Q1 2026
Kansas Pediatrician
In this edition of the Kansas Peditrician Newsletter, we look at the impact of the Kansas Pediatric Foundation, Childhood Immunizations, Kansas CARE information, and the child death review board.
Q1 2026
Kansas Pediatrician
Welcome to the quarterly edition of the Kansas Pediatrician Newsletter. In this edition, we look at information regarding the legislative session, safe sleep, Spring Progress in Pediatrics, immunization updates, and more!
- Karey’s Corner
- The Good Enough Daycare
- Beyond Anticipatory Guidance: Normalizing Safe Sleep in Kansas
- Join the 2026 Bring It Learning Series
- Spring 2026 Progress in Pediatrics
- Help Shape the Future of Nicotine Prevention in Kansas
- AAP Releases 2026 Childhood Immunization Recommendations
- AAP Speaks Up for Immigrant Children and Families
- Introducing Pediatricians: This Is My Why Campaign
- Government Funding Bill Includes Key AAP Priorities
- Advancing Statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Safe Sleep Instructor Training Set in Wichita
- 2025 Kansas County Data
- Consumer Product Safety Alert: Recent CPSC Recalls and Safety Reporting Resources
- New Members
Members
Karey’s Corner
A Note from KAAP Executive Director
February often feels a bit like January 2.0—the sequel none of us asked for. The year started at full speed, and January disappeared before many of us even had a moment to settle into the rhythm of 2026.
Here in Kansas, we’re deep into the legislative session, and the policy landscape continues to present real challenges. We’re seeing familiar pressures around vaccine requirements and exemption expansion, renewed discussions about food and nutrition supports, and ongoing concerns about access to care for Kansas families—especially in our rural and underserved communities. Layered on top of that is the broader national climate of tension and uncertainty, which can make this season feel especially heavy.
In times like these, I’m reminded how fortunate we are to have this Kansas AAP community. There is something uniquely grounding about connecting with colleagues who not only understand the work but live in its realities every day—balancing advocacy, clinical care, and the needs of children and families across our state. Your willingness to share insights, resources, frustrations, and encouragement is truly one of our greatest strengths.
Spring is on its way, slowly but surely. And with it, comes the reminder that seasons shift, challenges evolve, and yet we continue to show up—steady, adaptive, and committed. I hope the coming weeks bring you moments of clarity, collaboration, and calm amid the noise.
Thank you for all you do for Kansas kids and families. We’re in this together.
KSKidsMAP
The Good Enough Day Care
Navigating the Childcare Crisis as Both a New Mom
and Child Psychiatrist
By Britt Plato, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Chief Fellow
There are several hills I am willing to stand and fight on as a future child
psychiatrist—beliefs I regularly share with patients and families about healthy
development. Some are simple lessons from Ms. Rachel (“Big feelings are okay!”) and
Bluey (“Run your own race!”). Others come from attachment theory, like Winnicott’s
concept of the “good enough” parent: children need consistent, responsive, and loving
caregivers —not perfection. Above all, I preach kindness, especially toward each other
and ourselves.
Somehow, I forgot all of it while searching for childcare.
Last fall, when I was pregnant with my first child, I called daycare after daycare. The
script was the same each time: You should have called sooner. There are no openings.
You can pay a deposit to be 12th on the waiting list. Try again next spring. Or summer.
Or next year. One center told me families were reserving spots two years ahead of time,
for children not yet conceived. Four months before my daughter was born, I was already
behind.
It was my introduction to “mom guilt.” It was also my first personal encounter with a
crisis I had commiserated with and counseled many families about: the childcare
shortage in our country.
Nearly 15 million children under five potentially need care due to working parents, yet
there are only 10.8 million licensed childcare spots nationwide—a 28% gap. In Kansas,
the gap approaches 40%. Even when families secure a spot, new challenges emerge:
cost, quality, staffing, training, logistics. For families in lower socioeconomic categories
especially, practical concerns (e.g. cost and transportation) win out over quality in
decision-making. Infant care costs more annually than public college tuition in over 30
states (Zeanah, 2019). In Wichita, Kansas, the average cost of childcare is roughly 40%
of average monthly income and triple the average cost of rent (Tootris.com).
As physicians caring for young children, why should we pay attention?
Because millions of infants and toddlers spend many of their waking hours in childcare.
