients with inflammatory brain conditions.

Report the cognitive and psychiatric effects seen in some patients following COVID-19.

Accreditation / Credit Designation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Wisconsin Medical Society and Neuroimmune Foundation. The Wisconsin Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Wisconsin Medical Society designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been produced with no commercial support. We are very grateful to the State of North Carolina for the educational grant that allowed us to offer this series.

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Inflammatory Brain Disorders CME Series Hosted by Neuroimmune Foundation and accredited in collaboration with The Wisconsin Medical Society Enduring Material for Physicians in North Carolina Date of release: March 21, 2023 Date of expiration: December 31, 2023 Agenda & Syllabus Join Us for On-Demand CME The Inflammatory Brain Disorders Series features nationally and internationally renowned