1st Speaker of January:

Karen D. French, DNP

Seminar Title: Osteoporosis: Time to Screen and Treat!

Presentation Date: 1/16/2026

Presentation Time: 11:00 AM

Seminar Details: This presentation will go over the identification, screening, and management of osteoporosis in primary care. It aims to equip healthcare providers with the tools to recognize at-risk patients—particularly perimenopausal and older women—and to utilize screening methods like the FRAX tool and DXA scans to stratify risk and prevent “silent” fragility fractures. The presentation will detail the pathophysiology of bone loss, the significant societal and financial impact of the condition, and comprehensive treatment options ranging from lifestyle modifications (like calcium, Vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise) to pharmacological therapies such as bisphosphonates, denosumab, and anabolic agents. Ultimately, the goal is to promote proactive screening and effective long-term monitoring to reduce the high incidence of fractures and improve the quality of life for aging populations.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Karen D French is a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is both a practicing NP as well as the Chair of the APRN department and an Associate Professor at Azusa Pacific University. She loves to combine teaching with being an active Family Nurse Practitioner, practicing in a hepatology and GI private practice. Her area of scholarship and publications are focused on osteoporosis and increasing screening in high-risk populations. Her acute care clinical background was in critical care, open-heart ,CCU, school nursing, and home health care for high risk infants. She and her husband live and thrive in San Clemente, CA.

Seminar Objectives:

• Participants will be able to identify those patients at risk for osteoporosis
• Participants will be able to use various tools to appropriately screen women, stratifying by risk and making appropriate referrals for bone densitometry.
• To incorporate screening for osteoporosis as part of the well woman exam for perimenopausal women and older. 
• Learners will be able to determine first line medications for use in primary care, and when to refer to specialty. 

2nd Speaker of January:

Catherine Heinlein, EdD

Seminar Title: Management of Diabetes in Older Adults and Diet

Presentation Date: 1/27/2026

Presentation Time: 12:00 AM

Speaker Bio: Catherine Heinlein, EdD, MSN, FNP-BC, RDN, CDCES, focuses her practice on helping individuals take control of their physical, mental, and spiritual health by setting and achieving personal goals for long-term well-being. She is accomplished in curriculum development, implementation, and enhancement. With extensive experience as a registered dietitian nutritionist, registered nurse, certified diabetes care and education specialist, college educator, and global health leader, Heinlein brings a wealth of expertise. Her doctoral training supports her specialization in communication theory, decision-making, planning, and program evaluation. Heinlein is committed to guiding nursing students—both locally and globally—in achieving their full professional potential. She considers ongoing mentorship not only a responsibility but a personal ministry.