Oregon Society of Physician Associates

08/26/2026

📣 THE OSPA FALL CONFERENCE 2026 AGENDA IS HERE! 🎉

Three days. Expert speakers. Practical clinical education. And plenty of reasons to make the trip to Bend. 🌲

From AI and interventional radiology to addiction medicine, sleep disorders, hypertension, POCUS, spinal cord injuries, gender-affirming care, rural healthcare, and infectious disease, the OSPA Fall Conference is packed with sessions designed to give you knowledge you can take directly into practice.

🔥 A few highlights:
🧠 Hardwiring with Artificial Intelligence
💉 Beyond the Referral: Caring for Patients With Substance Use Disorders
🩺 2025 HTN Guidelines for the P*P
🔎 Scan & See: Abdominal POCUS Workshops
🌙 Sleep Disorders That Go Bump in the Night
🧬 Gender Affirming Care
🏥 Best Practices for Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries
🦠 The Not-So-Friendly Trio: Measles, Microbes & Mosquitoes
…and much more!

📅 September 18–20, 2026
📍 Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Bend, OR

Whether you're looking to earn CME, sharpen your clinical skills, explore emerging topics, or connect with fellow PAs, this is one conference you won't want to miss.

🔗 View the full agenda:
https://oregonpa.org/events/ospa-fall-conference-2026-2/

🎟️ Register today:
https://ami.jotform.com/260976854432972

🏨 Book your hotel in the OSPA room block:
https://book.passkey.com/event/50924830/owner/49095888/home

Your fall CME plans are officially made. See you in Bend! 👋

08/17/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Kayur Patel, MD, MRO, FACP, FACPE, FACHE, FACEP

Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare—but how can clinicians harness it to improve patient care, reduce burnout, and create safer clinical workflows?

Join Dr. Kayur Patel, a nationally recognized healthcare leader and expert in patient safety, for an insightful session:

🤖 Session: Hardwiring with Artificial Intelligence

Drawing on his experience as a former Chief Medical Officer, Vice President of Quality, and Chairman overseeing 13 emergency departments, Dr. Patel will explore how AI and High-Reliability Organization (HRO) principles can work together to reshape healthcare delivery.

💡 You'll learn:
✅ A practical 8-step framework to identify and reduce preventable system errors
✅ How AI can streamline clinical workflows and reduce administrative burden
✅ Ways to integrate AI-powered safety tools that enhance clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes

Whether you're a clinician, administrator, or healthcare leader, this forward-looking session will provide actionable strategies for leveraging AI to build safer, more reliable healthcare systems.

📍 OSPA Fall Conference 2026
🗓 September 18–20, 2026
📍 Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Bend, OR
🎟 Register today: https://ami.jotform.com/260976854432972
🏨 Reserve your hotel: https://book.passkey.com/event/50924830/owner/49095888/home

08/15/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Emilio DeBess, DVM, MPH

Emerging infectious diseases continue to challenge healthcare providers—and staying informed has never been more important.

Join Emilio DeBess, DVM, MPH, Public Health Veterinarian for the Oregon Health Authority, for an engaging session on today's most pressing public health threats.

🦠 Session: The Not-So-Friendly Trio: Measles, Microbes & Mosquitoes

Drawing on decades of experience in epidemiology, infectious diseases, and public health, Dr. DeBess will provide practical guidance on recognizing, preventing, and responding to evolving infectious disease threats affecting Oregon and beyond.

💡 You'll learn:
✅ Recognize the clinical presentation and management of measles, bacterial and viral gastroenteritis, and mosquito-borne diseases
✅ Review prevention strategies, including immunization, infection control, and patient education
✅ Understand reporting requirements and how to collaborate with public health partners to reduce disease transmission

This timely session will equip you with evidence-based tools to protect your patients and strengthen your clinical practice.

📍 OSPA Fall Conference 2026
🗓 September 18–20, 2026
📍 Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Bend, OR
🎟 Register today: https://ami.jotform.com/260976854432972
🏨 Reserve your hotel: https://book.passkey.com/event/50924830/owner/49095888/home

08/12/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Joanna Adams, MSPAS, PA-C

Caring for patients with a spinal cord injury goes far beyond the initial diagnosis. Join Joanna Adams, PA-C, of OHSU Neurosurgery, as she shares a comprehensive approach to helping patients regain independence and thrive after SCI.

🧠 Session: Beyond the Spine: Whole-Person Care After Spinal Cord Injury

With more than a decade of experience in neurosurgery, Joanna provides compassionate inpatient and outpatient care while also educating PA students and mentoring individuals living with spinal cord injuries.

💡 You'll learn:
✅ How spinal cord injury classifications affect function and patient outcomes
✅ Strategies to prevent common secondary complications after SCI
✅ The value of interdisciplinary care and outpatient resources that support successful community reintegration

Whether you work in primary care, emergency medicine, surgery, rehabilitation, or another specialty, this session will provide practical insights to help you deliver more comprehensive, patient-centered care.

📍 OSPA Fall Conference 2026
🗓 September 18–20, 2026
📍 Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Bend, OR

🎟 Register today: https://ami.jotform.com/260976854432972
🏨 Reserve your hotel: https://book.passkey.com/event/50924830/owner/49095888/home

08/10/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Mariah Franclemont, PA-C

What really happens when patients "go bump in the night?" 🌙

Join Mariah Franclemont, PA-C, sleep medicine specialist at Pacific Sleep Program, for an engaging session on recognizing and managing common parasomnias that can have a significant impact on patient safety and quality of life.

