2025 Annual Meeting Agenda

 

APGNN Program November 7th-8th, 2025  

Friday, November 7th 

7:30-8:00am: Breakfast & Welcome

8:00-9:15am: Session I - Keynote Speaker & APGNN Year in Review

8:00-9:00am: Keynote: When Healing Hurts: Moral Distress and the Unseen Impact of Reform in Pediatric Healthcare

          Dr. Paquette, MD, JD, MBe, HEC-C, FAAP - Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Objectives:
• Discuss how policy reform is contributing to moral distress for health care providers.
• Explore the psychological and professional consequences of moral distress on
healthcare providers, including burnout, compassion fatigue, and turnover
• Review therapeutic framework to utilize when moral distress and burnout occur
• Discuss the unique vulnerability of pediatric patients in ethically complex care
environments compared to adult populations
• Encourage interdisciplinary dialogue around balancing systemic reform with ethical
patient care, especially in the pediatric patient population

9:00-9:15am: APGNN Year in Review

      Kerry Reed, MS, RN, CPNP-PC, APGNN President 

9:15-9:30am: Committee Meetings & Break 

9:30-11:00am: Session II - Intestinal Rehab-The Long and the Short of Guts 

9:30-10:00am: From Learning to Living: Equipping Intestinal Failure Patients for Safe Discharge

          Jenn McClelland, BSN, MS, RN, FNP-BC- Boston Children’s Hospital 

Objectives:
• Illustrate a multi-disciplinary approach to identifying, educating and safely
discharging pediatric intestinal failure patients/caregivers, particularly those on home
parenteral nutrition.
• Describe inpatient education protocol designed to mitigate risks of hospital
readmissions, ambulatory CLABSI and CVC complications.
• Identify effective education techniques for patients/caregivers to manage high-risk
complex therapies at home. 

10:00-10:30am: Short Bowel Syndrome: A triage protocol       

          Speaker: TBD

Objectives:
• Briefly review common conditions in short bowel syndrome/intestinal failure patients
that require triage.
• Describe the role of the GI Nurse in developing and implementing a triage protocol
for patients with SBS
• Demonstrate the application of the triage protocol through case-based scenario(s)

10:30-11:00am: The Ins and Outs of Parenteral Nutrition

          Flori Brioni, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC - Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Objectives:
• Evaluate parenteral nutrition (PN) indications and assess associated risks.
• Discuss appropriate lab monitoring in PN patients.
• Highlight relevant PN additives and their clinical significance.
• Highlight nutritional additives that are unable to be added to PN solutions.
• Summarize safe prescribing of PN solutions.

11:00-12:00pm: Session III - The 101 on an APP Run Service

11:00-11:30am: Improving Outcomes for Patients with Pediatric Feeding Disorders (PFD) Transitioning from Hospital to Home: A Nurse Practitioner Led Service

          Jessica Owens, CPNP-PC, MSN - UNC Medical Center Chapel Hill

Objectives:
• Identify gaps in care between hospital to the home setting in patients with PFD
• Understand how early feeding interventions can improve outcomes in the 4 domains
of the PFD
• Identify measurable outcomes and areas for expansion of the NP led service

11:30-12:00pm:Transforming Inpatient Care: Implementing an APP-Lead Team in Hepatology/Liver Transplant.

         Jody D. Mackling, APRN, MSN, CPNP-AC, CPNP-PC - UT Southwestern Medical Center/Children’s Health

Objectives:
• Describe the rationale for implementing an APP-lead inpatient service, particularly in
high acuity service lines such as hepatology.
• Outline steps and considerations in the design, staffing, scheduling, and
operationalizing an effective APP inpatient team.
• Evaluate performance outcomes and sustainability through clinical metrics/outcomes,
patient experience and provider integration.

12:00-1:30pm: Lunch & Poster Session 

1:30-3:00pm: Session IV - Hot Topics 

1:30-2:00pm: Living Donor Liver Transplant: A Way to Work Towards Zero Waitlist Mortality

          Dr. Amy Feldman - Children’s Hospital Colorado

Objectives:
• Understand the various graft options for children in need of liver transplant
• Be aware of disparities that exist in pediatric liver transplantation
• Understand ways to advocate for each pediatric liver transplant candidate

2:00-2:30pm: Beyond the Hoofbeats

          Millie Boettcher, MSN, PPCNP-BC

Objectives:
• Review history of presenting symptoms of CODEs (congenital onset diarrhea and
enteropathies
• Discuss previous treatments and endoscopy findings
• Discuss WNT2B mutation
• Review of recent endoscopies and new diagnosis

