The Arizona Pediatric Psychiatry Access Line is proud to partner with the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
The partnership between the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AzAAP) and the Arizona Pediatric Psychiatry Access Line (APAL) aims to enhance pediatric mental health care by providing Arizona pediatricians with direct access to psychiatric consultations and resources. This collaboration ensures that pediatric providers receive timely support and guidance for managing mental health concerns in children and adolescents. Together, AzAAP and APAL are committed to improving the overall mental health outcomes for Arizona's youth.
The presentation will review developmental aspects of substance use and exposure. Dr. Raymond Bunch will discuss neurodevelopmental contributors and biopsychosocial risks. The session will conclude with a review of medication-assisted treatment and psychotherapeutic modalities.
At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:
- Screen and diagnosis substance use in the pediatric population
- Utilize medication-assisted treatment in the pediatric population
- Examine psychosocial interventions to address substance use disorders
Dr. Bunch and Dr. Yoblonski have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. AzAAP gratefully acknowledges financial support for this ECHO series from the University of Arizona Department of Psychiatry.
ECHO FACILITATOR: Lara Yoblonski, MD, FAAP, MPH, Pediatrician, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, AzAAP Emotional and Behavioral Health Committee Chair
Dr. Yoblonski has worked at Phoenix Childrens Hospital in the Homeless Youth Outreach program and the Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing for the past eleven years. She currently works with homeless youth and families, foster children and youth, and survivors of sex trafficking. Trauma informed care is an area of interest due to the patients she works with. She has been working with the AzAAP Emotional and Behavioral Health Committee for the past two years.
ECHO EXPERT FACULTY: Raymond Bunch, MD, FASAM, Child & Adolescent and Addiction Psychiatry, Phoenix Children's Hospital
Dr. Bunch completed school of medicine, residency training in psychiatry, fellowships in child & adolescent psychiatry and addiction psychiatry at the University of Colorado and Health Sciences center. Since 2006, he has worked clinically and taught pediatric and psychiatric residents, medical students, and fellows during rotations in consultation liaison, inpatient psychiatry, and in various ambulatory settings such as homeless clinics. This has involved students from Banner, Maricopa, University of Arizona, Mayo Clinic and Creighton School of Medicine, as well as pediatric residents from Phoenix Children’s. He assisted and continues to assist with the successful launch of the Child Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship and development of the addiction component. He has expanded his interest into addictions and has assisted staff at UMOM, emergency room physicians, and adolescent medicine physicians in establishing and increasing services in the homeless setting.
His research experience is primarily in substance abuse, where he developed his honors thesis in undergraduate concerning the molecular biology of cigarette smoking and subsequently helped develop a study concerning physician advice and nicotine use in the pediatric population. In August, a trial was approved by our IRB concerning: Phoenix Children’s IRB # IRB-23-418: Substance Use and Problematic Electronic Use and Referral to Treatment in Patients Evaluated for Danger to Self and/or Suicidality in the Emergency Department. He most recently presented for PALS (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones).
October 9, 2024 – Dr. Catherine Riley – ADHD: Evaluation, Management, and Resources
This presentation will review criteria for ADHD along with screening and evaluation tools to assist with diagnosis. Discussion of comorbid conditions with case examples will help participants recognize and distinguish ADHD from other possible diagnoses. Recognizing comorbid conditions will also guide discussion about management and resources. 504 plans will be reviewed and discussed. Tools to assist families advocate with schools and resources will also be provided.
At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:
Indicate how to use and score Vanderbilt ADHD rating scales to evaluate for possible ADHD
Recognize possible comorbid conditions that can go along with ADHD
Identify accommodations and use of 504 plans at school for students with ADHD
Dr. Riley and Dr. Yoblonski have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. AzAAP gratefully acknowledges financial support for this ECHO series from the University of Arizona Department of Psychiatry.
