LIVE & VIRTUAL OPTIONS  |  55 CME Credits

Learn more about the course faculty and each module below, or download the course outline. The first two modules are available in the course portal (hosted July 13, 2024). The two days hosted in Vancouver are in process and are expected to be available in late September in the course portal. Two additional days will be held online in the fall over Zoom.
blank

Module 1 : An Overview of PCOS

Instructor:Tracey Parnell, MD, MRM
Hosted on  July 13, 2024, this module is now avilable in the course portal. It is reccomended you review this foundational module before subsequent modules
Location:Online, Self-Paced
CME credit: 6.0*

Learn to understand PCOS’s prevalence, diagnostic criteria, and diverse pathophysiological mechanisms while exploring its genetic and environmental contributors.  Refine standard diagnostic criteria by applying Restorative Reproductive Medicine features and categorising PCOS types according to WHO criteria and other relevant classifications.

blank

Module 2 : Complications of PCOS

Instructor: Maria Wolfs, MD, MHSc, FRCPC.
Hosted on  July 13, 2024, this module is now avilable in the course portal. It is reccomended you review this foundational module before subsequent modules
Location:Online, Self-Paced
CME credit: 4.0*

Reivew the increased risk of various diseases faced by PCOS patients and understand the underlying pathophysiological connections between PCOS and these conditions. Explore how RRM treatments address these risks by targeting underlying pathologies, and consider the potential implications of weight loss challenges on long-term health. Discuss how standard suppressive treatments or Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) may exasperate long-term risks associated with PCOS management for some patients.

blank

Module 3 : RRM Charting

Instructors: Carolyn Plican, FCP. Craig Turczynski, PhD.
CME credit: 4.0*

Understand the complexities of Cycle Charting pertinent to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), including total length, bleeding patterns, luteal and follicular phases, temperatures, and hormonal patterns. Learn to identify critical indicators through sample chart analysis, including cervical fluid-based, symptom-thermal, and symptom-hormonal methods. Learn how to support and work with fertility educators in effectively screening for PCOS and ongoing management to enhance patient care.

blank

Module 4 : Diagnosing PCOS

Instructors: Tracey Parnell, MD, MRM.
CME credit: 4.0*

Identify common clinical features across PCOS subtypes, conducting and interpreting Ferriman-Galway hirsutism exams, discussing tests for insulin resistance and interpreting results using HOMA-IR and Matsuda calculations, recognizing signs of androgen excess and insulin resistance during clinical exams, utilizing screening questionnaires effectively, and understanding the importance of Cycle Charting in timing and interpreting lab tests accurately for PCOS diagnosis.

blank

Module 5 : Review of Medication used in PCOS

Instructors: Maria Bizečki,  BSP ACPR CFCPhC.
CME credit:4.0*

Gain a comprehensive understanding of medication use for treating various aspects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), including insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, cycle irregularity, inflammation, and endorphin issues.  Learn indications, mechanisms of action, contra-indications, and common side effects associated with each medication category. Additionally, review the advantages and disadvantages of off-label medication use and the recommended documentation before initiating treatment.

blank

Module 6: Supplements

Instructors: Maria Bizečki, BSP, ACPR, CFCPhC.
CME credit:4.0*

Explore the indications, mechanisms of action, contraindications, and common side effects associated with supplement use to address insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, cycle irregularity, inflammation, endorphin and other symptoms in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) patients.  Review the pros and cons of different supplement usage and the necessary documentation recommended prior to initiating treatment.

blank

Module 7: Sleep Disorders in PCOS: Screening, Assessment, and Treatment Strategies

Instructors: Lynn Keenan, MD. Tracey Parnell, MD, MRM.
Date: October 2024
Location:Zoom (with self-paced option)
CME credit: 4.0*

Understand the links between different sleep disorders and PCOS, emphasizing the importance of screening for these conditions. Learn to correctly utilize various sleep screening tools in assessing PCOS patients and effectively communicate to patients an overview of RRM treatment modalities for sleep disorders.

