December 14, 2021
Presented by Drs. Rosalyn Plotzker and Kristopher Lyon

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continues to see dramatic statewide increases in congenital syphilis (CS), a severe yet preventable condition when syphilis is passed from mother to fetus. In California, many infants with CS are born to parents who received care in an emergency department (ED) during pregnancy, suggesting syphilis screening in EDs may offer an important opportunity to detect syphilis in pregnancy and prevent CS.

This webinar features Dr. Rosalyn Plotzker, CDPH public health medical officer and co-author of the CDPH Expanded Syphilis Screening Recommendations for the Prevention of Congenital Syphilis. She will provide a clinical overview of CS prevention and discuss the recommendation to confirm syphilis status for pregnant patients in the ED. In addition, Dr. Kristopher Lyon, Public Health Officer and EMS medical director in Kern County, California and emergency department associate medical director, will present on syphilis screening in EDs from an on-the-ground perspective.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe California’s congenital syphilis epidemiology
2. Discuss the pathophysiology and management of syphilis, including among pregnant patients
3. Explain and apply the CDPH recommendation to confirm syphilis status among pregnant patients receiving care in emergency departments

September 28, 2021

Presented by Drs. Eric Tang and Sara Kennedy

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continues to see dramatic statewide increases in cases of congenital syphilis (CS), a severe yet preventable condition when syphilis is passed from mother to fetus. This webinar, presented by the California Prevention Training Center, features Dr. Eric Tang, public health medical officer at CDPH, who will provide a clinical overview of CS prevention and discuss the new Expanded Syphilis Screening Recommendations from CDPH as it relates to family planning and primary care providers.  

After his presentation, Dr. Sara Kennedy, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood Northern California, will present her organization’s experience implementing expanded syphilis screening in their clinics to detect and treat syphilis cases to ultimately prevent CS cases in California. 

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the epidemiology and recognize the risk factors for syphilis and congenital syphilis in California
2. Screen for syphilis based on the Expanded Syphilis Screening Recommendations from the California Department of Public Health
3. Appropriately diagnose and manage syphilis cases in your practice

July 27, 2021

This webinar features Dr. Rosalyn Plotzker and Ms. Laura Kovaleski, co-authors of the CDPH Expanded Syphilis Screening Recommendations for the Prevention of Congenital Syphilis, who will provide a clinical overview of CS prevention and discuss the recommendation to screen women in correctional facilities for syphilis. Finally, Dr. Kristin Walsh, physician with Santa Clara County’s Adult Custody Health Services and HIV specialist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s PACE clinic, will present the county’s experience implementing such screening practices.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe California’s CS epidemiology and incorporate data into screening
2. Discuss the importance of prenatal syphilis diagnosis, evaluation, and management
3. Explain and apply CDPH recommendation to screen women for syphilis in adult correctional facilities