Title:

Milligram Doses of Buprenorphine for Pain

Faculty:

Taylor Butler, PharmD, BCOP

CE Credits

0.5 hr live CE
BCPMP Credit

Course
Description:

This continuing pharmacy education activity will address the expanding role of buprenorphine milligram dosing in pain management. The program will review current evidence regarding buprenorphine milligram dosing strategies and formulation selection when used for pain. Emphasis will be placed on pharmacist driven assessment, safety monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize patient centered pain control.

Learning
Objectives:

1. Recognize current evidence supporting milligram dosing of buprenorphine for pain management in palliative care and hospice populations.
2. Recall evidence based principles to recommend appropriate buprenorphine dosing strategies and formulations for patients with complex pain management needs.
3. Identify pharmacist specific interventions to optimize safety, monitoring, and interdisciplinary communication when buprenorphine is used for pain management.

Title:

Levorphanol as a Methadone Sparing Agent

Faculty:

Benjamin S. Kematick, PharmD, BCPMP, BCACP

CE Credits

0.5 hr live CE
BCPMP Credit

Course
Description:

Most palliative care practitioners may be aware of the potential utility of levorphanol, and may have even used it in patients based on positive data in recent RCTs. However using it regularly can be difficult due to costs and access, with a relatively more familiar and cheaper alternative (methadone) available. 2Occasionally patients may not be able to continue on methadone therapy due to cardiotoxicity and alternatives need to be considered. Using rational polypharmacy may allow for a more practical way to help patients by taking advantage of the beneficial properties of levorphanol (limited QT prolongation), and methadone (cheap and accessible).

Learning
Objectives:

1. Recall the properties of levorphanol that make it a compelling methadone alternative
2. Recognize the real-world challenges of using levorphanol as a methadone alternative
3. Identify edge cases where treatment with single long acting of either methadone or levorphanol would be inadequate and rational polypharmacy could be considered

Title:

Complex Case Discussions 2026

Faculty:

Grayson Cooley, PharmD
Diane Johnson, PharmD, BCPS, BCPMP
Grace Ukazim, PharmD

CE Credits

1 hour live CE
BCPMP Credit for Intractable Family Dynamics Case onl

Course
Description:

This program will examine real-world cases to address the challenges of managing complex cancer pain. Through patient case discussions, participants will explore evidence-based treatment strategies in complex cases, including the role of lidocaine infusions, approaches to severe bone pain, and the importance of shared decision-making. By integrating clinical expertise with patient-centered care, this session will equip providers with practical tools to optimize pain management in complex cancer pain.

Learning
Objectives:

1. Describe key clinical and psychosocial considerations in the management of chronic pain in older adults with cognitive impairment, including patient safety concerns, family dynamics, goal setting, and the role of off-label medication use.
2. Develop components of a care plan for managing chronic pain in a patient with a history of sickle cell disease post bone marrow transplant.

Title:

Medical Aid in Dying: Laws & Lived Experience

Faculty:

Rabia Atayee, Pharm.D., BCPS, APh, FAAHPM
Lytia Jian Yin Lai, PharmD
Alban Holyoke, MD

CE Credits

1 hour live CE

Course
Description:

Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) is increasingly important in palliative and end‑of‑life care as more U.S. states adopt legislation allowing patients at end-of-life who meet the state legislation requirements to request a medication regimen to hasten death. Pharmacists play a critical role in ensuring safe, ethical, and patient‑centered access to MAID, particularly in states with established programs. This session will provide an overview of MAID laws across the United States, with deeper clinical and logistical insight from two practicing pain and palliative care pharmacists with experience in California and Washington’s MAID processes. Participants will gain a working understanding of legal frameworks, clinical eligibility criteria, medication regimens, pharmacy logistics, and clinical cases that highlight the lived experiences of patients and caregivers. Ethical considerations, communication strategies, and approaches to interdisciplinary collaboration will also be discussed.

Learning
Objectives:

1. Describe current MAID legislation in the United States, including key similarities and differences between states.
2. Identify eligibility criteria, required procedural steps, and documentation requirements involved in MAID.
3. Compare common medication regimens used for MAID and describe pharmacist responsibilities related to compounding, dispensing, counseling, and safety considerations.
4. Identify logistical workflows for coordinating MAID requests within healthcare systems and community settings, and interdisciplinary communication.

Title:

Precision Pain Relief through Pharmacogenomics

Faculty:

Jessica B. Emshoff, PharmD, BS, RPh, BCPS, BCGP

CE Credits

0.5 hour live CE
BCPMP Credit

Course
Description:

This presentation will explore how genetic variations influence individual responses to opioid analgesics. Delving into the science of pharmacogenomics, it will highlight how genes affect opioid metabolism, efficacy, and risk of adverse effects. The session will cover key genetic markers, such as CYP2D6 and OPRM1, and their role in crafting personalized treatment plans and understanding response to therapy. Attendees will learn about current research, clinical applications, and challenges in implementing pharmacogenomic testing in pain management.

Learning
Objectives:

1. Review how genetic variations influence opioid metabolism and efficacy in order to optimize opioid analgesic management.
2. Identify the clinical applications and challenges of implementing pharmacogenomic testing in opioid management.

Title:

Bowtie Banter: The 2026 Jeff Fudin Debates

Faculty:

Brooke Brodzinski, PharmD
Abby Thomas, PharmD, BCPMP
Lorin Fisher, PharmD, BCACP
Emily E. Leppien, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Maria Felton Lowry PharmD, BCPS, BCGP
Jessica Geiger PharmD, MS, BCPS

CE Credits

1.5 hours live CE
BCPMP Credit

Course
Description:

The Jeff Fudin Debates carry on a long-standing tradition of clinical debates in pain, hospice and palliative care. There are many controversial topics in this area of practice, and these debates will delve into the evidence on both sides of each topic. The issues debated will focus on pain management, palliative care, and hospice topics of interest to healthcare practitioners who care for these patients. Debates this year include the use of suzetrigine for pain, gabapentin for pain, and the use of ketamine for refractory end of life symptoms.

Learning
Objectives:

1. Recall the efficacy and safety of suzetrigine in managing acute pain.
2. Identify patient populations in which gabapentin may be the most appropriate based on current safety and efficacy data.
3. Recognize key evidence for and against ketamine use in hospice patients for refractory end-of-life symptoms.