About this Event
Description
Join us at the Iron Lily on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM for an engaging and informative evening focused on coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever. This is a serious fungal infection endemic to our region. This event, hosted by the Valley Fever Institute at Kern Medical and the Kern Medical Foundation, will feature expert clinicians who will guide attendees through the latest understanding of the disease from pathogenesis, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. This CME event is designed to enhance early recognition, accurate diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of coccidioidomycosis among healthcare professionals. Dinner will be provided.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the pathogenesis of coccidioidomycosis and its relevance to clinical disease presentation.
- Identify distinguishing features of typical and atypical coccidioidomycosis presentations to improve diagnostic accuracy.
- Evaluate diagnostic strategies, including serologic, culture, radiographic, and histopathologic methods for confirming coccidioidomycosis.
- Develop appropriate management plans for pulmonary and disseminated cases, including in pregnant patients.
- Review pharmacological options for coccidioidomycosis.
- Identify regional epidemiology and high-risk populations to improve early detection and referral practices
Target Audience: This free educational event is geared to meet the educational requirements of physicians and other health care providers in Kern County or areas affected by coccidioidomycosis.
Accreditation Statement: This event has been planned and implemented in agreement with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through Kern Medical Center. Kern Medical Center is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for healthcare providers.
Credit designation: Kern Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM.
Disclosures: This activity is supported by an educational grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). None of the planners for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies who primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Cultural Competency & Implicit Bias: Continuing medical education (CME) providers are required by state Assembly Bills 1195 and 241 to include components that address cultural and linguistic competency and implicit bias in CME activities.
Cultural Competency means a set of integrated attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enable a health care professional or organization to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities. Linguistic competency means the ability of a physician and surgeon to provide patients who do not speak English or who have limited ability to speak English, direct communication in the patient's primary language. Click to Read AB-1195
Implicit Bias, meaning the attitudes or internalized stereotypes that affect our perceptions, actions, and decisions unconsciously, exists and often contributes to unequal treatment of people based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, and other characteristics. Implicit bias contributes to health disparities by affecting the behavior of physicians and surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, and other healing arts licensees. Click to Read AB-1195.
Organized by:
Kern Medical Foundation and Valley Fever Institute at Kern Medical