CME Webinars Calendar

WOEMA’s Education Committee offers CME Webinars on topics relevant to the practice of occupational and environmental medicine. These webinars can be accessed by calling a toll-free 800 number and viewing the Powerpoint presentation using your Internet browser from your own computer. WOEMA members will be notified in advance of the dial-in phone number and the URL link to access the slides. When the CME Webinar is offered live, members will have the opportunity to send questions to the presenter and have those answered in real-time on the live broadcast.

WOEMA CME Webinar Registration Fees
WOEMA/ACOEM Member – Free
Non-Member Physician – $20
Non-Member, Non-Physician – $15

Click here to listen/view past webinar presentations.

CREDIT: WOEMA is accredited by the California Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians. WOEMA takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

WOEMA designates this live internet activity, when combined with completion and submission of the on-line questionnaire, for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.


Topic: Cannabis Worker Occupational Health and Safety
Presenter: Marc Schenker MD, MPH
Date: March 19, 2020

This webinar will cover what is known about occupational health hazards in the cannabis (marijuana) industry. It begins with a description of the workforce size and distribution in California. This is followed with a review of occupational hazards, focusing primarily on respiratory and dermatologic hazards but including other health and safety hazards such as explosions and fires, repetitive strain injuries, and workplace violence. The limited data from field studies will be presented along with likely health outcomes based on known and probable exposures.

Learning objectives – After this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Identify the health risks to employees in the marijuana industry based on their specific workplace: agriculture, production facility, manufacturing and storage, and retail.
  • Apply this knowledge matters of health and safety when discussing workplace improvements with injured workers or in consultation with employers in this industry.

ACCME Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and the Western Occupational & Environmental Medical Association (WOEMA). The ACOEM is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education to physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine designates this live educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Marc Schenker
UC David School of Medicine

Marc Schenker is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Health Sciences and Medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine. He has over 35 years of experience in medicine and public health research, teaching and public service. Dr. Schenker is the founding director of the Davis Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, and the Migration and Health Research Center.

His specialty is occupational and environmental disease, with a focus on respiratory and reproductive health. His work has focused on numerous occupational hazards, particularly those affecting agricultural workers. Dr. Schenker also conducts epidemiologic research and public policy advocacy on the health of global migrant populations with a particular focus on farmworkers and occupational disease. He has published over 200 scientific manuscripts and six textbooks and has received numerous awards for his work. He is editor of a recent book entitled “Migration and Health: Research Methods Handbook”.

Speaker Contact Information:

Marc Schenker, MD, MPH
Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Founding Director
Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
Migration and Health Research Center
Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
Department of Public Health Sciences
University of California at Davis

E-mail: [email protected]
Web: schenker.ucdavis.edu


Topic: Implementing the New 2019 CDC Guidelines on TB Screening of Health Care Personnel
Aired on Thursday, October 31, 2019

Presented by: Warner Hudson, MD, FACOEM, FAAFP & Wendy Thanassi, MD

This webinar will be a review of the May 2019 CDC MMWR Guidelines on TB screening or US health care personnel as well as cover key items discussed in the soon to be published companion paper on implementing these new guidelines, with a focus on practical approaches, what’s changed, LTBI treatment and case reviews.

Learning objectives – After this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Implement the new CDC guidelines for TB screening of US health care personnel
  • Treat LTBI using new approaches
  • Adapt the new guidelines for your TB screening program

Dr. Warner Hudson is Associate Clinical Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health at UC Irvine. Prior to this he was Medical Director of Occupational and Employee Health for UCLA Health System and Campus where he implemented and directed large TB surveillance programs for healthcare personnel, researchers who worked with live TB, animal workers, and travelers. He was a voting member of the IBC there for 7 years. He has numerous publications on biosafety subjects including tuberculosis and has been a co-leader of the working group to develop the companion paper to the 2019 CDC guidelines on TB screening of US HCP. He is past president of ACOEM and WOEMA.

