10th Annual Antimicrobial Stewardship Symposium

Planning Ahead for Your Day of Learning

Q: When will I receive logistical information for the Symposium?
A. Logistics will be emailed to all registrants about a week in advance of the Symposium. If you've registered but haven't received logistics by that time, please email pharmacyce@belmont.edu. 

Q. Where can I find my personalized itinerary for the day, including the roundtables I signed up for?
A. Your personalized itinerary for the Symposium, including the roundtables you signed up for, can be found in your eeds LMS account.

• login to https://www.eeds.com
• click "Symposium" on the left-side menu
• select "10th Annual Mid TN Antimicrobial Stewardship Symposium"
• click "get pdf of full itenerary" to the right & above "My Itinerary" on the right side of the page. 

Q: Is there a dress code?
A: There is no dress code. However, business casual is the most appropriate attire. You may want to wear layers, as the conference area may be cooler or warmer than you prefer.

Q: Will a lactation room be available for nursing mothers?
A: Yes. If a lactation room is needed, please note this need when you register in advance to attend. A member of the Planning Committee will contact you several days in advance to provide you with more details. 

Q: Where is the Symposium located?
A. The 10th Annual Middle Tennessee Antimicrobial Stewardship Symposium will be held on the campus of Belmont University in the Thomas F. Frist, Jr., College of Medicine on the 2nd floor. If driving your own vehicle, navigate to 1314 Acklen Avenue to enter the parking garage. If ride-sharing, navigate to 1400 Acklen Avenue to be dropped at the front door.

Q: Where do I park?
A: If you're driving your own vehicle, free parking is available under the building and is accessible from the driveway at 1314 Acklen Avenue. 

Q: When does check-in begin?
A: Check-in for exhibitors begins at 6:45am (Central). Check-in for speakers & learners begins at 7:15am (Central)

Q: Will food be served?
A: Yes, food & beverages will be provided throughout the day for breakfast, morning snacks, and lunch. If you have dietary restrictions that must be accommodated, please note them when you register in advance to attend. We will work with our caterer to accommodate your needs as best as possible.

Q: Will a photographer be on site?
A: Yes, a photographer from Belmont University will be on site. By participating in this Symposium, you grant Belmont University permission to take photographs and/or videos including your image and voice. All such photographs and video footage are the property of Belmont University and may be used for promotional purposes. You agree to release Belmont Univesity from any claims arising out of the use of the photographs and/or video.

Presentations/Handouts

Q. Can I receive a copy of the slide presentations?
A. Yes. Handouts for each session will be provided electronically and can be accessed (downloaded/printed) from this webpage approximately one week before the Symposium. No hard copy handouts will be provided the day of the Symposium. 

Q. Will a program booklet or meeting materials be provided on-site?
A. Yes. A limited number of program booklets will be available on-site, as well as on this webpage several days prior to the Symposium. Program materials will also be available electronically prior to the meeting for your review and/or download.

Accreditation

Q. How & when will I receive my physician or nurse ACCME credits from the Symposium?  
A. You will receive an email with instructions on how to claim ACCME credits the week of May 4. Statements of completion will be issued via email from Tennessee Medical Association upon successful completion of the evaluation.

Q. How & when will I receive my pharmacist ACPE credits from the Symposium?  
A. Instructions for claiming your CE credit will be emailed the week of May 4, and the CE credits are posted to CPE Monitor approximately 1 week after the program evaluation due date closes (normally 3-4 weeks post-meeting).

• At the end of each session, a code will be displayed for pharmacists. Write down this code, as it will be needed for completing the evaluation & post-test, and it will not be shared at a later time.
•  The required evaluations & post-tests must be completed for CPE credit to be sent to CPE Monitor.
• Credit will be posted using your NABP ePID & date of birth (DOB), as provided in the registration system. Be sure this information is correct in the eeds registration system. If you have questions, please email pharmacyce@belmont.edu for assistance.

Q. How will I gain access to the credit process to claim my BCIDP credit/s. 
A. You will receive an email with instructions on how to claim BCIDP credits the week of May 4.

Q. What are the BCIDP Fees?
A. BCIDP credit is a separate fee in addition to meeting registration. BCIDP fees are payable online when completing the BCIDP credit process.

Abstracts & Posters

Q. What is the word limit for the abstract?
A. Character count is 500 for all content entered for Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions, and all spaces. No pictures, figures, tables, or diagrams are allowed in the abstract submission.

Q. What is the poster size and/or format requirement?
A: Posters will be presented electronically; therefore, there is no size or format requirement. We do ask that you send the final version in PDF format to pharmacyce@belmont.edu no later than 1 week prior to the Symposium for back-up purposes. If you will need a laptop to use for the Poster Presentation, please let the Planning Committee know when you send us the PDF copy of your poster.

