Registration, breakfast, networking, visit with Baby Jay, and time to visit exhibitors.

Kick off the day with opening remarks from our KAAP President, setting the tone for a day of learning, networking, and pediatric advocacy.

Kelly Kreisler, MD, MPH, FAAP
President, KAAP; Chief Health Officer at Health Partnership Clinic

Board-certified pediatrician and public health leader with academic, clinical, and quality improvement experience. Dr. Kreisler has served in leadership roles at FQHCs and medical education institutions.

In an era of skepticism and distrust and an environment where medical and pediatric expertise has increasingly come under threat, the AAP has had to adapt its approach to advocacy to not only advance and protect child health but to safeguard our organization, our members, and our standing as one of the world’s most trusted professions. Here Marke Del Monte speak more on this as our keynote speaker at Progress in Pediatrics.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the factors that have led to today’s climate of insularity and distrust
• Identify strategies to build trust and “meet patients/communities where they are”
• Understand the best ways to counter false claims and harmful rhetoric
• Explain why “casting a wide net” is no longer the most effective way to change hearts and minds and how targeting the “moveable middle” will have the most impact.

Mark Del Monte
CEO & Executive Vice President, American Academy of Pediatrics

Leads a national pediatric organization with a background in advocacy, public policy, and legal services for children and families. Holds degrees from UC Berkeley and Gonzaga University.

Food allergy testing without a clear history is no more accurate than flipping a coin, according to our guest speaker, Maggie Barnthouse. Dr Barnthouse focuses on alpha-gal and increasing population prevalence along with seropositivity population prevalence. Learn what to do with results and indication for food testing and when to refer in her session on Practical Allergy for Pediatricians.

Learning Objectives:

• Change the process surrounding the discussion regarding food allergies

Maggie Barnthouse, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Trained at the University of Kansas and completed fellowship at Children’s Mercy, where she are now a faculty member specializing in rural allergy care and food challenges. Passionate about advancing food allergy innovations, with a personal and professional focus on improving care for families.

The topic of DEI has faced national and local criticism with public policy changes that negatively impact researchers, physicians and multiple health care clinicians. This lecture will talk about how to continue to move forward in this environment with intention and purpose.

Learning Objectives:

• Increase awareness of the AAP policy on racism
• List two structural barriers that marginalized groups face within a medical and historical context
• Increase knowledge about tools to discuss structural barriers with a cultural humility lens

Trevena Moore, MD, FAAP
Pediatric Medical Discipline Supervisor, University of Kansas Medical Center

Developmental and behavioral pediatrician at the University of Kansas Medical Center, specializing in interdisciplinary evaluation of children with developmental disabilities and ADHD. Actively leads diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives locally and internationally, including her recent nomination as Co-Chair of the SDBP DEI Committee.

Winners of the Pediatrics in Action Awards are announced.

Explore student and resident poster presentations or stop by exhibitors.

What's life like after medical school? There are many professional career paths in pediatrics and our panelists are here to walk you through their experiences beyond training to help you find the best path for you. Questions are encouraged!

Learning Objectives:

• Learners will be exposed to various perspectives from pediatricians at various stages of training/practice
• Learners will reflect on panelists' personal experiences and apply insights to their own professional development and career decision-making

Jenna Lillian, MD
Resident PGY2 - Children’s Mercy Hospital

Second-year pediatric resident at Children’s Mercy Hospital, trained at St. Olaf College and the University of Kansas Medical Center. Interested in legislative advocacy and medical education, with plans to remain practicing in the Kansas City area.

Brianna Hafenstine, MD, FAAP
Chief Resident - Children’s Mercy Hospital

Grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, and trained at the University of Kansas and Children’s Mercy Kansas City, where she now serves as Chief Resident. Passionate about medical education, she will join the University of Kansas Pediatrics faculty in Olathe following her chief year.

Sonder Crane, MD, FAAP
Pediatric Associates

Manhattan native trained at Kansas State University and the University of Kansas Medical School, completing residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Pediatrician and certified lactation consultant.

Examine real life cases with challenging diagnoses and clinical decisions related to hospitalizations and referral. This session will guide Kansas pediatricians in difficult clinical scenarios to know when to refer for hospitalization or consultation outside of your community.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand some examples of more challenging pediatric diagnoses, how to recognize them, and why appropriate referral or hospitalization is needed for patient safety
• Recognize common diagnostic pitfalls in pediatric hospital medicine and apply structured clinical reasoning in complex inpatient cases
• Formulate evidence-informed differential diagnoses for atypical or ambiguous presentations frequently encountered in hospitalized children
• Identify red flags that warrant escalation of care, subspecialty consultation, or reconsideration of the working diagnosis
• Apply interdisciplinary collaboration strategies—including effective use of subspecialists, mental health professionals, and family-centered rounds—to improve patient outcomes
• Translate lessons from inpatient clinical conundrums into early recognition strategies in outpatient and acute-care practice

Adam McClure
Pediatric Hospitalist – The University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita

Director of Clinical Services for the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, leading interdisciplinary efforts to develop protocols, policies, and decision tools that improve care for hospitalized children. Collaborates with faculty, residents, nursing, pharmacy, and other providers, coordinating with the Emergency Department and Pediatric Critical Care to enhance teamwork and patient outcomes.

Paul Teran, MD, FAAP
Associate Professor, Pediatrics – The University of Kansas Medical Center - Wichita

Associate Professor and Division Director of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine Wichita, board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine. Based in Wichita, KS, he is passionate about improving child health through hospital, community, and school-based initiatives, with interests in medical education, quality improvement, and advocacy.

Have questions on Kansas Medicaid? Ask Dr Bettinger in between session in the afternoon. Her open forum will be held on the 2nd floor of the JWC. This session is not eligible for CME credit.

Kourtney Bettinger, MD
Associate Professor, Pediatrics - The University of Kansas Medical Center – Kansas City

Pediatric headaches and migraines are common and there are several simple and effective treatment options. Hear Dr Gina Jones give her expertise on how to provide initial evaluations and treatment for pediatric patients and know when to refer to neurology.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize when evaluation is needed in pediatric headaches
• Consider initial treatment options in pediatric headache
• Know when to refer to pediatric neurology

Gina Jones, DO
Section Chief, Headache; Director, Neurology Clinic; Program Director, Headache Medicine Fellowship

Board-certified child neurologist and headache specialist, providing compassionate, evidence-based care for children. Trained at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and Wake Forest University-Baptist Medical Center, she is dedicated to quality improvement, patient education, and professional engagement in neurology societies.

Closing remarks, announcing big prizes, and the exhibitor card winner.