Dr. Wendy Thanassi is the Chief of Occupational Health at the Palo Alto VA and Clinical Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine at Stanford Medical Center. She completed her medical education at Stanford University School of Medicine, her internship and residency at Yale – New Haven Hospital, CT, and is board certified in Emergency Medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. Her particular interest is in infectious diseases. Dr. Thanassi has worked all over the world, including in TB hospitals in South Africa. Her extensive experience using IGRAs helps her to explain patterns and anomalies in serial testing of healthcare workers to help others make evidence-based decisions regarding testing and treatment of LTBI in the nation’s workforce.


Topic: Orthopedic Injuries – Fractures of the Wrist and Forearm
Aired on Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Presented by: Christopher Bayne, MD

This webinar will allow participants to be able to recognize the clinical symptoms suggestive of a wrist or forearm fracture. The participant will understand the pertinent anatomy and have the tools to diagnose the most common fracture patterns of the wrist and forearm. Furthermore, the participant will feel comfortable with the initial management of these injuries and understand when these injuries require emergent orthopedic surgery intervention.

Learning objectives – After this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Know the anatomy of the wrist and forearm
  • Perform pertinent physical exam
  • View imaging for diagnosis of wrist and forearm (as well as possible associated injuries)
  • Identify emergent signs and symptoms
  • Use appropriate immobilization of wrist and forearm fractures

Dr. Christopher Bayne is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, CA. He obtained his Medical Degree at Harvard University in Boston, MA and completed his Orthopedic Surgery training at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. He completed a fellowship in Hand, Upper Extremity, and Microvascular Surgery at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Clinically, he has a special interest in upper extremity trauma, brachial plexus injury, and shoulder and elbow arthroplasty. He is passionate about education and is actively involved in the UC Davis Orthopedic Residency and Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship programs.

[Download Presentation PDF]

Topic: Pesticide Illness: Regulations, Laws, Reporting
Aired on Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Speaker: William Ngai, MD, MPH; Yvette Nonato, MD, DPBRM, FPARM

This webinar is a brief overview of California’s regulations and laws that mandate pesticide illness reporting and its requirements.  It also provides information on the recognition and management of pesticide illnesses.   Underreporting of pesticide related illness is an issue because many health care providers are unaware of the reporting requirement.  The Department of Pesticide Regulation is responsible for regulating the sale and use of pesticides in California and enforcement pesticide laws and regulations.  The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is responsible for providing physician training on the recognition, management, and reporting of pesticide related illnesses.

Learning Objectives – after this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Know the legal definitions of a pesticide and pest
  • Be familiar with the legal requirements and the various ways to report pesticide illnesses
  • Obtain patient and exposure information helpful for pesticide illness surveillance
  • Provide information on the diagnosis and treatment of pesticide illnesses

Dr. William Ngai received his Medical Degree from the New York University School of Medicine and his Masters of Public Health from the University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health.  Postgraduate training consisted of an internship in internal medicine at the Veterans Administration Hospital of Long Beach and a residency in occupational and environmental medicine at the University of Southern California and the University of California San Francisco.  After practicing in the emergency department at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Martinez for a year, Dr. Ngai practiced general medicine and occupational medicine in Oakland for thirteen years.   From 1998, he practiced occupational medicine at the Mills-Peninsula Hospitals in Burlingame and San Mateo until 2003.  He has been a Public Health Medical Officer in the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, a department in the California Environmental Protection Agency, since April 2000.

Dr. Yvette Nonato is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist by training, with special interests in Traumatic Brain Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. She served as a venue Sports Medicine physician in the 1990’s in a number of games. She was a medical exchange student under the Asian Medical Students Association (AMSA), and rotated in a number of big medical centers and rural hospitals in Northern and Southeast Asian countries. Her internship and residency trainings were completed in military hospitals. She was one of the few then-residents admitted into the International Spinal Cord Society (formerly IMSOP), a membership she keeps to date. Dr. Nonato has delivered lectures ranging from “Low Back Pain” to “Spinal Cord Injuries” for various specialty societies. She has also been a primary investigator for a number of Clinical Trials, notably a COX-2 inhibitor, and she fulfilled a course in Health Informatics at UC Davis. Currently, Dr. Nonato is affiliated with the Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program (PISP) of Cal-EPA’s Department of Pesticide Regulation.


