2025 Geriatric Medication Safety Symposium

April 24-25, 2025 | In-person & Virtual Format

The Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center, Texas Medical Center, Houston

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Deadline: March 7 | Acceptance Notification by March 28

Presenting authors must register/pay event fee by the April 18 registration deadline or acceptance will be withdrawn.

Awards for Best Poster and Podium Presentations

Plenary Sessions, Panel and Workshop by Leading Researchers & Practitioners

Continuing Education Credits (details pending)

Who Should Attend

The target audience includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, students, residents, researchers, and others in Texas and the nation.

Schedule

11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, and 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Friday, April 25

Confirmed Speakers

• Mary K. Brennan-Taylor, Adjunct Research Instructor of Family Medicine, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Charter Member, Patient Safety Action Network; and Co-founder, Team Alice
• Ariel Green, M.D., MPH, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Myla A. Magno, DNP, APRN, GNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, GS-C, Medical Consultant Provider, Community Care Nursing Home Program/State Veterans Home Program, Social Work Services Department, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Joshua Niznik, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy/UNC School of Medicine
• Carolyn Pickering, Ph.D., R.N., Professor and Isla Carroll Turner Chair in Gerontological Nursing, UTHealth Cizik School of Nursing
• Bianca Romero Widmer, Pharm.D., BCGP, BCPS, Senior Manager, Clinical Pharmacy, Suvida Healthcare
• Robert G. Wahler, Pharm.D., BCGP, FASCP, CPE, Clinical Associate Professor, University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services, Niagara Hospice; and Research Associate Professor, University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Cost 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

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 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
• 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.

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)
Professor and Director,
Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine,
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Vice President, Community Engagement, UTHealth Houston

Planning Committee

The organizers extend their appreciation for the work by the 2024 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

Logan Campbell, RN, GERO-BC
Health Services Director Central, Amazing Place

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 Assistant Director, The PREMIER Center, University of Houston College of Pharmacy