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2026 Annual Advances In Pediatrics Symposium

In-Person Only

5.25 CME - 5.25 MOC PART 2

April 18, 2026

Returning to the Garland Hotel!

Set to take place at the Garland Hotel in North Hollywood, this year’s Symposium is our biggest one yet!

  • Lectures with exceptional speakers and panels
  • Networking with fellow pediatric professionals
  • State of the art conference center with free Wi-Fi and great food.
  • Live recording of the Ped’s Rap Podcast
  • Industry exhibitors and product demonstrations
  • This year, the even is in-person only

Please Register

EVENT AGENDA

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM - Breakfast & Sign-In - Sponsored By Clarity Pediatrics

Breakfast Provided By

8:00 AM - 8:10 AM - Welcome And Announcements

Melissa Ruiz, MD, MPH, 
President, AAP-CA2

  • AAP-CA2 President, 2024-2026

8:10 AM - 8:50 AM - S. Michael Marcy, MD Memorial Lecture: Pediatric Vaccines - An Overview of The Evidence Behind Their Use

 Sean Fitzwater, MD

Speaker Bio: Dr. Fitzwater was raised in a small town in central California. After attending college at UC Santa Cruz, he worked as a laboratory scientist and epidemiologist studying infectious diseases, vaccines, and international health. He settled down in Southern California, where he attended medical school at USC and completed his residency and fellowship at UCLA and then moved across town to Kaiser Permanente. Currently, he’s a pediatric infectious diseases specialist, called to help with questions about infections — often complex, rare, or confusing infections. He works with kids both in the hospital in and his clinic. 

 

Learning Objectives

  • Better understanding the science behind pediatric vaccines.
  • Clear understanding of the impact of childhood vaccines.
  • More confidence when discussion vaccine related topics with families

In 2014, the medical community lost a brilliant professional, and a friend. Dr. S. Michael Marcy was a member of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. A Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at both USC and UCLA, Dr. Marcy had the distinction of having served actively in the education and research activities at the 4 major teaching programs in Los Angeles. In his honor, and now in its tenth year, AAP-CA2 established the S. Michael Marcy Memorial Lecture.

8:50 AM - 9:30 AM - Autism Facts in the Age of Misinformation

Douglas Vanderbilt, MD, FAAP

Speaker Bio: Douglas Vanderbilt, MD, MS, MBA is the Las Madrinas Chair and Division Chief of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). He is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics (Educational Scholar) at Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California (USC). He completed his medical school at University of Tennessee, residency at UCLA, and DBP at Boston University, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), and Zero to Three in infant mental health fellowships. Dr. Vanderbilt served on AAP Council on Early Childhood executive committee, ABP DBP Sub-board, and currently on the Society for Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) Board. He has contributed to over 100 publications and served on the NICHD Biobehavioral Study Section.

Learning Objectives

  • “Autism Facts in the Age of Disinformation”
  • Explain what is know about the causes of autism spectrum disorder
  • Recommend evidenced-based treatment interventions for autism management
  • Manage questions about leucovorin, cerebral folate deficiency, and Tylenol

9:30 AM - 10:10 AM - Morning Break

Morning Break 

Visit the Exhibits | Research Posters | Meet the Professors

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM - How to Protect Pediatric Health with Federal Policy Dynamics



Mona Patel, MD, FAAP

Speaker Bio: Mona Patel, MD, FAAP, is an attending physician in the Department of General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. She is the Chief Integrated Delivery Systems Officer for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and President of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group. She is the former Chair of the Public Policy &; Advocacy Committee for the Academic Pediatric Association and currently serves as a member of the Pediatric Policy Council and liaison to the American Academy of Pediatric Committee on Federal Government Affairs (COFGA). Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Dr. Patel joined the General Pediatrics faculty at CHLA in October 2007. She earned her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency training and chief residency CHLA. She is the recipient of the Steven M. Thompson Loan Repayment scholarship in 2009, and the Calvin Sia Award for Pediatric Leadership in Pediatric Medical Home and Advocacy by the National American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) in 2017. Dr. Patel’s research and presentations have focused on improving care for children with health complexity, innovations in pediatric care delivery, health justice and policy-level solutions for underserved Populations, and alternative payment models in pediatrics, especially Medicaid and state/county-based system

Learning Objectives

  • Review current landscape of federal policy impacting child health
  • Understand how shifts in federal policy create a “Butterfly” Effect in local pediatric care
  • Describe ways local and state advocacy efforts can protect pediatric health from federal policy dynamics

10:50 AM - 11:30 AM - Keynote Lecture: Healthcare in California - CMA's Strategy for Children

René Bravo, MD, FAAP

Speaker Bio: René Bravo, M.D., is the president of the California Medical Association. Dr. Bravo is a primary care pediatrician who has been serving families and children on the Central Coast for 38 years. He is the founder and President of Bravo Pediatrics, a 5-physician single specialty group practice where he is the managing partner. He has also been active medical staff at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center (now Adventist Health) in San Luis Obispo since 1986. He is the past Chair of the Board of Directors at Cencal Health (Medi-Cal County organized health system) for San Luis Obispo (SLO) and Santa Barbara Counties.

