Connecting Adolescent Health Professionals
Connection Sessions are day-long conferences focusing on one specific topic in adolescent health for an interdisciplinary audience of health care professionals.
The 2024 Connection Session, Clearing the Haze: Navigating Vaping and Marijuana Use Among Youth, took place Thursday, October 3, both online and in-person at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center (900 Oakwood St. Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197).
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Schedule of Events:
Hybrid Morning Sessions:
- Welcome and Introduction - Historical timeline of marijuana and vaping laws; Terrill Bravender, MD, MPH, Pediatric Adolescent Clinic, Division Director of Adolescent Medicine, University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children's Hospital
- The effects of vaping and marijuana use on youth and brain development; Hilary Ann Marusak, PhD, Wayne State University
- Tensions of medical consequences of marijuana use and legal implications; Pat Wells, MD, The Corner Health Center; Paula Goldman, MD, Adolescent Medicine, Addiction Medicine, and Family Medicine Physician, University of Michigan Health Services
In-Person Afternoon Sessions:
- Cannabis use and trends among emerging adults; Meghan Martz, PhD, University of Michigan Addiction Center
- Panel Discussion: Educational disparities and cannabis use among school-aged youth and alternatives to suspension; Nikolai Vitti, EdD, Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools; Shannon Novara, Washtenaw Intermediate School District; Peri Stone-Palmquist, LMSW, MPP, Executive Director, Student Advocacy Center of Michigan; Andria Eisman, PhD, MPH, Wayne State University
- Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training; Umeika Stephens, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, Wayne State University
- Youth Panel Discussion: How to engage in conversation with adolescents about vaping and marijuana; Corner Health Youth Council: Hasini Anand; Nuwara Usman; Lakshya Jaiganesh; Ezinne Egenti
- Role-play activity with youth participants and discussion
Educational Planner:
- Terrill Bravender, MD, MPH
Educational Co-Planners:
- Cornelius Jamison, MD, MSPH
- Dana Thomas, MPH
- Marlanna Landeros, MSW
- Aubrey Huff
- Lauren Vasquez, MS, CHES
- MavaMarie Cooper, MPH
- Tahrima Khanom, MSW
- Emily Rowland, RN, MSc, PhD Candidate
- Elizabeth Kuzma, DNP, FNP-BC
- Iman Saleem, MPH
- Scott Mooney
Activity Coordinators:
- Riss Giammalva
- Ashley Vines
After completing this activity, participants will be able to effectively engage with adolescents using culturally appropriate communication techniques and implement evidence-based strategies to reduce vaping and marijuana use and will be able to implement this knowledge into patient care.
Enhanced Historical Knowledge: Attendees will gain a well-rounded understanding of the history and evolution of marijuana and vaping laws, enabling them to place current legal and societal challenges in context.
Research Awareness: They will recognize and understand critical research findings regarding the impact of cannabis use on the developing brains of adolescents, equipping them with scientific evidence to inform their practices or policies.
Legal Insight: Participants will be able to discuss the legal considerations that affect clinical practice when dealing with young individuals who use cannabis, potentially improving their compliance with legal standards and reducing liability.
Strategy Development Skills: They will learn to outline harm reduction strategies that can be implemented to encourage positive behavioral changes in youth, which may increase the effectiveness of their interventions.
Practical Experience: Through practice sessions, attendees will enhance their behavioral intervention techniques aimed at reducing substance use, leading to an improved skill set for immediate application in their respective professional settings.
Save the date for our 2024 Connection Session, a day-long conference, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. EDT, focusing on a single topic impacting youth. For all the latest updates on speakers, topics, and ways you can get involved, contact us.
Connection Session professional development opportunities aim to connect health professionals to community resources and others in the field.
The target audience for Connection Sessions is:
- Physicians
- Physician Assistants
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurses
- Social Workers
- Counselors
- Health Center Managers
- Other Health Care Professionals
- House Officers
- Medical Students
- Administrators
- Youth-Serving Community Professionals
Learn more about and explore content from previous Connection Sessions.
