American Academy of Pediatrics hosts National Conference

NEW ORLEANS, La. – More than 15,000 people – including 10,000 pediatricians and health care professionals — are expected to arrive in New Orleans Oct. 25-29 for the 2019 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition.

The AAP National Conference & Exhibition takes place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where attendees explore topics that affect children’s health. Researchers will present hundreds of original research abstracts on newsworthy topics, and more than 400 educational sessions are scheduled on dozens of topics, including youth suicide risks; vaccine hesitancy; care of immigrant children; children’s use of social media; bariatric surgery for teens; and marijuana use and breastfeeding, among other pressing concerns.

“This conference is an opportunity to move beyond the nuts and bolts of health care, helping us to tackle emerging threats to health like vaping, gun violence, racial disparities and discrimination,” said Cassandra Pruitt, MD, FAAP, chair of the 2019 conference Planning Group.

Special events for journalists include:

FRIDAY, Oct. 25: PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: AAP Community Cares Project

Noon – 4:30 p.m. St. Michael Special School & St. Alphonsus School

AAP volunteers will help with landscape and clean-up projects at St. Michael Special School for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and at St. Alphonsus School for children and families.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, Oct. 26 and Oct. 27: Soundbite Sessions with Authors

12:30 – 1:30 pm. Saturday, Press Room 208-209

Noon- 1 p.m. Sunday, Press Room 208-209

Authors of newsworthy abstracts meet with journalists during these 1-hour “soundbite sessions.” On Saturday, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., select authors will speak about research including parent attitudes on using social media to obtain donor breastmilk; pediatric snow sport injuries; suicide rates and poverty; and trampoline injuries. On Sunday, from noon-1 p.m. authors will discuss a new AAP policy statement and research on the safety of bariatric surgery for children and teens; plus research on the importance of sleep; and when leaving a child home alone is perceived as abuse by welfare workers.

Other highlights include:

MONDAY, Oct. 28: A Burning House: Children’s Health in the Warming World”

11:50 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., Convention Center Great Hall

In Louisiana, residents need to look no farther than their intense tropical storms and disappearing shoreline to know the effects of climate change. The presenter argues that children will bear the burden of climate change if adults don’t take action now.

TUESDAY, Oct. 28: Special Diets and Supplements: Are They Safe for Children?”

8:30-10 a.m. , Convention Center Room 294

More families are experimenting with specialized diets, such as ketogenic, vegan or gluten-free, that can put their children at risk if they are lacking in needed nutrients. Experts will talk about case scenarios and resources for nutritional help.

Media interested in covering the conference are strongly encouraged to apply for credentials in advance. For information about covering the conference, including how to register, media guidelines, press room arrangements and daily meeting highlights, visit the AAP News Room or contact AAP Public Affairs at

[email protected]

or 630-626-6177. The on-site Press Office will be located at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Room 208-209. Reporters must check in at the Press Office to obtain media credentials. Embargoed news releases and abstracts are available by request.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit

http://www.

aap.

org

.