2026 CDOE Annual Symposium (Friday, September 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:15:00 GMT

Stay up to date on the latest in diabetes therapy and earn CE credits.

This year's program features the following presentations:

"The Heart of the Matter: The Impact of Diabetes on the Cardiovascular System"

- Katharine French, MD

"Practical Considerations in the Implementation of Diabetes Technology into Clinical Care"

- Devin Steenkamp, MBChB

"Emotional Distress and Diabetes Management"

- Jeffrey Gonzalez, PhD, MA, BA

"MASH and Diabetes"

- Eric Newton, MD

"Cooking Up Wellness Through Culinary Medicine"

- Olivia Thomas, MS, RDN & Christina Vollbrecht, MA, MS, RDN, Chef

Purpose

This symposium is being offered to provide up-to-date information on the impact of diabetes on cardiovascular health, implementation of diabetes technology into clinical care, the role of emotional distress in diabetes management, the relationship between diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and the impact of culinary choices on wellness.

Target Audience

Certified Diabetes Outpatient Educators (CDOE), registered dietitians, registered nurses, registered pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and other allied health professionals interested in the management and research of diabetes and chronic disease.

Continuing Education Credits

This program has been submitted for 6.0 Live Contact Hours through the Northeast Multi-State Division (NE-MSD) Association. NE-MSD is an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Participants must attend the entire symposium and complete a written evaluation to be awarded continuing education credits.

The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This is a knowledge-based educational activity. Pharmacists will receive 6.0 Live contact hours (0.60 CEUs) for the educational activity. Attendance and completion of online program evaluations and self-assessment tools at the conclusion of the program are required in order to earn credit. No partial credit is available. ACPE Universal Activity Number (UAN): 0060-9999-26-050-L01-P

Registration:

Program Agenda:

Learning Objectives:

The Heart of the Matter: The Impact of Diabetes on the Cardiovascular System- Katharine French, MD

1. Explain why cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes.

2. Describe the mechanisms by which diabetes accelerates atherosclerosis, heart failure, and kidney disease.

3. Recognize the major CV complications associated with DM.

4. Review evidence-based therapies that improve cardiovascular outcomes.

5. Identify opportunities for diabetes educators to reduce cardiovascular risk through patient education and multidisciplinary care.

Practical Considerations in the Implementation of Diabetes Technology into Clinical Care- Devin Steenkamp, MBChB

1. Apply strategies to optimize the use of modern continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems and improve clinical efficiency in diabetes care

2. Identify barriers to patient access and uptake of diabetes technologies and strategies to address these barriers

3. Apply evidence-based strategies to facilitate appropriate patient access to advanced insulin delivery systems

Emotional Distress and Diabetes Management- Jeffrey Gonzalez, MD, MA, BA.

1. Describe the prevalence of emotional distress among individuals living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and its association with adverse health outcomes

2. Identify measurement and conceptual considerations for assessing emotional distress and determining appropriate care for individuals with diabetes

3. Identify challenges and opportunities for addressing emotional distress in clinical practice

MASH and Diabetes- Eric Newton, MD

1. Describe the incidence to and prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) amoung individuals with diabetes

2. Identify appropriate screening and diagnostic approaches for MASH in individuals with diabetes

3. Describe the natural history and progression of MASH in individuals with diabetes

4. Describe evidence-based treatment options for MASH in individuals with diabetes

Cooking Up Wellness Through Culinary Wellness- Olivia Thomas, MS, RDN & Christina Volbrecht, MA, MS, RDN, Chef

1. Define and describe best practices for culinary medicine

2. Identify three strategies for integrating culinary medicine into diabetes care

3. Identify at least three culinary techniques that enhance flavor while adhering to a diabetes-friendly diet

4. Identify basic cooking equipment needed for a pop-up teaching kitchen

Speaker Affiliations

Katharine French, MD
- Director, Women's Cardiac Center, Brown Health Cardiovascular Institute
- Staff Cardiologist, Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Women and Infants Hospital
- Assistant Professor, Clinical Educator, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI
- Program Director, Cardiovascular Fellowship, Brown University, Providence, RI
Devin Steenkamp, MBChB
- Director of Clinical Diabetes Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition, and Weight Management, Boston Medical Center
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Jeffrey Gonzalez, PhD, MA, BA
- Professor of Psychology, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Bronx, NY
- Director, Chronic Disease Self-Management Lab, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
- Director, New York Regional Center for Diabetes Translational Research (NY-CDTR), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Professor in Medicine (Endocrinology) and Professor in Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Eric Newton, MD
- Gastroenterologist, Physician Member at Speciality Alliance, University Gastroenterology
- Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
Olivia Thomas, MS, RDN
- Director of Nutrition Innovation and Implementation, Boston Medical Center
- Consultant, Culinary Nutrition Consulting
Christina Vollbrecht, MA, MS, RDN, Chef
- Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist, Chef
- Community Culinary Dietitian, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
- Adjunct Faculty, Notre Dame of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

2026 Cardiovascular Disease Outpatient Education Classes (CVDOE Certification Course) (Tuesday, October 27, 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Session I: Tuesday, October 27th | 8:00AM - 5:30PM

Session II: Tuesday, November 3rd | 8:00AM - 5:30PM

Held over the course of two full-day sessions, this continuing education program will cover the following topics:

Advanced Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Related Complications
Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests used in the Management of CVD
Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Hypertension
Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Hyperlipidemia
Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Heart Failure
Nutritional Management of Cardiovascular Disease and Self-care in Heart Failure
Helping Patients with Tobacco Cessation
Physical Activity: Rehabiliation and Benefits in Cardiovascular Disease

Nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists can earn up to 16.5 hours of live continuing education contact hours through completion of the course.

Click here for the full course schedule

This course is only held every other year. Register now to reserve your seat!

After completing both sessions of the course participants who are currently RI Certified Diabetes Outpatient Educators (CDOEs) in good standing will be eligible to sit for an exam to earn the credential of Cardiovascular Disease Outpatient Educator (CVDOE). You must be a current CDOE in good standing and pass the exam to become a CVDOE.

CVDOE Exam: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Warwick Library

2026 Cardiovascular Disease Outpatient Education Classes (CVDOE Certification Course) (Tuesday, November 03, 2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT