NYSCHA 2024 Featured Speakers

Wednesday, Nov. 13: 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Keynote Session: 
Upstream Medicine: Swimming Against the Current to Improve Patient Outcomes

Lara Zakaria, PharmD, MS, CNS, IFMCP

There is increasing interest in the integration of conventional medicine with complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) as well lifestyle medicine that can improve outcomes for chronic diseases. Evidence is mounting that to make significant improvements in health outcomes, we must start thinking outside the medicine vial – to lifestyle modification including nutrition, stress modification, sleep, and exercise. How do holistically minded health professionals find opportunities to coach and inspire our patients in these areas – while cultivating a supportive and collaborative professional environment.

Dr Lara Zakaria PharmD MS CDN CNS IFMCP

Dr. Zakaria is a Pharmacist and Nutritionist with a focus in implementing solutions for Functional Medicine and personalized nutrition. A graduate of the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, at Rutgers University (BSpharm) and the University of Colorado Skaggs College of Pharmacy (PharmD), she spent 20 years in community pharmacy practice.

After developing an interest in nutrition, she earned a MS in Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and subsequently qualified as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) as well as an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP).

Dr Zakaria’s practice focuses on a multi-disciplinary approach working both one-on-one with patients as well as creating implementation tools and systems for scale. She is also adjunct professor of nutritional biochemistry and therapeutics at the University of Bridgeport, faculty at George Washington University, as well as guest instructor for Functional Medicine at LECOM College of Pharmacy and has served as mentor and supervisor for CNS and pharmacy students.

Lara is passionate about gut health and the prevention and reversal of metabolic, allergic, and autoimmune disease. There’s power in community, working with pharmacy professionals, nutritionists, and other clinicians to leverage their unique expertise to amplify the message of personalized nutrition and FxMed. 

Thursday, Nov. 14: 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.

Capstone Presentation: AI & Your College Campus: Planning for the Future Starts Now

Evan Ozmat, MS, University at Albany; Ahmed Belazi, MPH, Stony Brook University; Karen Dybus, PA-C, Stony Brook University

This session will explore the applications and potential pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in college health. Participants will learn the history and definitions of AI, machine learning, and deep learning, and examine AI modeling approaches. The session will highlight current and future AI applications, discuss ethical considerations, and address DEIJA issues, focusing on mitigating biases and enhancing equity. An open panel discussion will further engage participants, addressing their concerns and hopes for AI integration in college health.

Evan Ozmat, MS, University at Albany, SUNY

Evan Ozmat is a Ph.D. student in Counseling Psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY. He holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the same institution. Evan’s research focuses on the   intersection of self-compassion, coping strategies, and mental health. He has extensive experience in mental health and substance use research, serving as a Research Assistant at the Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research and the Health and Addictive Behaviors Lab at the University at Albany. He has led numerous projects, including a longitudinal analysis of 22 years of prevention data and the development of health promotion campaigns and automation systems for STI testing and prevention education.

Clinically, he has provided therapy and assessment services, working with diverse populations, including veterans and academically and economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, he is a certified Machine Learning Professional specializing in developing AI systems for applied research, focusing on creating early warning alert systems to identify students at risk of negative health and mental health outcomes. His work in developing innovative AI tools to enhance student health is conducted under initiatives funded by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment, addressing minority health disparities. His robust research background, clinical experience, AI expertise, and dedication to addressing mental health disparities position him well to present on this topic, drawing on both his academic work and practical experience in the field.

Karen Dybus, MS, PA-C, Stony Brook University

Karen Dybus has been a clinically practicing Student Health Services (SHS)-based Physician Assistant for over 30 years and has been in a leadership role since the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her clinical role, she has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor for the Stony Brook University School of Health Technology and Management, now known as the School of Health Profession. She is currently halfway through her EdD Higher Education Leadership and Change program in which she has done paper and interview-based research on the topic of Al in Higher Education.

Additionally, Karen’s current role as Interim Director of Patient Services and Operations entails having to make decisions that will both impact the clinical operations of the Student Health Services to improve efficiencies and reduce redundancies while also being fiscally prudent. Al applications are one avenue that they have been exploring to help with customer service (ChatBOT). They envision the use of other Al based applications to potentially make for an efficient and student friendly experience. Karen has been working with her colleague, Ahmed Belazi, during this exploratory phase for the past 2+ years.

Ahmed Belazi, MPH, Stony Brook University

Ahmed Belazi is an accomplished professional with over 15 years of experience in Higher Education. Over the past decade, he has served as a member of the Student Affairs senior leadership team at Stony Brook University. Currently, Ahmed serves as the Executive Director of Strategic Analytics and Technologies, where he also advises the Vice President for Student Affairs and Senior Cabinet on strategy, analytics, and technology. Ahmed’s role has given him the opportunity to examine, evaluate, procure, implement, and integrate several technological solutions in both the student health and student success spaces.

Over the past few years, Ahmed has worked with several solutions that leverage AI-tools in various ways. Ahmed’s education and experience have also equipped him with a wide range of skills and expertise, including assessment, survey research, market research, program evaluation, data governance, statistical analysis, and data visualization. He is a proud double alumnus of Stony Brook University, having earned a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Evaluative Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Memory.