The Meet the PI lecture series continues on February 26th with a presentation by Gale Richardson, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Richardson is an expert on the developmental effects of prenatal substance use, specifically focusing on prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and its long-term effects on offspring. In her previous work she found significant effects on neuropsychological functioning in areas of memory and abstract reasoning, and behavioral effects including externalizing behaviors, attention, and mood. Dr. Richardson has further demonstrated that combinations of PCE, environmental factors, and maternal deficits predict significantly higher rates of substance use and risky sexual behavior. This research has led the field in informing clinicians, public health officials, and pregnant women about the effects of cocaine use during gestation and has been instrumental in debunking the “crack baby” mythology.

Date & Time. February 26, 2021, 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Join Via Zoom. Click on this link to join the lecture: Meeting ID: 956 2521 4958; Passcode: 827795..

The entirety of this program will be a lecture by the speaker(s). All individuals able to control the content of this educational activity are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with any proprietary entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services, used on, or consumed by, patients. Registration is not required for this event. This event is free and there will be no refunds. The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.

For more information. Please contact Frances Patrick (patrickfm@upmc.edu).

Continuing Education Credit:  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM.  Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  Other health care professionals are awarded .15 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 1.5 contact hours.  In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials which will be distributed at the time of the conference.  WPH is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. WPH maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.  This program is being offered for 1.5 continuing education credits.

The indicated number of clock hours of continuing education is provided through UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s Office of Educational Resources and Planning, a PA-approved provider of social work continuing education in accordance with all the applicable educational and professional standards of the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist. These clock hours satisfy requirements for LSW/LCSW, LPC and LMFT renewal.  For more information, call (412) 204-9085.