ECHO EXPERT FACULTY: Catherine Riley, MD, FAAP, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician, Banner – University Medical Center Tucson
Dr. Catherine Riley is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona, Department of Pediatrics. She holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University, a master's degree in education from Western Maryland College, and a doctoral degree from Mayo Medical School. She completed a fellowship in developmental behavioral pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
She has been here in Arizona for 8 years. She teaches in the UA Medical School in both the basic science and the clinical medical curricula. The majority of her time is spent clinically evaluating and diagnosing children with developmental and behavioral concerns. Dr. Riley is the program director for the Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Fellowship. She is a member of the board, along with being the leader of the professional advisory committee for the Autism Society of Southern Arizona. Dr. Riley also serves as the Medical Director for Early Brain and Child Development Section of the AzAAP and chairs the Developmental Screening Committee.
ECHO FACILITATOR: Lara Yoblonski, MD, FAAP, MPH, Pediatrician, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, AzAAP Emotional and Behavioral Health Committee Chair
Dr. Yoblonski has worked at Phoenix Childrens Hospital in the Homeless Youth Outreach program and the Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing for the past eleven years. She currently works with homeless youth and families, foster children and youth, and survivors of sex trafficking. Trauma informed care is an area of interest due to the patients she works with. She has been working with the AzAAP Emotional and Behavioral Health Committee for the past two years.
September 11, – 2024 Dr. Michael Dobbs – Adolescent Suicide Screening: Clinical Updates
Suicide is a leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults. The majority of adolescents who die from suicide had contact with a medical provider in the weeks leading up to their death, and the populations at greatest risk might not be readily apparent. During this discussion, Dr. Michael Dobbs will provide examples of a rapid suicide screen, describe how to perform a Brief Suicide Safety Assessment (BSSA) and how to determine the disposition and clinical follow up for a patient with a positive screen.
By the end of the discussion, providers should have the ability to begin implementing suicide screening in their clinical practice and be familiar with online resources for further information.
At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:
Recognize when to screen an adolescent for suicide risk
Successfully complete a suicide screening
Perform a brief suicide safety assessment (BSSA)
Assess follow-up options for adolescents with a positive suicide screen
Dr. Dobbs and Dr. Yoblonski have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. AzAAP gratefully acknowledges financial support for this ECHO series from the University of Arizona Department of Psychiatry.
ECHO FACILITATOR: Lara Yoblonski, MD, FAAP, MPH, Pediatrician, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, AzAAP Emotional and Behavioral Health Committee Chair
Dr. Yoblonski has worked at Phoenix Childrens Hospital in the Homeless Youth Outreach program and the Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing for the past eleven years. She currently works with homeless youth and families, foster children and youth, and survivors of sex trafficking. Trauma informed care is an area of interest due to the patients she works with. She has been working with the AzAAP Emotional and Behavioral Health Committee for the past two years.
ECHO EXPERT FACULTY: Michael Dobbs, MD, Adolescent Medicine Valleywise Health
Michael Dobbs completed his undergraduate studies and MD at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He completed his residency in General Pediatrics and fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He is Board-Certified in both Adolescent Medicine and General Pediatrics. Dr. Dobbs has worked for over a decade at Valleywise Health, working with adolescents and young adults, primarily from a low-income background. He has also served as an Associate Program Director for the Phoenix Children's Pediatric Residency Alliance and works extensively with residents and other learners. Dr. Dobbs’ areas of clinical focus include general adolescent health, sports medicine, endocrinology/diabetes prevention, reproductive health, HIV/STI and pregnancy prevention with special attention to the needs of LGBTQ youth.
Through ongoing monthly sessions, Project ECHO: Building Primary Care Providers' Capacity to Address Pediatric Emotional and Behavioral Health provides pediatric health professionals with a platform to connect with child and adolescent psychiatrists and other PCPs in their community. The goal of the series is to equip learners with knowledge, skills, practice, and attitudes to better screen, identify, and treat a child themselves or to know when to refer the child to another specialist.
Upcoming ECHO Sessions
At the conclusion of the series, learners will be able to:
Address the basic mental health concerns of their pediatric patients through evidenced-based interventions.
Apply principles learned in the series to develop a treatment plan for patients with mental health diagnoses.
Identify when patients with mental health concerns require a higher level of care or expertise.
Assess pediatric patients for suicide risk and engage parents/guardians in safeguarding their home to mitigate risk of suicide.