2:30-3:00pm: Should We Be Freaking Out? Decoding the Drama Around Ultra Processed Foods, Seed Oils, Natural Flavors, and Food Dyes

          Venus Kalami, MNSP, RD, CSP - Venus Kalami Nutrition

Objectives:
• Define and demystify the science behind ultra processed foods, seed oils, natural flavors, and foods.
• Critically evaluate claims and concerns regarding these ingredients to separate fact from fiction.
• Explore practical frameworks to nutrition and lifestyle counseling that are evidence-based and human-centered.

3:00-3:30pm: APGNN Awards & Presentations - with snacks provided by APGNN

  • Patient and Professional Education Award
  • Poster of Distinction 
  • Susan Moyer Research Grant 
    • Announcing current year's winner 
    • Grant update from 2024 prior winner

3:30-5:00pm: Session V - Updates in IBD

3:30-4:00pm: New Kids on the Block-Updates in IBD Medications

          Dr. Brent Polk - University of California/Rady Children’s San Diego

Objectives:
• Understand the differences across therapeutic targets in IBD
• List FDA approved drug treatments for pediatric IBD
• Identify two resources available for patients or providers to remain up to date on
FDA-approved IBD medications

4:00-4:30pm: Functional or Factual? Deciphering symptoms in IBD patients

          Emmala Ryan Waduge, FNP-C - Levine Children’s Hospital/Atrium Health

Objectives:
• Describe the clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria of functional symptom
overlap in IBD patients
• Identify clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and imaging features that help distinguish
active inflammation from functional symptoms
• Explain the role of gut-brain axis, microbiome changes, visceral hypersensitivity, and
psychosocial factors.
• Explore evidence-based management strategies for functional symptoms in IBD
patients
• Recognize the impact of functional symptoms on patient quality of life and mental
health

4:30-5:00pm:  Young Guts, Hidden Risks: VTE Prevention in pediatric IBD

          Dr. Kim Chien - Weill Cornell Medicine New York

Objectives:
• Describe the pathophysiology and presentation of VTEs in IBD
• Discuss prevalence and incidence of VTEs in pediatric IBD
• Discuss risk factors of VTEs in pediatric IBD
• Discuss safety of VTE prophylaxis in children with IBD
• Discuss current recommendations for VTE prophylaxis in children in IBD

5:00-5:30pm:  Growing Pains - Transitioning your IBD Patient to Adult Care 

          Maureen Kelly, DNP, RN, CPNP- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Objectives:
• Identify three barriers to successful health maintenance and transition to adult care.
• Describe three health maintenance practices and their effect on transition of care.
• Discuss examples of content to be included in a health maintenance/transition clinic.
• Identify tools that can be used for transition assessment, planning and transfer.
• Explain the importance of planning for future health needs and identify resources for
support.

6:00pm: APGNN Social Event 

Saturday, November 8th - With concurrent NASPGHAN Sessions in the afternoon

8:00-8:30am: Communal Breakfast & Welcome

8:30-10:00am: Session V - Gastroenterology Procedures 

8:30-9:00am: Anorectal Manometry: What You Need to Know

          Carly Mondillo, RN, BSN, CPN & Kristen Beck, RN, BSN, CPN - Cincinnati Children’s

Objectives:
• Describe the basics of anorectal manometry
• Explain how to prepare patients and families for what to expect during an anorectal
manometry procedure

9:00-9:30am: Enhancing Bowel Preparations with Standard and Nonstandard Approaches

         Martha Sprague, CPNP & Lindsey Rosenblit, MSN, RN, FNP-BC - Boston Children’s

Objectives:
• Discuss the importance of effective and tolerable bowel preps in pediatric population
for diagnosis and management
• Briefly review standard bowel preps by weight
• Discuss special considerations/populations that merit modified preps
• Review special studies and their preps (motility / capsule studies)
• Discuss common questions and concerns that arise during the preps
• When to admit for prep, and how to start the process  

9:30-10:00am: Intestinal ultrasound: The Ideal Tool for Managing Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

         Dr. Michael Dolinger - Mount Sinai Health System

Objectives:
• Describe the role of intestinal ultrasound (IUS) in the real-time assessment of disease
activity in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Compare the accuracy and utility of IUS with other imaging modalities and
monitoring tools
• Identify practical applications of IUS across clinical contexts in tight control
monitoring strategies to improve outcomes for children with IBD
• Understand IUS implementation strategies and access barriers USA 