Safety is foundational—we must ask where and with whom our patients spend their
days. But beyond safety, quality matters. High-quality childcare promotes secure attachment, emotional regulation, language development, and school readiness. It can
buffer against risk factors such as maternal depression and poverty. For children in
foster care or unstable homes, a daycare teacher may be the most consistent adult in
their lives.
Childcare providers are not peripheral figures; they are attachment figures, observers,
and partners. They see our patients’ daily functioning. They can offer invaluable
collateral information. They can also be protective factors.
So, what can we, as physicians, do?
First, assess childcare as routinely as we assess school in older children. It belongs in
social history. Continue to re-assess at each visit and obtain collateral. Second,
understand what constitutes quality: safe teacher-student ratios, stable staff, regulated
environments, and developmentally informed and evidence-based practices and
curricula. Third, guide families toward local resources—high-quality centers, Head Start
programs, and financial subsidies. Many families make decisions based solely on cost
and availability. We can help widen their options. Fourth, advocate. At the community
and policy levels, physicians carry credibility. We can support funding initiatives,
workforce development, and integrated programs such as Infant and Early Childhood
Mental Health Consultation. Finally, remember that childcare is not delivered by
buildings or curricula—it is delivered by people. Childcare workers are members of our
communities, beyond being supports to our pediatric patients. They often struggle with
stress and burnout, and the average wage for a childcare worker is below the poverty
line. They deserve training, support, and partnership.
There are several programs and health centers that aim to tackle some of the problems
mentioned above, such as Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
(IECMHC) programs and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC),
integrating physical health, mental health, and other aspects of child development to
include their childcare providers. There have been recent initiatives on the local level in
Wichita, as well as on the Kansas State legislature level, to raise awareness, increase
funding, and improve the safety, availability, and quality of childcare throughout the
state.
But there is more work to do.
I worked hard to find safe, healthy, and developmentally minded childcare for my
daughter. I am working on being kind to myself and being a “Good Enough” Mother, as
Dr. Winnicott emphasized. And I have found another hill to plant my flag as a child psychiatrist, working hard where I can to help alleviate the crisis of childcare for my
patients and their families.
Safe Sleep
Beyond Anticipatory Guidance: Normalizing Safe Sleep in Kansas
Stephanie Kuhlmann, DO is board certified in Pediatrics and is affiliated with Wesley Healthcare Center. Dr. Kuhlmann is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and Director of Hospital Medicine Division.
Sleep-related Sudden Unexplained Infant Deaths (SUID) remain a critical public health crisis in Kansas. According to the Kansas State Child Death Review Board’s Annual Report, 221 Kansas infants died from sleep-related causes between 2019 and 2023.When excluding natural causes, the number of infant sleep-related deaths exceeds any other manner of death for children aged 0–17. More infants die in unsafe sleep environments than children die due to drowning, motor vehicle accidents, homicide, or self-inflicted harm.
The Persistence of the “Education Gap”
As pediatricians, we are intimately familiar with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Safe Sleep Recommendations. We routinely advise parents that infants require a separate, flat (non-inclined) sleep surface for all sleep. We champion the “ABCs of Safe Sleep”:
- Alone
- On their Back
- In a Clutter-free crib
Yet, despite our consistent education efforts, a dangerous disconnect persists. Infants continue to die in adult beds due to accidental suffocation or overlay. They die due to pillows and loose blankets or found wedged in the cushions of sofas. It is clear that a single line of anticipatory guidance during a newborn visit or a two-month well-child check is not enough to bridge the gap between clinical advice and parental behavior.
Moving Toward a Societal Norm
To truly move the needle, we must normalize Safe Sleep within the fabric of our society. Our goal should be to reach the same “critical mass” achieved by car seat and water safety initiatives. Safe sleep must become more than just an intentional choice; it must become a reflexive, societal norm that requires no second thought.
How do we get there?
- Expand the Network: We must connect first-time parents to community-based programs, such as home visitation and parenting education courses, that reinforce our message outside the exam room.
- Advocate for Policy: We need to inform lawmakers of the vital importance of funding these community programs.
- Practical Intervention: We must offer realistic strategies for the “exhausted breastfeeding mother,” such as encouraging her to set a 10–15 minute phone alarm for nighttime feedings to prevent accidental co-sleeping.
- Drive Hard Conversations: We must be willing to use local mortality data to increase a family’s risk perception. When we see or hear of practices that contradict safe sleep, we must have the courage to speak up.
Our babies are dying. As their primary advocates, they deserve our unwavering attention and a commitment to changing the culture of infant sleep.