Topic: Health Effects of the 9/11 Terror Attacks
Aired on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 12:00 PM PST

**This webinar was not be recorded, nor will slides be shared after the webinar has aired.**

Speaker: Marc Wilkenfeld, MD

The 9/11 terror attacks and collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) was the largest manmade environmental disaster in history. Toxins released in the collapse of the World Trade Center caused unhealthy air quality levels for months and the traumatic events resulted in increased rates of depression and PTSD. Patient and physician advocacy resulted in the creation of a federal program to monitor and treat those made ill by the attack. Research continues to link additional medical conditions such as cancer and neurologic disease to the toxins released. Understanding the health effects of the WTC Collapse can help physicians prepare for future disasters.

Learning Objectives – after this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the health impact of 9/11 on responders and survivors
  • Describe Medical and Psychiatric Conditions that have been linked to the collapse of the World Trade Center
  • Review the legislative process which resulted in passage of the Zadroga Act which provides care for those ill due to 9/11 exposures
  • Explain the lessons learned from 9/11 that can help prepare for future disasters

Dr. Marc Wilkenfeld is Board Certified OccupationalEnvironmental Physician. Dr. Wilkenfeld is Chief of Occupational Environmental Medicine at Winthrop University Medical Hospital in Mineola, NY and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Wilkenfeld has practiced Occupational Environmental Medicine for over twenty years evaluating, along with treating workers and other individuals with concerns over exposure to potentially toxic substances. He has also acted as Occupational Medicine Consultant to numerous Corporations, Unions, Universities and Government Agencies in The United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. He has lectured extensively and trained Medical Students and Residents in aspects of Occupational Environmental Medicine. He has published two book chapters in the foremost Textbook of Occupational Medicine, and serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine. Dr. Wilkenfeld is Past-President of The New York Occupational Medicine Association where he continues to serve on the Executive Board. He is currently Co-Chairman of the Environmental Health Section of The American College of Occupational Environmental Medicine.

Dr. Wilkenfeld was a resident of Lower Manhattan when the September 11th attacks occurred. Following the attacks Dr. Wilkenfeld acted as a consultant to a number of government agencies, corporations and community groups on the environmental health impact of the disaster. In this role he reviewed pre- and post-cleaning data and answered questions regarding potential health effects of contamination with WTC dust. He moderated and participated in community forums designed to answer the health questions of residents and workers. He also served as Medical Consultant on the deconstruction of The Deutsche Bank Building which had been contaminated by the dust from the collapse of The World Trade Center. In 2004 he was appointed to the EPA WTC Technical Advisory Panel.

Dr. Wilkenfeld has also examined and treated hundreds of cases of World Trade Center related illness in his work as a physician specialist for the NYC Health and Hospital’s Corporation WTC Environmental Health Center. In addition to his clinical work Dr. Willkenfeld has been involved in outreach and educational programs at the Center. Dr. Wilkenfeld has received a Proclamation from the New York City Council honoring him for his post 9/11 on behalf of the residents and workers of New York City.


Topic: The OSHA Silica Standard – Fresh Challenges for Medical Surveillance
Aired on Thursday, December 13th at 12:00 PM PDT

Speaker: Paul Papanek, MD, MPH, FACOEM

The new OSHA standards for occupational silica exposure are now being phased in, and are in effect from many workers with occupational silica exposure who required medical surveillance.  This webinar will describe the new surveillance requirements, and will emphasize some novel challenges posed by the standard, including what to do if employees refuse certain parts of the exam, or decline to have further specialty evaluations as the standard mandates for workers with certain abnormal findings.  Many OEM physicians or other providers in WOEMA states may be called on to offer these surveillance exams.
Learning Objectives – after this webinar, participants will be able to:
  • Describe what types of workplace silica exposures trigger a requirement for medical surveillance exams
  • List the principal component of those exams
  • Articulate a strategy for how to communicate with employees and employers about the surveillance results and next steps.
Dr. Paul Papanek is a graduate of UCSD Medical School, and took both his Family Medicine Residency and his MPH degree at UCLA.  He is Board Certified in Occupational Medicine, and served as a Public Health Chief for LA County Health Department for 9 years, and as Chief of Occupational Medicine at the Kaiser Hospital in Los Angeles for about 15 years.  He is currently a Public Health Medical Officer with Cal/OSHA, and has served on the WOEMA and ACOEM Boards.

