Spotlight Session: Chronic Disease Self-Management and Behavioral Health: Lessons from the Field

3.88 (16 votes)

Only available as part of a package

Chronic disease and behavioral health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD often intersect, creating barriers to effective self-management and overall well-being. Evidence-based Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) programs can improve confidence, symptom management, and engagement in care when thoughtfully implemented for individuals with co-occurring physical and mental health conditions.

This session will highlight practical strategies for adapting and delivering CDSME programs, building cross-sector partnerships, strengthening workforce capacity, and maintaining fidelity while promoting participant engagement.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the connection between chronic disease and behavioral health and its impact on self-management.
Identify strategies used to implement CDSME programs for adults with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and related conditions.
Apply practical approaches to integrate chronic disease self-management into behavioral health and community-based settings.

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

Danielle Hansen, D.O., MS (Med Ed), MHSA

Regional President

LECOM Health

Danielle Hansen, D.O., MS (Med Ed), MHSA, Regional President of LECOM Health, is board certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and hospice and palliative medicine. Dr. Hansen is also a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at LECOM. She earned her medical degree from LECOM in 2005 and completed her residency and fellowship training in geriatric medicine at LECOM Health. She is board certified by the American College of Osteopathic Internists and possesses a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine. She received her Master of Science degree in Medical Education from LECOM and was among the first graduates to receive the LECOM Masters in Health Services Administration degree.

Betsy Wheeler

Manager

Education Health Research Inc.

Ms. Wheeler holds a master’s degree in business administration, and has over 30 years of experience in health, social, and community services. Ms. Wheeler’s experience includes administration in private, hospital, and public service delivery settings, health program design, implementation and management, and funding acquisition and management. Since 1998, Ms. Wheeler has secured – and often subsequently managed over $60 million dollars of federal, State, private, and local grants. Examples of funded projects include community health centers, behavioral health and oral health services, substance abuse and addictions programs, emergency preparedness, public safety, bioterrorism, school-based health centers, insurance outreach and enrollment campaigns, community and family health education, volunteer physician networks, care coordination and health prevention programs, telemedicine programs, chronic disease prevention and self-management, Consortium start-up for diabetes, cancer, and infant mortality, State health policy planning, systems for children with special needs, and more. Areas of interest include vulnerable populations and systems development.

Jennifer Smolowitz

Executive Director

Mental Health Association in Delaware

Jennifer Smolowitz has been with the Mental Health Association in Delaware since September 2014. She became the Executive Director in January 2026. She is a member of the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition’s Military Subcommittee, helping plan the annual Military and Veterans Mental Health Summit. Jennifer provides QPR suicide prevention trainings to adults throughout the state and is a Master Level ASIST trainer. She is also a trainer for Mental Health First Aid. Jennifer received her Masters’ degree in Public Administration from Ohio University’s Voinovich School in May, 2014.

Peter L. Holtgrave, MPH, MA (CCMP, CAP) (Moderator)

Associate Director, Health Promotion Programs

NCOA Center for Healthy Aging

Peter L. Holtgrave, MPH, has led national initiatives at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the OASIS Institute, and the Boston Public Health Commission, and managed the national evaluation of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities demonstration project. He is a trained leader in DSMP and CPSMP with expertise in intergenerational evidence-based programs, workforce development, and capacity building across public health systems, including the aging network. He holds a master’s degree in public health from Boston University, along with professional certifications in project management, Lean process improvement, and change management.