Dr. Kuhlmann is a pediatrician, member of the Kansas State Child Death Review Board, board member of the Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network, and faculty for the Safe Sleep Instructor Certification.
Spring 2026 Progress in Pediatrics
Progress in Pediatrics is quickly approaching
CNE Credits in the Works
We’re less than 60 days away from Progress in Pediatrics Spring 2026 and cannot be more excited to see our members join us for a day of learning at the beautiful Jayhawk Welcome Center on Friday, April 17th, 2026.
Registration is open for Progress in Pediatrics! For the first time, KAAP has submitted an application to offer Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for this conference. Pending approval, eligible nursing professionals will have the opportunity to earn CNE credits. Additional details will be shared as soon as approval is confirmed.
Take advantage of our Buy 2, Get 1 Free special and as always, residents and medical students gain free entry to the conference.
Don’t forget to book your stay the night before the conference at the SpringHill Suites – Lawrence Downtown using KAAP’s discounted group rate. Discounted hotel rooms are available through March 17th, 2026. For more information on registration, contact Marisa at marisa.guerrero@kansasaap.org.
Thursday Night Fireside Social with Big Jay & Baby Jay: Special Guest Mark Del Monte
Enjoy 1:1 time with our keynote speaker Mark Del Monte at the Jayhawk Welcome Center at 5:30pm sponsored by Children’s Mercy Hospital. Snag some s’mores by the fireplace and meet the University of Kansas mascots Big Jay & Baby Jay.
Thank You Progress in Pediatrics Spring 2026 Sponsors
Thank you to our current supporters who help make Progress in Pediatrics possible. We still have 2 spots remaining in our exhibit hall! Don’t miss your chance to meet our members and showcase your organization to Kansas pediatricians. Questions on sponsorship? Ask Marisa at marisa.guerrero@kansasaap.org
Meet the Speakers at Progress in Pediatrics Spring 2026
Our speakers have planned incredible sessions for you for a day of learning. Get to know our lineup.
Keynote Speaker
Mark Del Monte
CEO and Executive Vice President American Academy of Pediatrics
Get updated on the latest and greatest AAP National. Prepare for active Q&A with our keynote speaker.
Moving Beyond the IgE – Practical Allergy for Pediatrics
Maggie Barnthouse, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
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.
The Arc of Physician Development: Navigating the Transition from Student to Attending
Jenna Lillian,MD | Resident PGY2 – Children’s Mercy Hospital
Brianna Hafenstine, MD, FAAP | Chief Resident – Children’s Mercy Hospital
Sonder Crane, MD, FAAP | Pediatric Associates
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!
Clinical Conundrums – Collective Clinical Reasoning
Adam McClure | Pediatric Hospitalist – The University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita
Paul Teran, MD, FAAP | Associate Professor, Pediatrics – The University of Kansas Medical Center – Wichita
Examine real life cases with challenging diagnoses and clinical decisions related to hospitalizations and referrals. This session will guide Kansas pediatricians in difficult clinical scenarios to know when to refer for hospitalization or consultation outside of your community.
Members
Help Shape the Future of Nicotine Prevention in Kansas
The Young Adults Tobacco Prevention and Intervention Task Force—part of the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council Tobacco Subcommittee—is hosting a virtual listening session on Wednesday, March 4 at noon and invites KAAP members to participate.
This session is designed for professionals who work closely with young adults to share real-world experiences addressing vaping and nicotine use. Participants will help identify what strategies are working, where challenges remain, and what gaps exist in current prevention and intervention efforts.
As young adult vaping rates continue to rise, the Task Force aims to develop practical, relevant outreach and intervention strategies that truly meet the needs of this population. Input from those on the front lines is critical to shaping meaningful and effective nicotine prevention efforts across Kansas.
Members are encouraged to register using the button below and lend their voice to this important statewide initiative.
National Association
AAP Releases 2026 Childhood Immunization Recommendations
The AAP has issued its 2026 childhood immunization recommendations. The recommendations were endorsed by 12 leading medical organizations representing more than one million medical professionals across the country, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.
The AAP’s schedule differs from that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The AAP formerly partnered with CDC to create unified vaccine recommendations, but CDC’s recent changes depart from longstanding medical evidence and no longer recommend all children in the U.S. be vaccinated against influenza, rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), meningococcal disease, and hepatitis A and B. AAP President Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP, spoke to NPR about the Academy’s decision to break from the CDC on its vaccine recommendations this year.
The Latest on Childhood Immunizations: Practical Guidance for Clinicians held on January 28, 2026.
