Pre-Conference Workshop: “Workers’ Comp They Didn’t Teach You”
October 14th, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Clinicians! This course builds a working, practical understanding of the system from the clinician’s perspective, covering documentation under Utilization Review (UR) scrutiny, Request for Authorization (RFA) workflows, Qualified Medical Evaluator / Independent Medical Examination (QME/IME) fundamentals, and peer-to-peer review strategies. This course is an add-on when you register for the conference.
Pre-Conference Course: Fire Service Clinician Orientation Program
October 14th & 17th (The day before the conference and the day after).
One of the most cited reasons why firefighters don’t seek professional help with their mental or behavioral health issues is the lack of clinicians who know and understand the unique fire service culture.
FSPA developed this program to start changing that!
Get hands-on experience for what firefighters do, why they do it, and how they do it. Sign up for the two-day Fire Service Clinician Orientation Program—our 3rd offering, following successful program deliveries at the FSPA Conferences in Washington D.C. (2024) and Pearland, Texas (2025).
Add-on when you register for the conference
Click here to see Abstracts for all the Presentations.
Conference Day #1 - October 15th
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| – | Robert Avsec, MC, introduces the Conference Host, Matt Laas from the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal for Opening Remarks. Followed by the Presentation of Colors and our National Anthem. |
| – | Avsec introduces Keynote Speaker, TBA |
| – | Avsec & Dunckel: Presentation of FSPA Awards. |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | Is there room for a Ride Along?,–Dr. Monya Cohen |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | From SOF to Station: What Operator Performance Science May Offer the Fire Service–Dr. Silvia DeGirolamo |
| – | Lunch |
| – | Restoring Resilience: An Evidence-Based Biopsychosocial Approach to PTSD, Brain Injury, and Chronic Pain in First Responders–Battalion Chief (Ret.) David Picone, et al |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | National Trends in Firefighter Behavioral Health–Dr. Theresa Skojec |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | FSPA Membership Meeting |
Conference Day #2 - October 16th
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| – | Opening Remarks from MC Robert Avsec. |
| – | Briefing from Task Group CHARLIE on their work to develop Fireground Human Factors Analysis |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | Maintaining Inner Stability Under Pressure: Practical Tools for Firefighters and Therapists Who Work with Them–Dr. Ben Bernstein |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | From Fragmented to Unified: Implementing a Statewide Zero Suicide Framework for the Florida Fire Service–Dr. Ashley Winch |
| – | Lunch |
| – | Decision-Making Under Fire: Cognitive Load, Stress, and Nervous System Effects on Performance–Dr. Jeannelle Perkins |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | From the Brain to the Backstep: Stress, Survival, and Performance in the Fire Service–Ms. Jennifer Laurel Weaver |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | National Trends in Firefighter Behavioral Health–Dr. Theresa Ann Skojec |
| – | Break (10 minutes) |
| – | Dr. Gina Dunckel: Announcement of location for FSPA Conference in 2026 and presentation by the host city. |
| – Close of Conference | Close of Conference |