Maryland Project ECHO Dementia Education Program

The landscape of dementia care is rapidly evolving as the number of older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) continues to grow and clinical complexity increases. Maryland has the highest dementia prevalence in the nation (12.9%), with rates expected to rise over the next five years. At the same time, nearly 260,000 family caregivers across the state provide unpaid dementia care, highlighting the essential role of primary care in early identification, management, and ongoing support for both patients and families. To maintain clinical effectiveness and care quality, providers need practical, up-to-date training and peer collaboration.

Maryland Project ECHO® Dementia (MED) connects primary healthcare teams with interdisciplinary dementia experts through a structured, interactive learning community. Using the proven Project ECHO® model, this series delivers focused, evidence-based education combined with real-world, case-based discussion to strengthen clinical decision-making and care coordination across settings.

Project ECHO® is not telemedicine. Participants retain responsibility for their own patients and practice, while gaining confidence and expertise through group learning and expert support.

This series goes beyond foundational awareness. MED creates a safe, collaborative space for interprofessional teams to examine complex dementia-related scenarios, strengthen assessment and communication skills, address behavioral and psychological symptoms, and apply best practices in diagnosis, management, referral, and caregiver support. Sessions emphasize practical tools, team-based strategies, and community resource integration.

Join us to build confidence in differentiating usual from concerning cognitive changes, improving early identification, strengthening dementia care planning, and advancing equitable, person-centered care for individuals and families across Maryland.

Program Information

• Six (6) one-hour, virtual sessions (12:00pm-1:00pm)
  • February 18, 2026: Differentiating usual from unusual changes in cognition
  • March 4, 2026: Differentiating types of dementia
  • March 18, 2026: Differentiating dementia, delirium, and depression
  • April 1, 2026: Pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatment options
  • April 15, 2026: Effective communication
  • April 29, 2026: Community resources and supports
• Case-based All-Teach, All-Learn™ model
• Free CME/CEU credits (see accreditation statements for list of approved professions)
• Interactive, relevant, and applicable to practices
• Attendance at all sessions encouraged, not required 

Who Should Participate

Healthcare teams are encouraged to attend. We welcome learners from a broad range of professions and roles, including but not limited to:

• Physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners
• Nurses and nursing staff
• Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
• Social workers and case managers
• Behavioral health clinicians
• Occupational and physical therapists
• Community health workers and care coordinators
• Long-term care and assisted living professionals
• Certified dementia practitioners and senior advisors

What to Expect

Each Project ECHO session includes:

• A short expert-led presentation
• Interactive case discussions
• Practical learning tools and strategies to use in your practice

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by University of Maryland, Baltimore and Project ECHO.  Project ECHO® 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.

AMA Designation Statement

Project ECHO® designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ACPE Designation Statement

This activity will provide pharmacists and pharmacy technicians up to 1.0 contact hour.  UAN JA4008231-9999-26-026-L01-P,  JA4008231-9999-26-026-L01-T have been assigned to this Knowledge based program. CE credit information, based on verification of live attendance and completion of the program evaluation, will be provided to NABP within 60 days after the activity completion.

ANCC Designation Statement

Project ECHO® designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 ANCC contact hour.  Nursing contact hours will be awarded for successful completion of program components based upon documented attendance and completion of evaluation.

AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Live

Project ECHO 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 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

UMB GGEAR Designation Statement

Geriatrics & Gerontology Education & Research (GGEAR) Program is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education learning activities and maintains full responsibility for this program. GGEAR is an authorized sponsor for Category A Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Maryland Psychologists, Counselors and Therapists and authorized sponsor for CEUs for ALL Certified Dementia Practitioners and Certified Senior Advisors.

Disclosure Statement

Project ECHO®, in compliance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, requires that anyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships they have had within the last 24 months with an ineligible company.

None of the planners and presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Maryland Project ECHO Dementia is administered by the Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research (GGEAR) program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore with generous support from the Alzheimer’s Association and the Maryland Department of Aging.

Contact Us

Email: ggear@umaryland.edu | Phone: 410-706-4327