Topic: Ask the Expert: FMCSA Update with Q & A
Aired on October 31, 2018 

Speaker: Natalie Hartenbaum, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Dr. Hartenbaum will provide an update on the implications for providers on the new Diabetes rule and answer questions. This webinar will be driven by your questions. Participants are encouraged to submit a question for Dr. Hartenbaum when they register for the webinar. This 30-minute webinar will help you improve your understanding of the updated FMCSA regulations for individuals with a stable insulin regimen and properly controlled insulin-treated diabetes (ITDM) to qualify to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).

Learning Objectives – after this webinar learners will improve their:

  • Competence on the updated FMCSA regulations for individuals with a stable insulin regimen and properly controlled insulin-treated diabetes (ITDM) to qualify to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs)

Natalie Hartenbaum, MD is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine in Occupational Medicine and has a Master’s of Public Health in Occupational Medicine. She has been a certified Medical Review Officer since 1996. Dr. Hartenbaum has extensive experience in the clinical, corporate, and academic settings and is a nationally recognized expert in occupational fitness for duty with a special focus on transportation.


Topic: Maintaining Board Certification in Occupational Medicine
Aired on August 30, 2018

Speaker: Eric Wood, MD, MPH

This webinar is designed to assist physicians in meeting requirements of Maintenance of Certification (MOC) for the American Board of Preventive Medicine. The lecture will provide an overview of the origins and evolving nature of MOC. It will address the four required parts of MOC: Part 1- Professional Standing; Part 2– Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (LLSA); Part 3– Assessment of Cognitive Expertise; and Part 4– Assessment of Practice Performance. The timeline for completion of these parts will be presented. Finally, the learner will be directed to resources and tools that are available to achieve these goals.

Learning Objectives – after this webinar participants will be able to:

  • Review the origins and evolving nature of Maintenance of Certification
  • Review Pathways to Board Certification
  • Describe and define the Four Parts of Continuous Certification
  • Identify timelines to meet MOC requirements
  • Provide resources for achieving MOC requirements

Dr. Eric Wood is Director of Occupational Medicine at the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), University of Utah. He also serves as the Director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency program at the University of Utah. He completed residency training in Family Medicine and Occupational Medicine and is Board-Certified in both disciplines. He has broad training and experience in occupational health, having begun his career as an Industrial Hygienist working for both OSHA and private consulting to address and mitigate a wide spectrum of occupational health risks among workers. His current academic responsibilities include education and training of occupational medicine residents, graduate students, medical students, and other health professionals; research with a focus on Occupational Health and Wellness among Commercial Truck Drivers, and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders; and consultation and clinical practice of occupational medicine.   He is Co-Chair of the NIOSH NORA Transportation, Warehousing and Utility (TWU) Sector Council. Dr. Wood is a Director of the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM), and he serves as Vice Chair of Occupational Medicine for the ABPM.

[Download Presentation PDF]

Topic: The MTUS & Drug Formulary: Report Writing to Avoid Denials of Treatment Requests
Aired on July 10, 2018

Speaker: Steven Feinberg, MD

This webinar will help participants learn how to effectively use the MTUS and the Drug Formulary to avoid utilization review and IMR denials. With effective report writing, there is less stress on both the treater and the injured worker and medical care is expedited with early authorization of treatment.

Learning Objectives – after this webinar participants will be able to:

  • Have a better understanding of the MTUS treatment guideline.

  • Understand the MTUS Drug Formulary and how to effectively use it.

  • Write reports that lead to early authorization while avoiding denials of care.

Dr. Steven Feinberg is a physiatrist and pain medicine specialist practicing in Palo Alto. He is an Adjunct Clinical Professor and teaches at the Stanford University, Pain Service. He is also a past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. He currently serves on the WOEMA Board of Directors and Dr. Feinberg served as the Panel Chair of the ACOEM Chronic Pain Guidelines Panel Chapter, 2008 Update.

