The Central Wisconsin Conference is the most recent addition to the annual pharmacist programs offered in Wisconsin by the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development. First presented in 2011, this live conference was designed to serve pharmacists who live outside of the Madison and Milwaukee areas, with a location that rotates around the state. This year’s conference will be held on Friday, April 22, 2016, at the Best Western Hotel in La Crosse, Wis. The theme is an “Update on Mental Health,” with morning didactic sessions on the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse. Afternoon skill building sessions will feature PHQ-9, the outpatient assessment for depression, SBIRT, screening, brief intervention and referral treatment for abuse and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs, and a case-based approach to the management of chronic conditions in patients with severe and persistent mental illness.

New for 2016, the UW-Madison School of Nursing has aided in the planning, as the conference will offer CE credit to nurses in addition to pharmacists. Comments from past conference attendees include:

• “The information from this symposium was wonderful. These were topics I had wanted to know more about and I was very pleased with the information given. Great job!”
• “Excellent topic well presented. Will definitely incorporate into my practice.”
• “I think the bigger thing to come out of this was just talking to other RPh’s about their practices.
• “I thought the format of the day, with half lecture and half discussion was a very effective teaching tool.”
• “I can always count on the highest quality of educational opportunity from your staff.”

So whether you would like to network with colleagues, learn some new mental health management skills, or hone your assessment and counseling skills, all while earning continuing education credit, check out this conference.