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 Peds RAP Podcast
- Industry exhibitors and product demonstrations
- This year, the event is in-person only
4222 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91602
Registration Closed
We have reached capacity for this event.
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
"The Morning Report" - Narcolepsy - With Sarah Ziaei, MD, Natasha Salazar, MD, & Mellad Khoshnood, MD
What the California Medical Association (CMA) can do for the Pediatrician - With Rene Bravo, MD, FAAP, CMA President
12:10 PM - 12:15 PM - Dr. Marti Baum Memorial Award Presentation and Video
Dr. Marti Baum Award Presention
Video | Award Presentation
12:15 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
Matthew Marcelino, MD (PGY-2)
Siri Vennela Indraganti, B.S.
.
Research Awards Winners Speakers
- Resident Award Winner: Matthew Marcelino, MD (PGY-2)
- Nutritional Outcomes in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Identifying High-Risk Phenotypes Beyond Disease Severity
Learning Objectives
- Describe longitudinal growth patterns in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and their relationship to disease severity.
- Identify distinct growth phenotypes in BPD and discuss implications for targeted nutritional interventions.
- Medical Student Award Winner: Siri Vennela Indraganti, B.S.
- Enhancing Quality, Capital, and Capacity for Equitable Newborn Screening Through We R.E.A.C.H. Framework: The SISHU Initiative in Rural India
Learning Objectives
- Describe the structural, operational, and community‑level barriers that limit equitable newborn screening in rural and tribal health systems.
- Discuss strategies for building rural workforce capacity through training, task sharing, mentorship, and community‑integrated follow‑up systems.
3:30 PM - 3:40 PM - Closing Announcements and Adjournment
Mitchell Goldstein, MD, FAAP
Vice President/President Elect
Vice President/President Elect
3:40 PM - 5:00 PM - Reception at the Garland Hotel
Join us for the Medical School and Residency Program Mixer!
Drinks, food, networking, and more available at this post Symposium reception!
Check Out Images From Last Year's Event!
Location
Onsite parking is available to attendees and included with event admission. Upon entering The Garland driveway, turn left toward guest parking. You can then pickup your comped parking ticket at registration.
The conference will take place at the Garland Hotel in North Hollywood.
Event Address:
The Garland Hotel
4222 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91602
Exhibitors
Exhibit Opportunities For This Year Are Now Closed.
See Who Is 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.