[Download Presentation PDF]

Topic: Review and Updates in Lead Poisoning
Aired on April 26, 2018

Speaker: Timur Durrani, MD, MPH, MBA

This presentation will provide a review and updates in lead poisoning with an emphasis on adult exposures. The topic of lead poisoning continues to confront treating clinicians in a variety of situations, including occupational, environmental and herbal supplement exposures. We will review public health recommendations as well as clinical best practices for preventing, reducing, and treating lead exposure.

Learning Objectives – After this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Characterize the hazards of lead
  • Review the epidemiology of lead poisoning
  • Describe the basic toxic mechanisms of lead exposure
  • Provide resources on prevention and treatment of lead poisoning

Dr. Timur S. Durrani is the Medical Director of Health Services at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF in the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is Assistant Medical Director at the San Francisco Division of the California Poison Control System and Associate Director of the Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU). His clinical activities include evaluating patients with toxic exposures in the outpatient and inpatient setting, including critically ill poisoned patients. He is board certified in medical toxicology, occupational medicine, preventive medicine, and family medicine.

[Download Presentation PDF]


Topic: Phenotyping Asthma: Environmental and Occupational Asthma
Aired on February 22, 2018

Speaker: Nicholas Kenyon, MD, MAS

Environmental and occupational triggers are major concerns in the persistence of adult severe asthma, particularly for those patients with “T2 low” asthma. With the recent approval of multiple novel biologic therapies for severe asthma, it is important that physicians understand how to appropriately phenotype such patients, and consider who may be a candidate.  In this presentation, we will review the present thoughts on phenotyping patients with asthma, and how this impacts the evaluation and management of patients with occupational and environmental triggers.

Learning Objectives –  After this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Decribe the epidemiology and trends for asthma and occupational asthma
  • Describe how phenotyping of asthma allows for prescribing novel biologics for asthma
  • Outline the evaluation and phenotyping for occupational asthma

Dr. Nicholas Kenyon is division chief in Pulmonary/Critical Care and a physician-scientist with a translational research focus in adult severe asthma. Areas of emphasis are asthma therapeutics, the role of nitric oxide in airway inflammation, and environmental triggers of asthma. He completed an NHLBI-funded Phase II clinical trial of L-arginine supplementation in severe asthma based on 10 years of hypothesis-driven mouse model work. Dr. Kenyon is Co-PI on a U01 PRISMS grant to develop wearable environmental sensors for children with asthma. In addition, he has collaborated with environmental health UC Davis investigators to run intervention trials in asthma, test novel therapeutics in animal models, develop novel breath sensor technologies and identify the environmental triggers for patients with asthma. He is PI & Director of the CTSC TLI Pre-Doctoral Training Program, and Co-Lead of the Career Development Program for the UC Davis NIEHS-funded Environmental Health Center.

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Additional References : 


Topic: Cannabis vs. Cannabinoids: The Politics of Medical Marijuana
Aired on December 21, 2017 at 12:00 PM PST

Speaker: Douglas Gourlay, MD, MSc, FRCP(C), FASAM

The use of cannabinoid agonists in medical therapeutics has suffered from the persistent federal classification of cannabis as Schedule I.

The fact is that there are cannabinoid receptors distributed throughout the CNS and periphery, affecting hedonic tone, satiety, analgesia, anti spasm effects, inflammatory modulation and even immune status.  But herbal Cannabis has suffered a very different  reputation; at times even being equated to cocaine and heroin as a drug of abuse.  Clearly there is a regulatory disconnect between governmental control and societal perception.

 This talk will examine the important distinction between herbal cannabis, with its’ complex alkaloid chemistry in terms of medical utility and it’s use as a recreational intoxicant.   As well, attendees will be able to make a reasoned discussion between getting pulled into this political debate and having a healthy interest in ongoing research into this very interesting class of compounds.

Learning Objectives – Participants will be able to:

  • Examine the complex pharmacology of this class of drug
  • Define the difference between pharmaceutical cannabinoids and herbal cannabis
  • Make an informed decision as to how far into the ‘medical marijuana’ issue they might want to go and at what personal as well as professional risks they incur

Dr. Douglas Gourlay did his medical training at McMaster University, completing his fellowship in Anesthesiology in 1990.  Following a fellowship in addiction medicine, he has focused his practice to the assessment and management of risk in the treatment of chronic pain. He has written extensively and speaks on the topic of patient-centered strategies in the management of risk. He is the Former Director, Pain and Chemical Dependency Division, Wasser Pain Management Centre, Toronto as well as the Director of Lab Services, Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario. He currently is an educational consultant, writing and speaking on the subjects of Risk Management and Drug Testing.