At CMA, he has served on the Board of CALPAC and the CMA Foundation Board (now Physicians for a Healthy California), in addition to serving as District V Trustee on the CMA Board. He has served as the Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics TAC, the Governance TAC, the Restorative Justice TAC and the Fast Action Committee responding to the Office of Health Care Affordability (OCHA). A longtime delegate to the CMA House of Delegates, he has Chaired Reference Committee B for past House of Delegates.

Dr. Bravo is past president of San Luis Obispo County Medical Society, where he also served on its Governing Board and chaired the Physician Wellness Committee for 10 years. He has served for 20 years at The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) spending a decade on the Board of Trustees in Rockville, Maryland and as President of USP Convention (2007-2010). Past associations have been on the Physicians Advisory (corporate) Boards of Blue Shield, California and Lifeguard HMO (San Jose). He is a past Commissioner of the SLO County First Five Commission, as well as being appointed to serve on the initial California Medi-Cal Drug Use Review Board by the California Department of Health Care Services. Additionally, he helped found the Children’s Health Initiative of SLO County, bringing health insurance to all children in the region.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the importance of advocacy in primary care pediatrics.
  • How current culture influences healthcare choices in pediatric medicine.
  • Develop strategies to anticipate and guide during this era of confusion and chaos.

11:30 AM - 12:10 PM - Peds RAP Live Podcast Recording

First Guest: "The Morning Report" - Chief Resident, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital

Second Guest: Rene Bravo, MD, FAAP, CMA President

12:10 PM - 1:30 PM - Lunch Break

Lunch 

Business Meeting | Visit the Exhibits | Research Posters

1:30 PM - 2:10 PM - Anemia: Importance of Correct Diagnosis and the Approach to Common Pediatric Cases

Thomas Coates, MD

Speaker Bio: Dr. Coates primarily works in two areas of basic and translational research: 1) the role of inflammation in the genesis of vascular disease in sickle cell disease; 2) the detection and management of transfusion related iron overload. His research employs various engineering-intensive methodologies (MRI, laser Doppler flow, digital image analysis, signal processing) to explore the basic mechanisms of sickle cell disease and to measure the effect of various treatment modalities. He also uses direct measures of microvascular blood flow to monitor the process of vasoocclusion and relate it to simultaneous measures of autonomic nervous system function. These methodologies translate in measurements that can be used to follow patients clinically. In collaboration with members of the Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Radiology Departments at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Physiology/Biophysics at the Keck School of Medicine, Dr. Coates has devised methods to measure the sickling process in human sickle cell subjects and relate these measurements to clinical factors that modulate disease severity.

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize the worldwide impact of anemia
  • Explain the importance of proper diagnosis of chronic genetic anemia in children.
  • Discuss how to recognize and differentiate thalassemia from iron
    deficiency.

2:10 PM - 2:50 PM - Digital Dermatoses: From Viral Routines to Real Rashes—Addressing TikTok Skincare Trends in Clinic

           

Michael Nguyen, MD, PhD

 

Speaker Bio: Dr. Michael O. Nguyen is a board-certified dermatologist at UCLA Health, where he specializes in treating a wide range of skin conditions, including skin cancers, eczema, psoriasis, and skin-related side effects from cancer treatments. He sees patients at UCLA Health’s Santa Monica and Encino offices. Dr. Nguyen earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his dermatology residency at the University of California, Irvine. He spent his intern year at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, focusing on the care of cancer patients. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Stanford University with Honors and Distinction and his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford as a Fulbright-Clarendon Scholar.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify common patterns of skin injury and dermatoses associated with
    social-media driven skincare practices.
  • Apply evidence-based strategies to counsel patients and manage social
    media-induced skin conditions, including risk mitigation, treatment
    selection, and patient education on safe skincare practices.

2:50 PM - 3:30 PM - Research Abstracts Awards and Presentation

 

 

Research Awards Winners Speakers

  • Winners Announced Closer To The Event!

Learning Objectives

  • Coming Soon!

3:30 PM - 3:40 PM - Closing Announcements and Adjournment

Melissa Ruiz, MD, MPH, 
President, AAP-CA2

  • AAP-CA2 President, 2024-2026

3:40 PM - 5:00 PM - Reception at the Garland Hotel

Drinks, food, networking, and more available at this post Symposium reception!

Check Out Images From Last Year's Event!

Location

The conference will take place at the Garland Hotel in North Hollywood. Onsite parking is available to attendees and included with event admission.

Event Address: 

The Garland Hotel
4222 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91602

Exhibitors

Exhibit Opportunities

Spaces are still available to exhibit at this year’s event. Table space is $800 before April 1st. Please contact Will Barboza for details at wbarboza@aapca2.org.

You may return to this page to process your payment after submission and acceptance of your exhibitor form. Click the “Pay Exhibit Fee” button below.

Exhibit Table - $800

Sponsor Event Portion - $2,000

See Who Will Be Exhibiting This Year!

EVENT ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of PeerPoint Medical Education Institute and the American Academy of Pediatrics – CA2.

PeerPoint Medical Education Institute is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. PeerPoint Medical Education Institute designates the live format for this educational activity for a maximum of 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Live activity date: April 18, 2026

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 5.25 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.