This activity will focus on enhancing our understanding of the current opioid crisis and will explore new angles and address current concerns, including the use of over-the-counter intranasal naloxone, the evolving landscape of opioids with a focus on fentanyl, the intersection between suicide and opioid overdoses, the significance of the new 988 helpline in the crisis, and the viability of home-based detox startups. Strategies to effectively address the ongoing challenges of the opioid crisis will be discussed.

Pediatric patients referred for heart transplant (HTx) due to congenital heart disease (CHD) are considered high-risk due to their disease complexity and their specific peritransplant surgical risks. However, there has been great improvement in pediatric CHD outcomes treated with HTx- and surgical therapies, especially with the use of ventricular assist devices (VADs). This session will review the current state of HTx for pediatric CHD, addressing issues such as mortality risk factors, waitlist mortality, mechanical-support options, and immunosuppression and antibody-mediated rejection. It will also discuss key issues for this population, including psychosocial challenges, rehabilitation goals and future expectations regarding functional outcomes.

This activity aims to explore best practices in cancer screening and shed light on the groundbreaking WISDOM Study, which is revolutionizing our approach to screening by testing a personalized precision-medicine method based on individual risk factors for breast cancer in contrast to traditional annual mammograms. Participants will learn how this alternative approach differs from the current “one-size-fits-all” guideline-based method and discuss its potential to significantly improve the effectiveness of screening.

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are commonly utilized for the diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of pulmonary conditions. However, the inclusion of race in the reporting and interpretation of PFT results introduces the potential to contribute to health disparities and amplify race-based health inequities. This activity aims to enhance participants’ comprehension of race-based adjustments in clinical algorithms and increase competency in race-neutral and impartial interpretation of PFTs. The faculty speaker for this webcast, Dr. Nirav Bhakta, served as the co-chair of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) workshop responsible for shaping the 2023 ATS statement on race in PFT interpretation. Drawing upon his extensive expertise as a pulmonologist and his pivotal role in the formulation of these new ATS guidelines, Dr. Bhakta will delve into the historical context behind race-specific PFTs, address the rationale behind the shift and review the pivotal aspects and implications of adopting a race-neutral approach.