The slides from the presentation are available to all participants here. The recording is available here (log in required).
American Academy of Pediatrics Resources
Clinical Resources
Vaccine Communication
- Vaccine Social Media Campaign Toolkit
- Fact Checked
- Vaccine Communication Aids (also available in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese)
Documentation & Billing
- Standalone Immunization Counseling
- Refusal to Immunize Form (also available in Arabic, Chinese, Portugues, Russian, Spanish)
- Informed Consent Template for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine
State Advocacy
For Parents – all content also available in Spanish
Vaccine Letter of Support and Vaccine Talking Points
Kansas previously announced alignment with the 2026 immunization schedule developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an independent, physician-led organization representing pediatric experts nationwide. The AAP schedule is grounded in current scientific review, pediatric expertise, and broad medical consensus. A proviso added by the House Appropriations Committee would require KDHE in FY 2027 to follow the CDC childhood immunization schedule instead of maintaining alignment with the 2026 AAP schedule previously adopted by Kansas.
See talking points and Coalition Letter in support of the 2026 AAP Schedule linked below. We are interested, and hopeful, in your support and willingness to sign-on. As is always the case on issues like immunizations, we believe there is strength in numbers and in showing a united front against any anti-immunization sentiment.
If you or your practice would like to sign-on, please contact Karey Padding, KAAP Executive Director at karey.padding@kansasaap.org
National Association
AAP Speaks Up for Immigrant Children and Families
The AAP, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Physicians released a joint statement calling for all people to have unfettered access to safe, high-quality medical care as communities across the country, like those in Minnesota, have experienced aggressive immigration enforcement actions.
“The ongoing crisis in Minnesota and other communities across the U.S. is directly harming patients and families, compromising their health, stripping them of dignity and creating dangerous barriers to essential care,” the groups said.
Also, the AAP led an amicus brief in the Flores v. Bondi case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals opposing the federal government’s motion to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA). Sixteen other organizations joined AAP in this brief.
Since 1997, the FSA has set foundational standards for the treatment and release of immigrant children in U.S. custody, including requirements that ensure access to essential health care and protections against harm. AAP previously joined an amicus brief defending the FSA in 2020.
The new amicus brief outlines the significant harm that would result from eliminating FSA protections, including worsening conditions in detention facilities, extended detention periods, and negative impacts on children’s physical health, mental health, and educational development.
Members
Introducing Pediatricians: This Is My Why Campaign
This year, the AAP is celebrating the expertise, compassion, and everyday heroism of pediatricians, pediatric medical specialists, and pediatric surgical specialists through the new Pediatricians: This Is My Why campaign. This yearlong celebration is built around authentic, personal stories shared by members across the country. To kick things off, watch this powerful video from AAP President Andrew Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP, who describes his “why” and how that inspires his work. The AAP invites all members to join the campaign by sharing their own “my why” story. Members can submit their story in any format:
- Video
- Blog or written reflection
- Photo or slideshow
- Something creative and uniquely you
These experiences will help shape a collective portrait of pediatricians and may be featured throughout the campaign, including in future roundups and at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition. Let’s celebrate the calling of pediatrics – one story at a time.
National Association
Government Funding Bill Includes Key AAP Priorities
On Tuesday, 2/3/26, Congress passed and the President signed into law a fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding bill providing Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations. This funding maintains robust funding for numerous AAP appropriations priorities, including:
- The Emergency Medical Services for Children program
- Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research
- The Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program
- The Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program
- The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
- The Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program
It also increased funding for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education.
The FY 2026 spending package extends key Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027, and provides a 5-year extension of the Hospital at Home Program through September 30, 2030. Though the repeated expiration and extension of Medicare telehealth provisions does not directly impact children, the uncertainty of the Medicare policies has led many health systems to pull back on enabling telehealth across patient populations. This extension addresses those concerns.
Also, the legislation includes two AAP-supported provisions that would strengthen the implementation of the Pediatric Research Equity Act to improve transparency and accountability in pediatric drug development.
It also includes AAP-supported bills like the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act, and the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act.
The AAP will continue to monitor the administration of these programs and will work to ensure they remain funded as Congress and the administration initiate FY 2027 negotiations.
MEmbers
A Smart Solution for Kansas Families: Advancing Statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave
Interest in a state paid family and medical leave program is growing in Kansas. Most Kansas workers, 76%, do not have paid family and medical leave through their jobs. Most employers would like to offer more paid family and medical leave, but it is too expensive. Under the current system, the employer pays the entire cost of paid time off.
