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URMC / Medicine / Geriatrics & Aging / Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center / Educational Events

Educational Events

The mission of the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center is to provide education to the health care workforce that will optimize care for older adults. Toward this end, the FLGEC is pleased to sponsor and/or co-sponsor several events each year.

2026 Older Adults and Substance Use Webinar Series

REGISTRATION: online registration

A Look at Older Adults and Substance Use: Approaches to Care

  • Speakers: Mary Beth Morrissey, JD, PhD, MPH, CEO, Collaborative for Palliative Care and Ann Marie Foster, CEO, 
  • Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026, 12pm—1pm ET
  • This presentation will review current trends in substance use in older adults highlighted in the recent report by the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Substance Use.  Discussion will include how to identify signs of substance use disorder (SUD) in older adults, ways to reduce stigma, and list types of recovery services available.

Aging Adults and Medication Use: Staying Safe by Making Informed Health Decisions

  • Speaker: Diana Padilla, MCPC, CTSS, CARC, Research Project Manager SBIRT Training, Technical Assistance and Implementation, Division of Substance Use Disorders, NYS Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center 
  • Date: Friday, February 6, 2026, 12pm—1pm ET
  • Pain management can be an immense challenge for older adults navigating through an array of health problems and prescription medications. Chronic pain can drive some people to also use substances like alcohol or marijuana, increasing the risk of drug interactions and worsening health issues. Effective prevention is key and includes education and safety coaching to help older adults make informed decisions regarding medications and their health. This presentation will review current trends of alcohol, cannabis and medication use and misuse among the older population, and stigmatic perceptions that impede preventive care. Content will further identify best practices when educating and empowering older adults to make sound lifestyle choices around chronic health conditions and their impacts.

Older Adults and Opioids: Addressing Staff Grief and Burn Out

  • Speaker: Emma Louise Roberts, Founder, Awen Consulting Services
  • Date: Friday, March 6, 2026, 12pm—1pm ET
  • This session will explore the vicarious trauma, grief, and burnout experienced by workers supporting older adults who use opioids.  Ms. Roberts will identify opportunities for organizational and supervisory intentionality in addressing worker well-being as well as individual and team opportunities to support workforce resilience.

Adult Use Cannabis & Adverse Events: An Update from the Upstate New York Poison Center

  • Speaker: William Eggleston, PharmD, DABAT, Assistant Clinical Director, Upstate New York Poison Center, SUNY Upstate Medical University
  • Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 12pm—1pm ET
  • Cannabis use in New York and across the United States is rising. Although cannabis can be used safely by most adults, there are several risk factors that can lead to cannabis-related adverse effects. This presentation will describe cannabis use and trends in New York, discuss adverse events related to cannabis use, and identify risk factors for cannabis-related adverse events in older adults.

Opioid Overdose Prevention - Narcan Training

  • Speaker: Karley Copeland, Harm Reduction Educator, Wyoming County Health Department (NY)
  • Date: Friday, June 12, 2026, 12pm—1pm ET 
  • The opioid epidemic continues to exist, stressing the importance of early recognition of an individual experiencing an overdose. Having Narcan readily available and knowing how to use it can and will save lives. This presentation will review how the Good Samaritan Law and calling 911 for all overdoses impacts those administering Narcan and how reporting the use of Narcan provides important data to the State, which in turn can turn into increased funding to address this issue.

2026 Older Adults and Substance Use Webinar Series: online registration


SAVE THE DATE: 19th Annual Geriatric Teaching Day

  • Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 8am - 4pm, ET
  • Location: Larry and Cindy Bloch Alumni and Advancement Center, 300 East River Road, Rochester, NY, 14627
  • Continuing Education Units: For RNs and NYS social workers
  • Registration: Coming Soon

SAVE THE DATE: 2026 Let's Talk About Health: Caring for Older Adults in Rural New York

  • Date: Friday, May 8, 2026, 8:30am - 4:00pm ET
  • Platform: Zoom
  • Registration: Coming Soon

The 3Ds: Delirium, Dementia, and Depression

In collaboration with the Home Care Association of New York State Education & Research (HCA E&R) and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center developed:

 

Continuing Education Credits - How to Find your Transcript

Access your Transcript: UR CEL

Instructions for accessing your transcript: UR CEL Guide

For assistance accessing your transcript, please contact the CEL office at 585-275-7666.