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Topic: Management of Concussion & Post-Concussion Syndrome
Aired on October 26, 2017

Speaker: Vernon Williams, MD

This presentation will provide an updated review of concepts related to the management of concussion and post-concussion syndrome. Previously, management was limited to “watchful waiting” with the concept that although many (if not most) concussive injuries resolve spontaneously, there are individuals who have prolonged and/or permanent symptoms. This “Post-Concussion Syndrome” was often viewed as a “new normal” for those individuals and management was limited to teaching compensatory strategies and attempts at treating symptoms. A more evolved approach is aimed at an aggressive assessment and search for treatable causes of ongoing symptoms with interventions aimed at amelioration and improvement, rather than watchful waiting and compensation.

Learning Objectives – Participants will be able to:

  • Identify the most common symptoms associated with prolonged concussion and Post-Concussion Syndrome
  • Identify options for treatment of most common symptoms associated with Post-Concussion Syndrome
  • Identify factors (modifying factors) associated with increased risk of prolonged symptoms and Post-Concussion Syndrome
  • Have awareness of evolving approaches and future directions for treatment of concussion and Post-Concussion Syndrome

Vernon B. Williams is a graduate of The University of Michigan’s prestigious Inteflex Accelerated Pre-Medical/Medical Program. He completed neurology residency at The University of Maryland in Baltimore and is board certified by the American Association of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Williams joined the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles in 1997 where he is a consulting Team Physician to the Los Angeles Rams, Clippers, Dodgers, Kings, Sparks, Anaheim Ducks, and several southern California collegiate, high school, and elite club athletic programs. He is the Founding Director of The Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at the Kerlan-Jobe. In 2015, Governor Brown appointed him to the California State Athletic Commission Dr. Williams is an active educator on issues related to Sports Neurology and Concussion and is the Chair of the American Academy of Neurology Sports Neurology Section.

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Topic: Knee Injuries: Pearls & Pitfalls
Aired on August 29, 2017 at 12:00 pm PT

Speaker: Leslie Kim, MD

This presentation will highlight pertinent key points in evaluating and treating common–and some uncommon–knee conditions presenting to occupational medicine specialists. This will include identification of “red flags,” practical pointers on performing a knee examination, appropriate use of diagnostic studies, efficacy of certain treatment modalities, and timing of referral for orthopaedic consultation. Participants should be able to apply this information to more effectively and efficiently manage knee injuries in their practice.

Learning Objectives – Participants will be able to:

  • Recall key questions when obtaining the patient’s history of knee injury
  • Describe the knee anatomy and clinical correlation to the physical examination
  • Appropriately use diagnostic testing and treatment modalities for different knee conditions
  • Identify urgent knee conditions that require timely referral

Dr. Leslie Kim is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon in active general practice with sub-specialization in shoulder and knee arthroscopy. His special interests include sports medicine, workers compensation, forensic (medico-legal) orthopaedics, and health care innovation. Dr. Kim is a graduate of Stanford Medical School. He completed general surgery internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at UCLA. He also received post-graduate fellowship training in arthroscopic surgery, orthopaedic trauma in Munich Germany, and reconstructive surgery at Scripps Clinic. Following Dr. Kim’s formal training, he gained additional experience working at the Olympics and serving as a local college team physician, as well as expertise in the workers compensation system as medical director of a large statewide medical group. Dr. Kim is presently the chair of the orthopaedic surgery department at Mills-Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame, and on staff at Seton Medical Center.

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Topic: Integrating Health and Safety – Two Employer Solutions
Aired on June 29, 2017 at 12:00 pm PT

Speakers: Pamela Hymel, MD, MPH, FACOEM & T. Warner Hudson, MD, FACOEM, FAAFP

Total Worker Health® is the integration of both workplace health promotion (health) and workplace health protection (safety).  Both Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and UCLA Occupational Health have approached their safety and health programs via strategic integration of important program components between the two departments. The background, rationale, program content, operational details, and results over 5 years from these two workplaces will be presented so others can consider how integrating their health and safety programs might positively impact their workers and workplaces. 