🛏️ Session: Sleep Disorders That Go Bump in the Night: Diagnosis and Management of Common Parasomnias

With years of experience in family medicine, pulmonology, and sleep medicine, Mariah is passionate about helping patients improve their sleep—and their overall health.

💡 You'll learn:
✅ How to recognize common parasomnias, including sleepwalking, dream enactment, sleep-related eating disorder, hallucinations, and sexsomnia
✅ Practical strategies for counseling patients and creating safety plans
✅ Best practices for evaluating, diagnosing, and treating parasomnias

Whether you practice primary care or a specialty, this session will provide practical tools to help you confidently identify and manage these often-overlooked sleep disorders.

📍 OSPA Fall Conference 2026
🗓 September 18–20, 2026
📍 Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Bend, OR
🎟 Register today: https://ami.jotform.com/260976854432972
🏨 Reserve your hotel: https://book.passkey.com/event/50924830/owner/49095888/home

08/08/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Ashley Cox, DMSc, PA-C, RVT, RDCS

Hypertension management is evolving—and staying current is essential for every primary care provider. Join Ashley Cox, DMSc, PA-C, of OHSU General Cardiology, for an important session:
🩺 Review of the 2025 HTN Guidelines for the P*P

With a unique background in cardiology, primary care, vascular and cardiac sonography, and point-of-care ultrasound education, Ashley brings a wealth of clinical expertise to this timely presentation.

💡 You'll learn:
✅ What's changed from the 2017 hypertension guidelines to the 2025 update
✅ Updated blood pressure goals and first-line treatment recommendations
✅ When to evaluate for secondary hypertension and optimize treatment strategies to improve cardiovascular outcomes

Whether you practice primary care or another specialty, this session will provide practical, evidence-based guidance you can implement immediately to improve patient care and reduce cardiovascular risk.

📍 OSPA Fall Conference 2026
🗓 September 18–20, 2026
📍 Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Bend, OR
🎟 Register today: https://ami.jotform.com/260976854432972
🏨 Reserve your hotel: https://book.passkey.com/event/50924830/owner/49095888/home

08/05/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Andreanna "Ande" DeMarco, MPAS, PA-C

Discover how Interventional Radiology is transforming patient care with minimally invasive, image-guided procedures.

Join Andreanna "Ande" DeMarco, PA-C, of Central Oregon Radiology Associates, as she shares how embolization is changing the way we treat common conditions while helping patients recover faster with fewer complications.

💡 Session Highlights:
✅ What is embolization, and how does it work?
✅ How minimally invasive procedures can treat conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), knee osteoarthritis, chronic pelvic pain, and more
✅ When it's time to refer a patient for an interventional radiology consultation

With experience in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and interventional radiology, Ande brings a unique perspective on innovative treatment options that are improving patient outcomes and expanding what's possible in modern medicine.

📍 OSPA Fall Conference 2026
🗓 September 18–20, 2026
📍 Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Bend, OR
🎟 Register today: https://ami.jotform.com/260976854432972
🏨 Reserve your hotel: https://book.passkey.com/event/50924830/owner/49095888/home

08/03/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Billie Cartwright, MHS, DBH, PA-C

Join Billie Cartwright, Medical Director of the Addiction Medicine Clinic at BestCare Treatment Services, for an eye-opening session:
Beyond the Referral: What Every Provider Should Know About Caring for Patients With Substance Use Disorders

With more than 48 million Americans affected by substance use disorders, every healthcare provider will encounter these patients—regardless of specialty. In this powerful session, Billie will share practical, evidence-based strategies to help you recognize substance use disorders, confidently initiate treatment when appropriate, understand current medications for opioid and alcohol use disorders, and navigate today's rapidly changing drug landscape.

💡 You'll learn:
✅ How to incorporate universal SUD screening into everyday practice
✅ When to treat, when to refer, and how to safely continue treatment
✅ Emerging trends in addiction medicine, including xylazine, nitazenes, kratom, and more
✅ How compassionate, stigma-free care improves patient outcomes

Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical knowledge you can immediately apply to improve patient care.

📍 OSPA Fall Conference 2026
🗓 September 18–20, 2026
📍 Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Bend, OR
🎟 Register today: https://ami.jotform.com/260976854432972
🏨 Book your hotel: https://book.passkey.com/event/50924830/owner/49095888/home

08/01/2026

Last Call! Nominations for the Board, House of Delegates Representatives, and PA of the Year Award close tomorrow night (August 1) at 11:59 p.m.
PA of the Year: https://ami.jotform.com/241364206215952
Board and HOD: https://ami.jotform.com/241364712593963

Please click the link to complete this form.

07/20/2026

Ready to put your trivia skills to the test? 🧠🍻

Join us for PA Pub Quiz Night on July 29 from 6:30–9:00 PM at Steeplejack Hillsboro for an evening of networking, friendly competition, and fun!

Your evening includes:
🍺 Your first drink is on us
🍴 Complimentary appetizers
🏆 A pub-style trivia competition with prizes for the winning team

Whether you're reconnecting with colleagues or meeting new PAs, this is a great opportunity to expand your network in a relaxed setting. We can't wait to see you there!