ECHO Autism for the Primary Care Provider - Fall 2025

Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 12:00 PM - Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 1:30 PM, Online

Increase your knowledge and comfort level in managing patients with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in the primary care setting.

Intended Audience
Physicians, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants.

How to Participate
September 3 - December 17, 2025 | 12:00-1:30PM (ET)
Session Dates: 9/3, 9/17, 10/1, 10/15, 11/5, 11/19, 12/3, 12/17

Featured Faculty
Pamela Williams-Arya, MD
Dr. Williams-Arya is a board certified developmental and behavioral pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with clinical expertise in the evaluation of autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. She worked as a primary care pediatrician for 10 years prior to returning to pursue a fellowship in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. She also works in an interdisciplinary evaluation clinic for preschool-aged children with a history of prenatal opioid exposure and is a Maternal Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) faculty member involved in interdisciplinary training.

Jennifer Smith, PsyD
Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a clinical psychologist with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. She is a board-certified behavior analyst. Dr. Smith is the Program Director of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Training Program in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s.

Why Join?
This free, interactive ECHO series provides an “all teach, all learn” environment, connecting you with experts and peers to foster collaborative growth. Participants will leave equipped with actionable strategies to improve the care and support of children and families navigating trauma.

What is Project ECHO?
Cincinnati Children’s Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a virtual, telehealth program for community providers to learn more about managing common pediatric diseases that can be complex to treat. The goal is to provide a network of resources, access to experts, and to increase comfort level in caring for children and adolescents with common yet complex conditions.

How Project ECHO Works
Project ECHO – Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes – uses technology to bridge the gap between healthcare specialists and community-based clinicians. The Project ECHO model is based on four principles:

• Use technology to leverage scarce resources

• Share “best practices” to reduce disparities

• Apply case-based learning to master complexity

• Evaluate and monitor outcomes
  

During Project ECHO sessions, healthcare clinicians present cases using a case-based format using video conferencing equipment. Project ECHO specialist and other participants discuss patient cases and recommendations are made regarding a treatment plan. Specialists and community clinicians hear various case presentations, as well as follow-up and outcomes, and over time greatly increase their knowledge and experience in the evaluation and treatment of depression.

What Clinicians and Partners say about Project ECHO:

“I feel more confident and it makes providing care easier. This project allows for increased opportunities to learn, and patients to get better care.”

“Project Echo has been a valuable learning experience for me, and I have learned and incorporated new ideas into my practice as a direct result of my participation. I find that sharing in a group setting and seeing how others approach problems to be a good way of synthesizing how I would or might approach things in my daily practice. I highly recommend participation in Project Echo learning opportunities as they come available."

1. Describe recommended practices for screening for developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder in infants, toddlers, and young children.
2. Identify common co-occurring medical and behavioral conditions in children with autism spectrum disorder.
3. Identify evidence-based treatments for common co-occurring medical and behavioral treatments in children with autism spectrum disorder.
4. Collaborate with the interprofessional treatment team

In support of improving patient care, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician:  Cincinnati Children’s designates this activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing:   This activity is pre-approved for a maximum 12 continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours.

Physician Assistants: Cincinnati Children’s has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 12 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

MOCpt2: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the activity and individual assessment of and feedback to the learner, enables the learner to earn up to 12 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive up to 12 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change. 

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (1.50 hours), AAPA Physician Associate (1.50 hours), ABP MOC Part 2 (0.00 hours), CME - Non-Physician (Attendance) (1.50 hours), IPCE (1.50 hours), Nursing CE (1.50 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

No faculty are available for this activity at this time.