Learning Objectives – Participants will be able to:

  • List the basic concepts of NIOSH Total Worker Health Program®
  • Describe innovative ways two employers are integrating health and safety
  • Implement data that most effectively outlines program successes and areas of opportunity
  • Develop and design a focused hot spotter type wellness intervention
  • Operate a worker health program

Dr. Pamela Hymel is Chief Medical Officer for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (WDPR) where she is responsible for integrating a segment wide health and well-being strategy. In her current role, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the onsite occupational health services centers, guest first aid locations, disability/accommodation management, drug screening, global occupational health issues and well-being strategy and programs for WDPR. Dr. Hymel served as President of the American College of Occupational Medicine (ACOEM) from 2009-2010 and was on their Board of Directors for over 10 years.

Dr. T. Warner Hudson has been Medical Director of UCLA Health System and Campus for 7 years and has worked across all UC on the focused wellness program for injured workers called Work Strong; on the steering committee of UCLA’s Healthy Campus Initiative,  and is currently working on new UC wide population health efforts. He spent 20 + years as a Corporate Medical Director and Director of Health Safety and Environment for multinational companies.  He was president of ACOEM in 2011-2012 and president of WOEMA in 2000-2001.

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Topic: The California Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) – New Treatment Guidelines and Formulary
Aired on April 27, 2017 at 12:00 pm PT

Speaker: Raymond Meister, MD

Doctors in California’s workers’ compensation system are required to provide evidence–based medical treatment.  The MTUS provides this evidence-based framework for the evaluation and treatment of injured workers. It includes a set of guidelines covering which treatments are effective for most work–related injuries and illnesses as well as a method for providing care outside of the MTUS treatment guidelines.  Additionally, a proposed MTUS Formulary has also recently been submitted for public comment and this presentation will cover the formulary as well.  Use of the MTUS is not only required by law, but will facilitate the approval of your treatment plans and improve outcomes of your patients.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define what the MTUS is and why it is critically important to the care of your patients.
  • Identify the guidelines in the MTUS and learn how to use recommendations found in the MTUS guidelines for your patients’ treatment.
  • Explain how to apply the MTUS Medical Evidence Search Sequence when considering recommendations found outside of the MTUS.
  • Identify highlights of the proposed MTUS Formulary.

Dr. Ray Meister has served as Executive Medical Director for DWC since June, 2016 and was an Associate Medical Director since 2014. Prior to joining DWC, Dr. Meister served as Public Health Medical Officer at the California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, from 2000 to 2014.

Dr. Meister is boarded in Occupational Medicine having done his residency at UCSF.  He earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine. He has been a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco since 1998 and is currently an Associate Clinical Professor.

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Topic: Outbreak of Mycobacterial Infections in a Dental Clinic 
Aired on February 21, 2017 at 12:00 pm PST

Speaker: Matthew Zahn, MD

In the fall of 2017, the Orange County Health Care Agency responded to an outbreak of atypical mycobacterial infection in the patient population of a local dental clinic.  Over 60 children were hospitalized due to this outbreak, which is the largest dental mycobacterial outbreak reported in this country.  Aspects discussed will include assessment and testing of the facility water system, assessment of dental provider practices, and the epidemiology of community outbreaks of atypical mycobacterial infection.

Learning Objectives – Participants will be able to:

  • Become familiar with environmental sources of atypical mycobacterial infection.
  • Learn the basics of assessing water systems for potential mycobacterial contamination.
  • Review the epidemiologic progression of an outbreak of mycobacterial infection.

Dr. Matthew Zahn currently serves as Medical Director of the Division of Epidemiology and Assessment for the Orange County Health Care Agency. Dr. Zahn received his doctorate in medicine from St. Louis University School of Medicine. From 2004 through 2011, he served as Medical Director for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. During that time, he also served as an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He has served on multiple national public health committees, including currently serving as the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) liaison to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

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