PFAS: What is it and why should we be concerned?

The chemical family called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including where they are found, potential health effects and why health providers should consider integrating this information into their clinical practice will be discussed.

Dr. Anderko is an environmental health nurse consultant and co-director of the Federal Region 3 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) of Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University. She has consulted with health providers and communities about potential health effects and risk reduction strategies for PFAS. She was a co-author for the recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) report, Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-up (2022)https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/guidance-on-pfas-testing-and-health-outcomes

This series is based on Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) strategies. It is an innovative tele-mentoring program designed to create virtual communities of learners by bringing together healthcare providers and subject matter experts using videoconference technology, brief lecture presentations, and case-based learning, fostering an “all learn, all teach” approach. 

Participants are engaged in the bi-directional virtual knowledge network by sharing clinical challenges and learning from experts and peers.  

During an ECHO session, participants present real (anonymized) cases to the specialists—and each other—for discussion and recommendations. Participants learn from one another, as knowledge is tested and refined through a local lens.https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/what-we-do/about-the-echo-model.html

Each participant will earn one CE for attending each session. There is no cost for participating in any of the sessions.