Q. How will posters be presented?
A. Posters will be presented electronically. If you are presenting a poster, we will have a limited number of laptops on-site for use. However, we recommend that you bring your own laptop for greater reliance.

General Questions

If you have questions not answered here, please contact pharmacyce@belmont.edu. 

Hotels & Accommodations

Should you be in need of lodging for the Symposium, Belmont has a number of partnerships with local hotels, most if not all offer Belmont discounted rates. The closest in proximity to Belmont can be found in West End/Midtown, Downtown, and Green Hills. Ask for the Belmont University rate when making your reservation at one of these partner hotels!

We have secured a block of rooms at Homewood Suites by Hilton in the Gulch/Downtown area. If you choose to stay here, please use this link when booking in order to receive the discounted rate.

Directions to Belmont University & the Symposium conference center

Navigate to 1314 Acklen Ave., Nashville TN 37212.

Click here for a map of the Belmont campus.  

1. The Symposium is held in the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine (building #9 on PDF version of campus map).
2. Free parking is available in the Frist Parking Garage (P12 on PDF version of map) located underneath the building with elevator access to the interior. 

Lectures

1. Controversies in Candidemia - Mary Joyce Wingler, PharmD, BCIDP, Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist, University of Mississippi Medical Center

   This presentation will walk through the history of the guidelines and randomized controlled trials for the available antifungal options for candidemias to compare outcomes with the goal of identifying appropriate agents for empiric therapy. Toward the end of the presentation, the focus will narrow on appropriate dosing based on species identified and patient weight and appropriate selection in the setting of rising rates of Candida auris across the Southeast.
   
   
2. Updates in the Treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (BCIDP & ACPE credit available) - Megan Klatt, PharmD, BCIDP, DPLA, Infectious Diseases/ASP Pharmacist, University of Kansas Medical Center
   
   This presentation will review new recommendations for the treatment of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB as outlined in the ATS/CDC/ERS/IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline: Updates on the Treatment of Drug-Susceptible and Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis. The majority of the presentation will focus on the rationale to treat drug-susceptible TB with a 4-month rifapentine-moxifloxacin-based regimen and practical application of this regimen in different clinical scenarios.
   
   
3. The Professional Eras Tour - Monica V. Mahoney, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, FCCP, FIDSA, FIDP, FMSHP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Infectious Diseases, Outpatient ID/OPAT Clinics, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
   
   The presenter's own journey and involvement will be used to highlight how one can curate their leadership path throughout their career stages. As this is a leadership talk, less primary literature will be presented, and instead life lessons will be shared.
   
   
4. Strategies for the Future: Navigating the Rise of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Vaccine Hesitancy - Mary-Margaret A. Fill, MD, MPH, Interim State Epidemiologist; Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Tennessee Department of Health
   
   This session will explore the evolving landscape of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, highlighting recent trends in disease resurgence and the growing challenge of vaccine hesitancy. We will examine the underlying drivers of these changes, including misinformation and policy shifts, and discuss evidence-based strategies for pharmacists, clinicians and other clinical / public health professionals to improve immunization coverage and mitigate vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. Practical approaches for trusted data sources, communication, education, and future preparedness will be emphasized to equip attendees with actionable tools for navigating these challenges.

Posters

1. Oral Beta-lactam (BL) Versus Fluoroquinolone (FQ) or Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim (SMX-TMP) in Uncomplicated Gram-Negative Bacteremia (uGNB)
   Institution: Williamson Medical Center 
2. Economic Burden of Unnecessary Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing in Tennessee, 2022
   Institution: Tennessee Department of Health
3. Statewide Evaluation of CDC Priority Core Elements and NHSN SAAR Performance
   Institution: Tennessee Department of Health
4. Safety and feasibility of extended-course oral linezolid therapy in the outpatient setting: five-year experience of a COpAT program
   Institution: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
5. Bugs, Barriers, and Burden: Evaluation of the Correlation Between Antimicrobial Resistance and Social Determinants of Health in Tennessee
   Belmont University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Panel: Winning Strategies & Missteps: Lessons Learned in Antimicrobial Stewardship

This presentation will include examples and advice from antimicrobial stewardship experts regarding the most effective and least effective interventions for antimicrobial stewardship programs. Speakers will have experience with inpatient and outpatient antimicrobial stewardship programs and will represent multiple areas of training including physician, pharmacy, and nursing. The examples provided will reflect all of these different facility types and specialty areas.