blank

Module 8: Microbiome in PCOS

Instructors: Volodymyr Artyomenko, MD, PhD, DSc (Med).
CME credit: 4.0*

Explore the microbiome and its significance on health, particularly in the context of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and how microbiome changes may influence the development or exacerbation of the disease. Review methods for evaluating and testing the microbiome in PCOS patients and explore the latest advancements in microbiome research which are leading to potential innovative treatment options for PCOS.

blank

Module 9: Standardized Patients

Instructors: Phil Boyle, MD., Ulrika Drevniok, RN(C), MScA., Mary Ellen Haggerty, MD.,  Craig Turczynski, PhD., Kevin McCarthy, MD, CFCMC.
CME credit: 2.0*.

Utilizing standardized patients and an illustrative genetic case study, participants can confidently apply what they learned for practical application to practice and determine an appropriate treatment plan for PCOS patients, including Cycle Charting and recommendations based on individualized assessments.

blank

Module 10 : Mental Health, Mood and Eating Disorders in PCOS

Date:October 2024 Instructor: Kathleen Coepland, MSPH. Location: Zoom video conference, with self-paced option. CME credit: 4.0* Review the relationship between PCOS and mental health conditions such as eating disorders, PMS, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.  Learn standardized screenings, and assessment tools for eating disorders and other mood disorders and educate patients on the importance of documenting mood symptoms in conjunction with Cycle Charting to identify possible hormonal influences and tailor appropriate treatment. Individualize and adjust treatment plans based on mental screenings and progress.
blank

Module 11: Nutrition & Lifestyle

Date: October 2024
Instructor: Kathleen Coepland, MSPH.
Location: Zoom video conference, with self-paced option
CME credit: 5.0*

Review the impact of diet on insulin, inflammation, and gut health in PCOS patients, highlighting personalized dietary modifications based on standardized assessments. Discuss the role of physical activity in PCOS and strategies for supporting patients’ incorporation of physical activity into daily life. Address challenges faced by many PCOS patients in weight management and suggest effective strategies to assist them. Review the effects of smoking, alcohol consumption, and environmental factors on PCOS symptoms and perform standardized assessments to assess risk.

blank

Module 12: PCOS through the Life Cycle

Instructors: Tracey Parnell, MD, MRM.
Date: October 2024
Location: Online
CME credit: 4.0*

Examine the evolving nature of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) across various stages of a patient’s life. Address the challenges with diagnosing PCOS in adolescent or menopausal patients and review what criteria may help with diagnosis. Explore what tools are available for guiding diagnosis and timing treatments in patients without cycles due to hysterectomy.

blank

Module 13: PCOS and Fertility

Instructors: Tracey Parnell, MD, MRM.
Date: October 19, 2024: 08:30-12:30 PDT (16:30-20:30 GMT+1 London, UK)
Location: Online
CME credit:6.0*

Review the prevalence of PCOS among sub-fertile patients and how its underlying pathophysiology contributes.  Review medical and surgical interventions available for PCOS patients and formulate treatment plans for PCOS infertility patients.  Identify and address challenges associated with ovulation induction in PCOS cases and describe potential complications associated with PCOS during pregnancy.

blank

Module 14: Standardized Fertility Patients

Instructors: Mary Ellen Haggerty, MD, Kevin McCarthy, MD, CFCMC., Tracey Parnell, MD, MRM. Date: October 19, 2024: 16:30 – 17:30 PDT (24:30 – 01:30 GMT+1 London, UK) Online option: Zoom video conference. CME credit: 2.0* Utilizing standardized patients, clinicians will learn to conduct a comprehensive infertility history tailored specifically for patients with PCOS using standardized patients and develop appropriate treatment plans for these patients, integrating information from Cycle Charting. Adjust and monitor patients throughout pregnancy and understand the significance of the STORRM registry in managing and systematically tracking data and outcomes.
blank