There is a simple solution to make paid family and medical leave affordable and accessible to all Kansas employers — a state paid family and medical leave program.
It would not cost our state a dime. It would be fully funded through small payroll contributions. The estimated employer & employee contribution is $23/month for an employee earning $60,000/yr. Small employers would be exempt from paying into the fund, but their employees would still receive the benefits.
MEmbers
Safe Sleep Instructor Training Set for May 28–29, 2026 in Wichita
The KIDS Network will be hosting the next Safe Sleep Instructor (SSI) training on May 28–29, 2026. This two-day, evidence-informed training prepares professionals to provide safe sleep education and conduct community outreach, with the shared goal of reducing sleep-related infant deaths and improving infant health outcomes.
The two-day Safe Sleep Instructor training will take place on Thursday and Friday, May 28th and 29th, 2026 in Wichita, KS. All participants must attend both days of training. The registration fee is $500 per person. The registration fee covers the training manual, handouts, a Safe Sleep Kit (including a portable crib, doll, wearable blanket, diapers, wipes, and other materials), certification for continuing education credits, access to bi-monthly webinars, and the KIDS Network Safe Sleep Instructor Certificate. Lunch will be provided on both days.
To apply for the Safe Sleep Instructor Certification training, please complete the attached registration form via REDCap through the button below.
Members
2025 Kansas County Data
After a nearly two-month delay in data after the federal government shutdown late last fall, the 2025 KIDS COUNT County Fact Sheets are now available on the Kansas Action for Children (KAC) website. These showcase the latest American Community Survey data relating to how kids are doing in health, economic security, and education. Check out your county to see how kids in your community are doing – and think about what policies could be prompted to better kids’ well-being.
Members
Consumer Product Safety Alert: Recent CPSC Recalls and Safety Reporting Resources
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products unless otherwise instructed. Consumers can submit reports of harm to the CPSC’s searchable online product safety database at www.SaferProducts.gov. A searchable food and medical product recall database is available at www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm
Members
Welcome, New Members!
Stephen Scott Cliff, DO, FAAP
Dr. Stephen S. Cliff, DO is a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric pulmonologist who serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He practices at Children’s Mercy Hospital, where his clinical interests include bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic home mechanical ventilation, and congenital airway disorders. Dr. Cliff earned his DO degree from the Oklahoma State Center for Health Sciences and completed his pediatrics residency and pediatric pulmonology fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine/St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Jennifer Lynn Biggs, MD, FAAP
Dr. Biggs graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2015. She practices in Kansas City, Missouri, and additional regional locations, specializing in pediatrics.
She is affiliated with University Health, Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Research Medical Center, and Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas. Through her clinical work, Dr. Biggs supports children and families across the Kansas City region with a focus on preventive care, developmental health, and strong physician-family partnerships.
Laura Jensen Scieszinski, MD, FAAP
Dr. Scieszinski serves as a pediatric hospitalist in Wichita through the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, providing comprehensive inpatient care to infants, children, and adolescents. She earned her medical degree from the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Blank Children’s Hospital.
CH Kansas – Post Residency Training Members
- Gavin K Randhawa, MD
- Sarah Sabir, MD, FAAP
- Danae Schufeldt, DO
- Serena Marie Wagoner, DO, FAAP
Members
Now with Texting! Connect with KAAP Quicker and Easier
You may have noticed, but we finally got texting! Text messages are an easy, convenient way to stay updated on important pediatric news, events, resources, and advocacy alerts. Never miss a key update from us that helps support your practice and community. Whether it’s conference announcements, new guidelines, or program opportunities, you’ll get timely information right at your fingertips.
Signing up only takes a moment and helps you stay more connected than ever. Subscribe today!
Kansas AAP Officers
Kelly Kreisler, MD, MPH, FAAP
President
Sonder Crane, MD, FAAP
President-Elect
Julianne Schwerdtfager, MD, FAAP
Treasurer
Gretchen Homan, MD, FAAP
Past President
Kansas AAP Team
Karey Padding, LMSW
Executive Director
karey.padding@kansasaap.org
Martha Atkinson
Accountant
martha.atkinson@kansasaap.org
Michelle Horst
Foundation Operations Manager
michelle.horst@kansasaap.org
Mallory Laur
Program Manager
mallory.laur@kansasaap.org
Marissa Guerrero
Outreach and Event Coordinator
marisa.guerrero@kansasaap.org