Fri., Nov. 6, 2026
8:30am – 11:30am (Lecture)
Room TBD
Speakers: Betsy Vazquez-Aradio, Gale Burstein, MD, MPH, and Arthur Weissman, MD

Recommended for: Everyone

STRESS RELIEF THROUGH MINDFULNESS FOR DENTAL PROFESSIONALS

Speaker: Betsy Vazquez-Aradio
8:30am – 9:30am

This course provides practical, evidence‑based strategies to reduce stress and improve focus in busy dental settings. Participants will learn quick, effective mindfulness techniques they can use chairside and between patients to support well‑being and enhance patient interactions.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the benefits of mindfulness including its impact on stress reduction.
• Explain how mindfulness supports emotional regulation in clinical environments.
• Apply simple mindfulness techniques to reduce stress during the workday.
• Use brief breathing, grounding, or body-awareness tools to stay centered during challenging moments.

Betsy Vazquez-Aradio is a Public Health Educator with the Erie County Department of Health’s Office of Health Equity. She holds a BS from Rutgers University and is trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through Brown University’s School of Professional Studies, along with a mindfulness certification from YogaRenew. She is a certified peer leader in chronic disease, chronic pain, and diabetes self-management programs, and a trained educator in Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid. Betsy is passionate about making mindfulness simple, accessible, and practical for everyday life to help community members reduce stress and support overall well-being.

STIs AND ORAL HEALTH

Speaker: Gale Burstein, MD, MPH
9:30am – 10:30am

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the most commonly reported communicable diseases. Although most people assume that STIs involve genital infections, common STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) can be transmitted through oral sexual contact. More than 85% of sexually active adults aged 18-44 years and 41% of teenagers aged 15-19 years report oral sex with an opposite sex partner. Dentists are most experienced with the oral exam to make an STI diagnosis. In this session, oral STI epidemiology, clinical presentation, testing and treatment will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the clinical presentation of 3 oral STIs.
• Explain how to test for and treat 3 oral STIs.
• Describe possible adverse outcomes of 3 oral STIs.

Gale Burstein, MD, MPH, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine, is the Erie County (NY) Commissioner of Health and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine in Buffalo, NY.

Dr. Burstein received her BS from Union College in Schenectady, NY; an MD from the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine in Buffalo, NY; completed a pediatric residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH; received her Adolescent Medicine fellowship at the University of Maryland; and, completed a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) STD Prevention fellowship and a Master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. As a CDC Medical Officer, she worked on adolescent STI prevention programs, policy, and guidelines and directed the first national rapid HIV testing surveillance program.

CANNABIS: OVERVIEW AND UPDATE

Speaker: Arthur Weissman, MD
10:30am – 11:30am

This presentation provides an overview and update of the history, regulatory climate, epidemiology, and pharmacology of cannabis and cannabinoid products, focusing on clinical indications, side effects, toxicity, liability, and cannabis use disorder.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the pharmacology of cannabis and cannabinoids.
• Discuss the four evidence-based indications for cannabis and cannabinoids.
• Discuss risks of cannabis and cannabinoids.
• Understand and apply this information for dental patients.

Arthur Weissman, MD is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo (BFA, MD, and general surgery residency) and is board-certified in general surgery and addiction medicine. He is an assistant professor in the department of family medicine at SUNY Buffalo, where he runs an elective for 3rd and 4th-year medical students and is the program director for the addiction medicine fellowship. He is a staff physician at the DART methadone program, Endeavor Health Services, and the Erie County Medical Center. His publications include book chapters in the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) textbooks Essentials of Addiction Medicine and Principles of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Burstein, Dr. Weissman, and Ms. Vazquez-Aradio (or an immediate family member) are not associated with, employed by, nor consult for any manufacturer, supplier, or retailer of dental instruments or materials.

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Office of Alumni Relations and Professional Engagement designates this activity for 3 continuing education credits.