Events

Geriatric Medication Safety Symposium – April 13-14, 2023
**REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED; PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR 2024 EVENT UPDATES**
In-person and Virtual
Denton and Ralph Cooley University Life Center, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Awards for Best Poster and Podium Presentations
Plenary Sessions & Workshops by Leading Researchers & Practitioners
Continuing Education Credits:
9 Credit Hours CDE | Up to 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ |
Up to 8 Contact Hours CNE | 7 hours of UT System RME |
4 Hours CPE
About the Symposium
Medication-related morbidity and mortality are a significant health concern in older adults, who are highly susceptible to medication-related problems. Safe medication use practices require coordinated efforts by providers and patients in the medication use process. Medication-related problems range from prescribing of high-risk medications to misuse of medications by older adults.
The Geriatric Medication Safety Symposium builds upon a successful collaboration between the University of Houston College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy (PHOP) and the UTHealth McGovern Medical School in establishing and hosting the Houston Medication Safety Symposium in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The areas of focus for the newly funded Geriatric Medication Safety Symposium include:
- Medication safety in long-term care,
- Off-label drug use during the pandemic,
- Drug burden/safer opioid use,
- Adverse drug events/significant drug interactions,
- Drug safety during transitions of care, and
- Medication safety in inpatient care.
Support
The Geriatric Medication Safety Symposium is supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under award number 1R13AG071364.
Who Should Attend
The target audience includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, students, residents, researchers, and others in Texas and the nation.
Speakers
![]() |
Ryan M. Carnahan, Pharm.D., M.S., Professor & Director of Graduate Studies, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa Plenary Session: "Age-friendly Medication Use: A Closer Look at Anticholinergics, Antipsychotics, and Anticonvulsants" Workshop: "Measuring and Minimizing Anticholinergic Burden in Older Adults" |
![]() |
Katie Scott, MPH, President, CarePartners, Houston Plenary Session: "Family Caregivers: The Hidden Healthcare Workforce" Workshop: "Family-Centered Care" |
![]() |
Carolyn K. Clevenger, R.N., DNP, AGPCNP-BC, GNP-BC, FAANP Professor & Associate Dean for Transformative Clinical Practice, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University Plenary Session: "Updates in Defining, Diagnosing, and Treating Alzheimer’s Disease" |
![]() |
Joseph W. Shega, M.D. Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, VITAS Healthcare Plenary Session: "Assessment and Management of Disruptive Behaviors in Persons with Dementia" |
Costs for 2-day Event:
$100 for Professionals/Non-students, residents and fellows
$50 for students, residents and fellows
Venue
The Symposium will be held at the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center, 7440 Cambridge St, Houston, TX 77054.
Parking in Research Park Complex (RPC) Lot, 1940 East Rd, Houston, TX 77054, will be validated for in-person attendees for both days of the symposium.
View/Download Parking & Building Entry Guide PDF
Contacts
Rajender R. Aparasu, Ph.D., FAPhA (PI)
Mustafa & Sanober Lokhandwala Endowed Professor and Chair,
Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy,
University of Houston College of Pharmacy
Holly M. Holmes, M.D., M.S., AGSF (Co-PI)
Associate Professor and Director,
Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine,
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Planning Committee
The organizers extend their appreciation for the work by the 2023 GMSS Planning Committee:
Jacques Baillargeon, Ph.D.
Professor of Epidemiology and Vice Chair for Education, Department of Preventive Medicine and Population Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch
Sally Davis, R.N., MSN
Connections Director, Amazing Place
Goldina Erowele, Pharm.D., MBA
Administrative Director, Clinical Pharmacy Services, Harris Health System
Vaunette P. Fay, Ph.D., RNC, FNP, GNP
Director, Continuing Education, and Professor of Nursing – Clinical, Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston
LaDawna Goering, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, BC-ADM
Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing and Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator, Department of Graduate Studies, UTHealth Cizik School of Nursing
Paula D. Johnson, MPH, PMP
Bureau Chief, Harris County Area Agency on Aging
Jack Joseph, D.D.S.
Clinical Associate Professor, UTHealth School of Dentistry
Amy Kelleh, Pharm.D., BCGP, CDCES
Integrated Clinic Pharmacist, Centerwell Senior Primary Care
Min Ji Kwak, M.D., M.S., DrPH
Assistant Professor, Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston
Allison Ownby, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Faculty and Educational Development, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Tyler J. Varisco, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, and Member, The PREMIER Center, University of Houston College of Pharmacy