Community Care Behavioral Health is excited to announce this free upcoming web-based training opportunity:
A growing body of U.S. and international research demonstrates that the rapid legalization and commercialization of gambling—including online casinos and mobile sports betting platforms—are associated with significant and escalating gambling‑related harm. Although Pennsylvania‑specific prevalence data remain limited, available evidence is increasingly concerning, with gambling disorder linked to alarmingly high rates of suicide, psychiatric comorbidity, and social and financial harm. Drawing on lessons from the tobacco and opioid crises, this presentation will examine how delayed recognition and regulation can amplify population‑level harm, underscoring the need for earlier screening, prevention, and policy engagement. Participants will gain practical guidance on identifying patients at elevated risk, implementing evidence‑informed screening and diagnostic strategies, and applying current treatment approaches across the lifespan.
Title: From Scratch-offs to Smartphones: Pennsylvania’s Gambling Evolution and Implications for Providers
Date: Friday, June 5, 2026
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
About the presenter:
Kavita Fischer, MD, FAPA
Regional Medical Director, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
Dr. Kavita Fischer is a board-certified psychiatrist in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry and serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed her residency and fellowship training at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. Dr. Fischer is the current president of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society (PaPS). She currently serves as a regional medical director with Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, affiliated with UPMC Health Plan, serving the North Central contract alongside senior medical director Dr. Tibi Bodea. Dr. Fischer is frequently sought by local, state, and national media for her expertise in child and adolescent psychiatry, the scientific evidence surrounding medical marijuana, and the public health concerns and mental health implications from the expanding availability of commercialized gambling.
Registration:
Continuing education credits:
Approved continuing education details are available on the registration page. To qualify, participants must join using a computer or mobile device and remain active for the full session. Phone participation without ability to hear audio and see video will not count toward attendance.
Important notes:
- Advanced registration is required. Same-day registration may cause delays in accessing the session.
- Once registered, you will receive a calendar invite with the join link.
- To ensure safety and confidentiality, recording or use of AI tools during the session is not permitted.
- Community Care Behavioral Health is committed to providing universal access to our events. For accommodation requests, please contact Gina Russo at russoge@ccbh.com. Advance notice is required for some accessibility needs.
Provider is responsible for verifying CME eligibility.