Dr. Tracey Parnell

RRMaP Medical Director

A Canadian physician and researcher with a passion for reproductive medicine that empowers patients and providers. She was the Quality Improvement Sector Lead for the Rural Coordination Centre of BC, which works on behalf of the Joint Standing Committee, an entity that advises the BC government and the BC Medical Association. She is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia and the Director of Communications and Development for the IIRRM.

blank

Dr. Lynn Keenan

Past Program Director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship at UCSF in California, Dr. Keenan is board-certified in Sleep Medicine and Internal Medicine. Her research interests are the impact of sleep disorders on fertility and pregnancy, as well as physician fatigue. She currently serves on the IRRMA Board of Directors and has been practicing RRM for over 20 years.

blank

Dr. Maria Wolfs

Endocrinologist and Clinician Educator at St. Michael’s Hospital and Program Director for Adult Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Toronto. Her clinical and research interests are in Medical Education and Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy.

blank

Dr. Craig Turczynski

Craig Turczynski holds a Ph.D. in Physiology of Reproduction and went on to become an Assistant Professor of ObGyn at Louisiana State University Medical School-Shreveport where he developed and directed their clinical hormone, andrology, and IVF laboratories. After 7 years he left the IVF field, due to conflicts with the aggressive use of the technology and subsequently received training in the Creighton Model and the Billings Ovulation Method®. To rekindle his science career, Craig has completed the FEMM medical management training, conducted a fellowship in restorative reproductive medicine with Dr Phil Boyle, and recertified as an andrology laboratory scientist.

blank

Ms. Maria Bizečki

After completing her degree at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Maria received her Pharmacy Hospital Residency Certificate from the Foothills Medical Centre and practiced for 18 years as a clinical poison and drug information specialist. She is both a Creighton Model Fertility Practitioner and FertilityCare Pharmacist Consultant and the founder of FertilityCare Calgary

blank

Dr. Volodymyr Artyomenko

Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Odessa National Medical University and Odessa Maternity Hospital #5 in Ukraine. Dr. Artyomenko has completed fellowship training in Ultrasound Diagnostics, Child and Adolescent Gynecology, and Gynaecological Oncology. He holds a Master’s Degree in medical and pharmaceutical management and a PhD in Science.  After serving several years as Chairman and Director at Ukraine Department of Simulation Medicine and Educational-Innovation Center for the Physicians’ Practical Training at Odessa National Medical University he now trains residents and postgraduate OB/GYN specialists.

blank

Dr. Phil Boyle

Family physician and founder of NeoFertility, where he currently serves as director. Based in Dulin, Ireland, Dr. Boyle has over 25 years of clinical experience with infertility, recurrent miscarriage and women’s health, and has treated over 3000 successful pregnancies, including many with chronic infertility, prior failed IVF and repeated miscarriage. He has published on RRM outcomes as well as estradiol and DHEA. View list of publications on ORCHID.

blank

Ms. Ulrika Drevniok

Ulrika Drevniok is a registered nurse and has worked in mental, women’s and adolescent health for over 10 years. She is the Education Manager at FEMM. FEMM (Fertility Education + Medical Management) is a knowledge- and science-based reproductive health program for women which teaches them to identify, track, and comprehend changes in their bodies that are relevant to their health and fertility.

blank

Ms. Carolyn Plican

Carolyn Plican is a Western Canadian Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner, and founder of the Fertility Care Centre of Edmonton. Teaching hundreds of couples from 2007 – 2020, assisting delivery of the Miscarriage Prevention Program, and her degree in Business & Data Analytics have culminated in an intense interest in utilization of biometric data to support women on their fertility journey, and the RRM clinicians that serve them. She has been involved in multiple Canadian start-ups in the Femtech field, including My Fertility Labs as CBDO, and Your Endo Clinic, Inc.

Ready to get started?