Day 1: Primary Care: At the Forefront of Our Youth Mental Health Crisis  
Agenda: Monday, May 12, 2025
 
8:00 a.m.    Breakfast
Mt. Princeton
 
8:30 a.m.    Welcoming Remarks
Mt. Princeton 
Welcoming Remarks: Dr. K. Ron-Li Liaw, MD, Mental Health In-Chief, CHCO

8:40 a.m.    On the Forefront of Colorado's Youth Mental Health Crisis: The Promise of Primary Care

Mt. Princeton
Presenter: Dr. Lalit Bajaj, MD, Chief Quality Officer, CHCO

This keynote presentation will highlight the possibility and promise of addressing behavioral health in pediatric primary care. While the process of treating behavioral health in primary care can be challenging from cultural, financial and operational standpoints, the promise of broad-based prevention makes it worthwhile. Dr. Bajaj, who has dedicated his career to helping bridge gaps between primary care and emergency medicine, will launch the conference by addressing not only the “why” of treating behavioral health in primary care but also inspiring participants of its possibility.  
 
9:00 a.m.    Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care: Lessons from the Field and Choices on the Horizon  

Mt. Princeton

Co-Presenters: Sandra Fritsch, MD, Professor, Psychiatry, CU Anschutz and Jamie Winter, PMHI Director of Patient Care Services, CHCO  

Recently, a team from CHCO’s Pediatric Mental Health Institute (PMHI) visited a number of primary care practices to better understand day-to-day challenges and opportunities in advancing behavioral health in primary care.  The array of models that are currently utilized in Colorado represents a continuum of choices and practice decisions. Dr. Fritsch and Ms. Winter will share findings from these site visits, distill key lessons learned and share options practices may consider for changes in billing, parity and other legislative trends. 

9:40 a.m.  Break  
 
10:00 a.m.      Q&A: The ART of Screening and Assessment: Annual Screenings from Age Three   
Mt. Princeton
Moderator: David Keller, MD, Medical Director of Primary Care, CHCO

Presenter: Dr. Brian Pitts, MD, Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz, and Kaitlin Whelan, MD, Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz

The availability of screening tools for behavioral health conditions suggests there is a science to screening. This workshop will give an overview of the evidence-based screening tools for depression, anxiety, suicide and other conditions. Woven in is this art to practice, focusing on how practitioners (clinicians and others) enter conversations, secure candid patient answers and take actionable next steps.    
 
11:15 a.m.    Break

11:30 a.m.        Primary Care Crisis Services and Escalation Pathways  
Mt. Princeton   
Presenter: Dr. Beau Carubia, MD, Associate Professor, CU Anschutz

This session will provide a comprehensive review of treating imminent risk behavioral health patients and will review common diagnoses that can readily escalate including aggression, bipolar, conduct disorder and suicidality.  Dr. Carubia will discuss approaches providers can take and decrease utilization of escalation pathway and community resources available for those in need.
 
12:30 p.m.    Lunch
Mt. Princeton

1:30 pm.   High Impact Brief Behavioral Health Interventions for ADHD and Disruptive Behaviors
Mt. Princeton
Co-Presenters: Dr. Jessica Hawks,  PhD, Associate Professor, CU Anschutz, and Dr. Anne Penner, MD, Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz

ADHD and disruptive behaviors are some of the most common childhood mental health concerns seen by primary care providers. Fortunately, there are brief and effective interventions for this patient population that can be implemented in a primary care setting. This session will highlight screening tools used to accurately identify ADHD and/or behavioral concerns and describe evidence-based brief behavioral interventions and pharmacological treatments that can be used to treat these youth. Common questions and concerns raised by parents will be discussed and suggestions will be provided regarding how to best respond. This presentation will end with a description of resources and referral information that can be accessed to provide ongoing support to these patients, including effective partnership with schools.

2:30 pm.  Brief Behavioral Health Interventions and Medication Management for Anxiety 
                 Mt. Princeton
                  Moderator: Dr. Bruno Anthony, PhD, Professor, CU Anschutz, Chief of Psychology, PMHI and PCMH
                  Co-Presenters: Dr. Ben Mullin, PhD, Associate Professor, CU Anschutz, and Dr. Jooyoung Lee, MD, Sr. Instructor, CU Anschutz

Primary care providers have a range of choices in the direct and immediate treatment of mild and moderate anxiety. Today, many providers are trying “single session” or brief interventions for lower levels of acuity. We will explore what pediatricians can do to manage patients with a specified behavioral health diagnosis and highlight ways to incorporate psychosocial and pharmacological interventions in current practice. The session will also include discussion of screening and monitoring measures, the evidence behind brief interventions for anxiety and guidance that pediatricians can provide for parents of anxious children. 
 
3:30 p.m.    Break

3:45 p.m.          Neurodivergent Patients in Primary Care
                            Mt. Princeton 
                           Co-Presenters: Elizabeth Coan, PsyD, Assistant Professor, Director, PCN Autism Program, Developmental Pediatrics and Abigail Angulo, MD, Associate Professor, Medical Director, PCN Autism Program, Developmental Pediatrics

The prevalence rate of autism has grown exponentially over the past several decades (317% since the year 2000), and as such, it is the world’s fastest growing developmental difference. Consequently, developmental specialists are far outnumbered by the ever-growing need for evaluation and diagnostic identification, which is necessary not only for valuable service provision, but also for accurate and compassionate identity and advocacy development for neurodivergent patients and families. Join us for a discussion of the current climate related to autism evaluation, treatment, and identity, and how primary care providers across specialties play an ever-growing role in providing efficient and neuro-affirming care.   
 