1. OPAT - Monica V. Mahoney, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, FCCP, FIDSA, FIDP, FMSHP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Infectious Diseases, Outpatient ID/OPAT Clinics, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

2. LTAC - Nina Monroe, RN, BSN, Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs, Tennessee Healthcare Association
3. Hospital/Health System - Sharon Onguti, MD, MPH, FACP, Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
4. Academic - Bryan P. White, PharmD, FIDSA, BCIDP, Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist, PGY2 ID Residency Program Director, University of Oklahoma Medical Center; and Clinical Instructor, Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Roundtable Sessions

1. Dialogue & Discussion on the Rise of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Vaccine Hesitancy - Mary-Margaret A. Fill, MD, MPH, Interim State Epidemiologist; Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Tennessee Department of Health
   
   This session will explore the evolving landscape of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, highlighting recent trends in disease resurgence and the growing challenge of vaccine hesitancy. We will examine the underlying drivers of these changes, including misinformation and policy shifts, and discuss evidence-based strategies for pharmacists, clinicians and other clinical / public health professionals to improve immunization coverage and mitigate vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. Practical approaches for trusted data sources, communication, education, and future preparedness will be emphasized to equip attendees with actionable tools for navigating these challenges.
   
   

2. Little Patients, Big Differences: Pediatric PK/PD in Infectious Diseases - Katie Olney, PharmD, BCIDP, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist; Pharmacy Director, Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Program; Program Director, PGY2 Infectious Diseases (Pediatric) Pharmacy Residency, UK HealthCare and Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
   
   This session will review pediatric pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, with an emphasis on how developmental changes in physiology influence drug disposition and response across pediatric age groups. Current literature supporting pediatric dosing strategies, PD targets, and exposure–response relationships will be discussed, including data derived from population PK modeling and therapeutic drug monitoring. Practical examples will highlight how these evidence-based principles can be applied to optimize medication efficacy and safety in pediatric patients.
   
   

3. Rx for You? Rx for Two: Antibiotic Safety in Pregnancy - Kayla R. Stover Hielscher, PharmD.D., BCIDP, BCPS, FCCP, FIDSA, Assistant Dean-Jackson & Professor and Vice Chair of Pharmacy Practice, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, and Program Director, PGY2 Infectious Diseases Residency, University of Mississippi Medical Center
   
   An evidence-based review of antibiotics in pregnancy was published by pharmacist members of the South Eastern Research Group Endeavor (SERGE) in 2015 and updated in 2025. These reviews will be referenced, and used in combination with guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology on treatment of infections in pregnancy (examples may include: asymptomatic bacteriuria, UTI, group B streptococcus) to develop treatment plans for example patient cases.
   
   

4. Building a Business Plan for Antimicrobial Stewardship - Bryan P. White, PharmD, FIDSA, BCIDP, Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist, PGY2 ID Residency Program Director, University of Oklahoma Medical Center; and Clinical Instructor, Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
   
   Data on the varying recommendations and regulations on stewardship staffing will be presented. Best practices for improving business plans in terms of metrics and style will be discussed.
   
   

5. Clinical Decision-Making in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Infections: Navigating Evidence and Uncertainty - Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne, PharmD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky
   
   This interactive roundtable will review current evidence and evolving considerations related to the management of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia complex infections. Discussion will focus on common clinical challenges, interpretation of susceptibility data, and variability in therapeutic decision-making across practice settings. Learners will engage in peer dialogue to identify gaps between current practice and emerging best practices, with emphasis on optimizing antimicrobial stewardship and patient outcomes.
   
   

6. Out with the Old, In with the New: Updated IDSA 2025 Complicated UTI Guidelines - Caren Azurin, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West
   
   This session will discuss new UTI classification, oral antibiotics for gram negative bacteremia secondary to cUTIs, and appropriate duration of therapy from the new guidelines.
   
   

7. Management of Fever and Leukocytosis by the ID Team - Megan Uehling, MD, Infectious Diseases Fellow, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Advisor: Sara Haddad, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
   
   Broad spectrum antibiotics are commonly prescribed in the hospital setting as described above. We will discuss laboratory tests (Staph nasal swab, procalcitonin) and their utility in de-escalating antibiotics in different infectious syndromes. Fever, leukocytosis are common in the hospital setting. Infectious diseases is often consulted to assist with evaluation. We will discuss the noninfectious causes of fever to consider and when blood cultures are recommended.
   
   

8. Storytelling in antimicrobial stewardship: listening better to difficult conversations - Stephen Staggs, MD, MTS, Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Thomas F. Frist, Jr., College of Medicine, Belmont University
   
   Concepts of Aristotle on Ethos, pathos, and logos will be presented and examined through the lenses of Bonhoeffer and Stephen Covey. A philosopher, a theologian, and an educator by “listening’ and classifying beliefs of the patient.
   

1. Register to attend the Symposium.
2. Attend 100% of each presentation for which you are seeking credit.
3. Participate in all active learning segments of each presentation for which you are seeking credit (e.g., worksheets, discussion, assessments)
4. Complete the electronic post-test & post-activity evaluation of each presentation for which you are seeking credit.
5. Instructions for claiming credit/contact hours will be emailed the week after the Symposium.