Nose to the Grindstone Weekend + Wednesday (NTG25)
RIOA's flagship CE event features 13 hours of COPE accredited CE via a hybrid mix of in person and remote meeting formats. Get a great start on meeting your CE requirements with us! Register Early & Save!
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The RIOA welcomes you to participate in NTG'25.
For those new to it, it's simple.
Commit one weekend in March towards garnering a very healthy head start on the continuing credits you need for your license renewal. Come the summer and autumn months and you'll be glad to spend an early March weekend with us!
Over the years, NTG attendees have counted on the RIOA CE Committee to identify thoughtful, timely and accredited education in a relaxed setting. Each year is better than the last.
This one will be no different. Actually it will be. We're always looking to improve the NTG experience! A quick reminder - jeans are still encouraged! It's a weekend in March afterall!
The FULL NTG'25 Program includes March 1, 2025 (7 hours in-person), March 2, 2025 (4 hours, remote) and March 5, 2025 (2 hours, remote).
Not interested in all of NTG25 's hours? We understand, sometimes the grind can be too much. NTG'25 is still for you! If you don't want the full NTG experience, you have the option to register the following ways:
- Saturday (In-Person) + Wednesday (remote)
- Sunday (Remote) + Wednesday (remote)
- Wednesday's program only.
** Back in 2025 - Register for the Full NTG'25 Program and earn a 50% off coupon for our year end Holiday CHEER Dinner. ** Can't Make It Wednesday? No worries! The RIOA will send you a $25 RIOA CE Coupon good towards any future 2025 RIOA event!
8:00 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - Morning CE Program Begins
Lecturer: Dr. Carlo Pelino
.... After graduating from PCO, Dr. Pelino did post-graduate residency training at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia. His residency training had an emphasis in ocular disease.
Following residency training, Dr. Pelino joined the clinical faculty at The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where he holds the rank of Assistant Professor. In 2005 Dr. Pelino did a clinical fellowship with Dr. Stephen Sinclair, a highly regarded Vitreo-Retinal Specialist in Delaware County. Dr. Pelino’s fellowship training had and emphasis on medical and surgical management of vitreo-retinal diseases. In addition to caring for patients in the adult primary care service of The Eye Institute, Dr. Pelino also has a referral retinal practice.
Dr. Pelino is a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and a member of the Optometric Retina Society. He lectures extensively in his areas of interest (e.g. internal and external ocular diseases) in both domestic and international programs.
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8:30 a.m. - Morning CE Program Begins
Oral Medications for the Metabolic Syndrome - This course reviews common metabolic diseases, including diabetes mellitus Type 2, Gestational diabetes mellitus GDM, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and Alzheimer disease. This course will describe recent updates in treatment guidelines and side effects associated with medications used in these diseases. Patient cases will be integrated into the presentation, where differential diagnosis and work-up will be discussed. (Pelino, 90621-PH, 2 hours)
A.M. BREAK
Normal Tension Glaucoma Thoughts, Time, Testing and Treatment - This course will describe the possible etiologies of normal tension glaucoma. It will review all treatment options and analyze the systemic testing that is needed to rule out other diagnoses. This course will also emphasize clinical points through cased based learning. (Pelino, 90622-GL, 1 hour)
EXTENDED LUNCH W/ RIOA PODIUM
Diagnosing, Management and Treatment of Secondary Open Angle Glaucoma- This course will review the secondary open angle glaucoma categories. It will review traumatic, pseudoexfoliative, neovascular and pigmentary glaucoma along with proper treatment, testing and management (Pelino, 93467-GL, 1 hour)
AP Combating the Diabetes Epidemic: Concomitant Conditions in the Formation of Diabetic Retinopathy - This course will review the metabolic syndrome (diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and obesity). It will review the stages of diabetic retinopathy, the current definitions of macular edema, recent updates in treatment guidelines and follow up protocols. Concomitant systemic conditions that aid in the formation and exacerbation of diabetic retinopathy will be highlighted and covered in this lecture. Patient cases will be integrated into the presentation where differential diagnosis and work up will be discussed. (Pelino, 93623-SD, 1 hour)
Tentative - Afternoon Break and Exhibit Time
The Systemic Benefits of Cataract Surgery - This course reviews the research and literature on the systemic benefits of cataract surgery. The course will review the neuroanatomy pathways responsible for vision, the pupillary light reflex, the accommodative response and the circadian rhythm. The hypothalamic, epithalamus, spinal cord, hippocampus and adrenal gland anatomy will be highlighted. The course will conclude with why cataract surgery has an effect on longevity and health span. (Pelino, 95808-SD, 1 hour)
Opioid and Endocannabinoid Education - Prescribing for Pain: Optometry - This course will provide the optometrist with the information needed in prescribing opioid medications/cannabinoids safely in their office. It will review anatomical pain pathways, opioid/endocannabinoid receptor types, categories of prescribed narcotics and clinical correlates. A review of the limbic system and the definitions of tolerance and addiction will also be included. This lecture will also stress the etiology of the opioid drug epidemic and will review the treatment options of opioid overdose. (Pelino, 95799-PH, 1 hour)
To register for Wednesday-only, click here to visit that page.
