Project ECHO at Penn State College of Medicine brought primary care providers from across Pennsylvania together this spring for its inaugural Nese Project ECHO "Empowering Rural Primary Care" in-person conference. The full-day event focused on hands-on learning and clinical skills, offering continuing medical education credit.
The conference is part of the Nese Project ECHO series, which typically offers virtual training for rural primary care providers. Committed to improving resources for rural clinicians, Ross and Carol Nese partner with Project ECHO to advance a shared goal: improving access to care in rural and high-need communities.
Applying evidence to patient care
The event opened with interactive case discussions led by Cynthia Chuang, professor of medicine and public health sciences, and Michael McShane, associate professor of medicine, both from Penn State College of Medicine.
Using a case-based format, attendees worked through clinical scenarios. Each case began with a question, followed by a review of current medical evidence. Topics ranged from blood clots and hypertension to heart health risks and research on shingles vaccination and dementia. Discussions focused on practical choices, highlighting how small changes, such as adjusting medication timing, can significantly improve patient outcomes.
