KINGSTON, R.I. — Sept. 29, 2025 — As the world’s population continues to age, health care has become increasingly complex due. The natural aging process is often accompanied by cognitive decline, an increase in diagnoses and specialist appointments, and the likelihood of multiplying prescription medications, all of which position pharmacists to play a critical role in addressing the unique healthcare needs of older adults.
The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy aims to equip pharmacy professionals with the knowledge and tools to optimize care for older adults at the 68th annual Heber W. Youngken Jr. Pharmacy Clinic as the college goes “Beyond the Script: Advancing Pharmacy Practice in the Aging Population.”
Hosted by the URI Office of Healthcare Workforce Development, the continuing education event scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., offers valuable continuing education credits for pharmacists, and features some of the leading voices in pharmaceutical science and education. Registration is now open for the seminar that will be presented virtually via Zoom.
In addition to insightful discussions on some of the key pharmaceutical issues facing the profession today, this year’s clinic explores the complexities of aging, cognitive decline, comorbidities, and the evolving regulatory landscape—empowering pharmacists to deliver safe, effective, and person-centered care. Seminars will focus on optimizing mental health treatment for older adults with dementia and depression, pharmacotherapy, healthcare hesitancy among older adults, and treating UTIs in older women, among other topics. URI College of Pharmacy Dean Kerry LaPlante will present scholarships to URI students during a virtual lunch break.
The conference will offer five live contact hours of continuing education credit for pharmacists, expanding URI’s already significant impact on pharmaceutical health and science throughout the region. Of the roughly 2,500 pharmacists working in Rhode Island, more than 1,500—60 percent—graduated from URI, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health.
Presenters include professionals from industry and academia, including:
- Nicole Brandt, executive director of the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging, and professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
- Anna Santoro, captain with the U.S. Public Health Service and chief pharmacist at FMC Devens federal prison in Massachusetts.
- Virginia Lemay, clinical professor at the URI College of Pharmacy.
- Nicole Asal, clinical associate professor at the URI College of Pharmacy.
- Catherine Li, clinical pharmacy specialist at Women & Infants Hospital.
- Tyler Trinh, pharmacy clinical quality evolution fellow at CVS Health.
- Rebecca Beachy, pharmacy clinical quality evolution fellow at CVS Health.
- Cindy Van, postdoctoral fellow in geriatric pharmacotherapy at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
For more information, or to register, visit the 68th Annual Heber W. Youngken, Jr. Pharmacy Clinic web page.