4:30 p.m.    End of Session/Walk over to Happy Hour
5:00 p.m.    Happy Hour: Networking Opportunity 
Faculty Club, Benson Hotel
 
Day 2: Pediatric Behavioral Health: Extending Specialty Care to Primary Care / Education and Resource Navigation in Colorado
Agenda: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
 
8:00 a.m.           Breakfast
Mt. Columbia
 
8:30 a.m.    Welcoming Remarks: Day 2 

Mt. Oxford 
Dr. K. Ron-Li Liaw, MD, Mental Health In-Chief, CHCO, and Katie Denman, MBA, Vice President, Service Line, PMHI, CHCO 

8:45 a.m.    Lessons from Primary Care: Strategies for Behavioral Health Clinic Culture Shift 
Mt. Oxford 
Co-Presenters: Dr. Cecile Fraley, MD, CEO, Pediatric Partners of the Southwest, and Dr. Sarah Humphreys, MD, Sapphire Pediatrics

Introducing new elements to current workflows – anything from depression screening to bringing in a licensed therapist for an immediate consult– requires both operational and cultural shifts for any practice. When behavioral health elements fail in a practice setting, practice culture and norms are often to blame. This panel discussion with local practitioners will share triumphs, failures and “lessons learned” from their work in treating behavioral health in their clinics.

10:00 a.m.    Break
 

Breakout Sessions:
10:15 a.m.          Clinically Addressing Patient Aggression in Primary Care
                         Mt. Princeton

                       A session that highlights de-escalation techniques, and how to conduct discussions with parents about how to best manage these aggression episodes at home and in clinic
                       

 Schools: A Connection with Primary Care
Mt. Harvard 

Co-Presenters: Dr. Lauren Henry, Psychologist, PMHI, and Dr. Lauren Eckhart, PsyD, Clinical Director of Colorado Springs Division
This session will explore best practices in collaborating effectively with families and schools. Topics include the types of behavioral health providers in schools, the role of pediatrics in support plans (504s, IEPs), psychiatric medications and behavioral health services delivered in schools.  

10:40 a.m.    Break

11:30 a.m.       Lunch & Learn

Legislative Update: What is Happening at the Capitol  

Mt. Princeton          

Co-Presenters: Elizabeth Freudenthal, PhD, Senior Medicaid Consultant, CHCO and Ayelet Talmi, PhD, Professor, Psychiatry – Harris Program and Director, Section of Integrated Behavioral Health, CHCO  

Dr. Freudenthal has been an integral in helping create Medicaid initiatives for primary care practices and developing strategies for clinics to better incorporate mental health into their practices and receive financial compensation. We will go over her work with Medicaid and her current focus on advocating for your practice to optimize reimbursement and financial sustainability. Dr. Talmi brings her years of experience in integrated mental health to this conversation along with several programs like CLIMB and HealthySteps, sharing innovative strategies and lessons learned.

12:45 p.m.         Brief Behavioral Health Interventions for Depression 
                        Mt. Princeton
                        Co-Presenters: Dr. Marissa Nunes Moreno, PhD, Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz, and Dr. Melissa Batt, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz 

                        Pediatric primary care providers are often at the forefront of identifying mood-related challenges in children and adolescents. Our session will equip you with practical techniques for assessing depression and other mood disorders, developing a comprehensive differential diagnosis and identifying when to refer for behavioral healthcare services. We will recommend when to initiate medication for depression during the critical bridge period between services and when to avoid prescribing antidepressants for children at risk for developing bipolar disorder. We will also provide you with actionable behavioral health strategies to integrate into your practice designed to boost patient motivation and start alleviating depressive symptoms.
 
2:00 p.m.    Break
 
2:15 p.m.    Tea Time Patients on Your Mind
Mt. Princeton

• Neurodiverse Populations: Elizabeth Coan, PsyD, Assistant Professor, Director, PCN Autism Program, Developmental Pediatrics, and Abigail Angulo, MD, Associate Professor, Medical Director, PCN Autism Program, Developmental Pediatrics 

• Systems Transformation: Thinking Big:  K. Ron-Li Liaw, MD, Mental Health In-Chief, CHCO and Katie Denman, MBA, Vice President, Service Line, PMHI, CHCO 

• Suicide Screening in Primary Care: Brian Pitts, Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz and Beau Carubia, MD, Associate Professor, CU Anschutz  

• Depression: Marissa Nunes-Moreno, PhD, Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz, and Melissa Batt, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz  

• Schools: Lauren Henry, PhD, Psychologist, PMHI, and Lauren Eckhart, PsyD, Clinical Director of PMHI - Colorado Springs Division  

• Anxiety: Ben Mullin, PhD, Associate Professor, CU Anschutz, and Jooyoung Lee, MD, Sr. Instructor, CU Anschutz  

Join your PMHI colleagues to discuss specific questions or cases that are on your mind. We will not leave until your questions are answered... stay for tea and leave with actionable plans to treat the patients and families in your practice.   

 While brief interventions may work for some patients, others need referrals to specialists and subspecialists. Providers are often faced with “managing in the meantime” because referrals can take weeks or months before a bed opens or an appointment is available. The expert ‘tea-time’ roundtable will focus on when and where referrals are most appropriate and explore the opportunity to ask and learn about the tools and techniques to manage patients during this waiting period.  

CHCO and other medical care centers offer many specialty and subspecialty programs and services. This session will profile the inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs available to kids and families in Colorado and throughout our region, Epic referral tools and referral pathways and partnerships offered by CHCO and across the state.  

3:30 p.m.    Closing Comments

Mt. Princeton
Dr. K. Ron-Li Liaw, MD, Mental Health In-Chief, CHCO

3:45 p.m.    Adjourn