10:00-10:30am: Break 

10:30am-12:00pm: Session VI - Reflux - Follow the Pathway 

10:30-11:00am: Beyond the Burp: Diagnostic Approach for Reflux in Children

          Dr. Llanos-Chea - UT Southwestern

Objectives:
• Explain the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying gastroesophageal reflux
(GER) in infants and children.
• Describe the various diagnostic tools and tests used to evaluate GER/GERD in
children, highlighting their indications, advantages, and limitations.
• Discuss the clinical approach to selecting appropriate diagnostic methods based on
age, symptoms, and severity, integrating evidence-based guidelines and current
pediatric gastroenterology practices.

11:00-11:30am:Treating GERD: Acid suppression and Beyond

          Dr. Seema Khan - Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford

Objectives:
• Describe the clinical efficacy, safety and limitations of standard acid suppressive
therapy
• Discuss complicated and refractory pediatric GERD
• Review the emerging pharmacological therapies including potassium competitive
acid blockers in GERD therapy
• Identify the role of procedural interventions in the management of GERD

11:30am-12:00pm: Reflux Hypersensitivity and Utilizing Neuromodulation  

          Dr. Shaunte McKay - Emory University School of Medicine

Objectives:
• To define advances in understanding the pathophysiology of reflux hypersensitivity
• To review clinical symptoms and diagnosis of reflux hypersensitivity
• To review current insights on neuromodulation treatment modalities for reflux
hypersensitivity

Joint APGNN/NASPGHAN Sessions after lunch 

12:00-2:00pm: Lunch & Poster Session 

2:00-6:00pm: Session VIII- APGNN/NASPGHAN Concurrent Sessions 

IBD in the Changing World: Exploring Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

Moderators: Jeremy Adler, MD, MSc, University of Michigan

2:00 pm: The Shifting Global Landscape of IBD        

         Eric Benchimol, MD, The Hospital for Sick Children

Objectives:
• Describe the changing global epidemiology of pediatric IBD
• Investigate how this changing epidemiology can give us clues as to the
pathophysiology of IBD
• Discuss how this changing global burden might affect the care received by children
with IBD

2:25 pm: Abstract

2:32 pm: Bridging the Gap: Integrating Reproductive Health into Pediatric IBD Management         

         Erica Brenner, MD, MSCR, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Objectives:
• Assess the impact of active IBD on pubertal development, menstruation, and fertility
in adolescents and young adults
• Describe IBD-specific recommendations on contraceptive use, sexual health, and
cervical cancer prevention
• Apply patient-centered strategies to address psychosocial and sexual health concerns
with adolescents and young adults with IBD

2:57 pm: Building Bright Futures: Optimizing Quality of Life        

       Bonney Reed, PhD, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Objectives:

• Describe key psychosocial factors that impact quality of life in pediatric patients with
IBD, including anxiety, depression, treatment adherence, and social functioning
• Identify evidence-based psychological strategies and interventions that can be
integrated into clinical care to support emotional well-being and self-management in
youth with IBD
• Demonstrate how interdisciplinary collaboration between psychologists and
gastroenterologists can enhance patient-centered care and improve health outcomes in
pediatric IBD

Current Approaches for Eosinophils in the Gut

Moderators: Benjamin Kuhn, DO, Medical University of South Carolina and Vincent Mukkada, MD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

3:45 pm: Debate: Should We Step Up or Down to Biologic Therapy in Pediatric EoE?          

          James Franciosi, MD, MS, University of Louisville School of Medicine
                                                    vs
         Mirna Chehade, MD, MPH, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Objectives:
• Review current evidence on the efficacy and safety of biologics in children with EoE
• Discuss clinical scenarios in which biologic therapy may be appropriate
• Identify key gaps in knowledge to guide future research and clinical decision-making

4:10pm: Abstract

4:17pm: Converging on the diagnosis & management of non-EoE EGIDS       

          Rajitha Venkatesh, MD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

4:42 pm: Abstract

 

7:00-10:00pm: NASPGHAN/APGNN/CPNP Social Event 

 

> Anticipated CME: 11.75 ANCC contact hours

> Nurse Pharmacology Sessions - 3.0 CE Total

Full Program Agenda for NASPGHAN/APGNN/CPNP Annual Meeting available here