JOIN US AFTER THE DAY'S CE - Details TBA
Coming in from out of town?
Click here for a listing of hotels are in the area.
March 2, 2025 - Remote, Zoom Meeting (4 hours)
** Sunday Registrants will receive login credentials no later than Friday, February 28, 2025. A second email will be sent one hour prior to the start of the program.
7:55 a.m. – Login to Zoom Platform
8:00 a.m. – Brief Affiliate Updates & Introductions
8:10 a.m. - Education Program Begins
Lecturer: Dr. Blair Lonsberry
Top 10 Medications and Their Ocular Side Effects - Patients present taking a variety of medications, both topical and systemic. This interactive presentation will review the top 10 medications patients take and review the ocular side effects that can occur. (Lonsberry, 93273-PH, 1 hour)
Coffee Break – Affiliate News and Reports
Systemic Diseases and Glaucoma - This course explores the relationship between the most common systemic conditions that appear to influence the onset and progression of glaucoma including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, sleep apnea, and neurodegenerative diseases. The medications used in the treatment of systemic disease can also influence a patient in developing or being protected from developing glaucoma. (Lonsberry, 95810-GL, 2 hours)
Coffee Break – Affiliate News and Reports
Uveitis: Systemic and Ocular Approaches to Management - Diagnosing and managing a patient with a uveitis is much like finding a needle in a haystack. The various presentations of uveitis, combined with the numerous underlying etiologies, makes the diagnosis and ultimate treatment of the patient a clinical jigsaw puzzle. This presentation utilizes the latest in interactive technology to examine common presentations of a patient with uveitis including sarcoid, HLA-B27 and certain infectious etiologies. Diagnosis, management and an exploration of common etiologies that underlie uveitis will also be discussed. (Lonsberry, 93253-SD, 1 hour)
To register for Wednesday-only, click here to visit that page.
March 5, 2025 - Remote, Zoom Meeting (2 hours)
INCLUDED WITH YOUR FULL NTG 2025 REGISTRATION
** Wednesday Registrants will receive login credentials on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. A second email will be sent one hour prior to te start of the program.
6:30 p.m. - RIOA General Membership Meeting
7:00 p.m. - CE Program Begins
COURSE TBA - This course will provide the optometrist with..... ( COPE Accreditation Pending, 2 hour)
** BACK IN 2025 - Register for the Full NTG'25 Program and earn a 50% off coupon for our year end Holiday CHEER Dinner.
Can't Make It Wednesday? No worries! The RIOA will send you a $25 RIOA CE Coupon good towards any future 2025 RIOA event!
| Member Rate | FULL Program | Saturday + Wednesday | Sunday + Wednesday | |
| Early Registration | January 2025 | $280 | $180.00 | $140.00 |
| "Still Early" Standard Registration | Feb1 - Feb. 22, 2025 | $315 | $225.00 | $175.00 |
| Late Standard Registration | Feb 23>>> Start of Program | $360 | $247.50 | $192.50 |
** Non-members welcomed and encouraged to attend. Thank you for supporting RIOA CE Programs!
** Full NTG '25, Saturday Only and Sunday Only includes Wednesday night's Remote Program
Looking to register for the Wednesday program only? You can do so by clicking here.
Contact - Tim Bonin