L2026 8th Annual Twin Cities Pediatric Update

We invite you to attend this in-person only educational experience on September 17-18, 2026, hosted by Children’s Minnesota, the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics, and the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MNAAP).
We will feature two keynote speakers and a variety of plenary sessions to keep you current on relevant topics and recent advances in pediatrics that are most important to your practice.
This year’s conference is moving to the north metro and will be held at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest Hotel & Conference Center in Brooklyn Park, MN. In lieu of a virtual option, new this year, participants will be able to select a 1-day or 2-day option to attend the conference when you register.
WE WILL NOT be recording presentations for viewing post-course. Completion of the evaluation is required to claim course credit.
Presentation resources will be shared provided the speaker(s) grant(s) permission to do so.
REGISTRATION CLOSES at NOON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026.
The Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is excited to host its annual meeting at the conference venue this year. We are looking forward to a relaxed evening of celebration and hope you can join us on Thursday, September 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event will occur directly following the conclusion of day 1 of the resident poster presentation.
Chapter leadership will hold a brief formal program at 6 p.m. to look back at the chapter's activities and honor the annual award recipients.
If you plan on attending this event, please add this item to your cart at checkout. This event is held free of charge with beverages and appetizers provided.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY:
We are excited to once again offer a scholarship opportunity to cover the registration fees for medical students, nursing students, residents, advanced practice nursing students, fellows, pharmacy residents, physician associate/assistant students.
Please click on the link below to learn more and apply!
Target Audience
Healthcare clinicians caring for pediatric patients and their families.
Learning Objectives
- Provide practical strategies and tools to assist clinicians caring for children in a primary care setting
- Update and review current pediatric best practices and hot topics in a variety of subject areas
- Join together with local and national pediatric experts to inspire changes in your practice
*Agenda may be subject to change
**Q&A sessions and transition to the next speaker are built into each presentation.
| DAY 1 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 |
|---|---|
| Time | Presentation |
| 8:00 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions |
| 8:10 a.m. | Managing Migraines in a Primary Care Setting with Laura Speltz, MD |
| 8:45 a.m. | Substance Use Disorders for Primary Care with Sara Polley, MD, FAPA, FASAM |
| 9:20 a.m. | Ehlers Danlos: Separating Fact From Fiction with Charles Billington, Jr., MD, PhD and Emily Hause, MD, MPH |
| 9:50 a.m. | BREAK |
| 10:05 a.m. | Nutrition Trends with Caroline Weeks, PA-C, MPAS, RDN |
| 10:40 a.m. | Vaccine News to Know with Michael Osterholm, PhD |
| 11:20 a.m. | Contraception 2.0 with Katy Miller, MD, FAAP |
| 11:50 a.m. | LUNCH |
| 12:50 p.m. | KEYNOTE Address with Susan Kressly, MD |
| 1:55 p.m. | Formula Update |
| 2:30 p.m. | ARFID: Clinical Presentations and Considerations with Ashely Jennings, PhD, LP |
| 3:00 p.m. | BREAK |
| 3:15 p.m. | Adolescent Dermatology with Caleb Creswell, MD |
| 3:55 p.m. | ENT Update with Luke Jakubowski, MD |
| 4:25 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
| 4:30 p.m. | Adjourn and short break |
| 4:40 p.m. | Resident Poster Sessions |
| 5:30 p.m. | MNAAP Social Hour |
| 6:00 p.m. | MNAAP Awards and Meeting |
| 7:30 p.m. | Day 1 End |
| DAY 2 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 |
|---|---|
| Time | Presentation |
| 8:00 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions |
| 8:10 a.m. | Asthma Update with Dorothy Curran, MD |
| 8:45 a.m. | Early Childhood Dermatology with Sheilagh Maguiness, MD |
| 9:25 a.m. | KEYNOTE Address |
| 10:25 a.m. | BREAK |
| 10:40 a.m. | Spotting Vaccine Preventable Diseases with Kathryn Schmit, MD |
| 11:15 a.m. | Technologizing of newborns |
| 11:45 a.m. | LUNCH |
| 12:45 p.m. | Autism Update with Casey Burrows, PhD, LP |
| 1:25 p.m. | Assessing and treating anxiety and depression in younger, school age patients with Sarah Jerstad, PhD, LP |
| 1:55 p.m. | BREAK |
| 2:10 p.m. | Type 1 Diabetes management in 2026: What's New? Melena Bellin, MD |
| 2:45 p.m. | Immigration and ICE Impacts on Children's Mental Health with Katie Lingras, PhD, LP |
| 3:20 p.m. | Toxicology - Meds & Mishaps: A Practical Guide to Pediatric Poisoning with Kirk Hughes, RN, EMT, CSPI |
| 3:50 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
| 4:00 p.m. | Day 2 End |
Please Park in the main lot in front of the convention center; parking is free of charge.
Travel
Minneapolis Marriott Northwest Hotel & Conference Center
We have a block of rooms reserved at a special rate of $154/night. Please click on the link below to reserve or call the reservation line at 1-877-303-1681. Last day to book at this special rate is August 24, 2026.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER INFORMATION:
Susan Kressly, MD
FACULTY:
Melena Bellin, MD – Professor, Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Minnesota Medical School and Masonic Children's Hospital
Charles Billington, Jr., MD, PhD – Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism, Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota
Casey Burrows, PhD, LP – Associate Professor and Licensed Psychologist in the Autism and Neurodevelopment Clinic, University of Minnesota
Caleb Creswell, MD – Dermatologist, Dermatology Specialists, PA
Dorothy Curran, MD – Pediatric Pulmonology, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, University of Minnesota
Emily Hause, MD, MPH – Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota
Kirk Hughes, RN, EMT, CSPI – Professional Educator, Poison Specialist, Minnesota Regional Poison Center
Luke Jakubowski, MD – Otolaryngologist, ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, Children’s Minnesota
Sarah Jerstad, PhD, LP – Psychologist, Medical Director Behavioral Health Services
Ashley Jennings, PhD, LP – Psychologist, Eating Disorders Clinic at Children’s Minnesota
Katie Lingras, PhD, LP – Child and Adolescent Psychology, Associate Professor, Director of Inclusive Excellence and Well-Being, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota
Sheilagh Maguiness, MD – Pediatric Dermatology, Professor Dermatology and Pediatrics, Division Director, Pediatric Dermatology; Director, UMMCH Center for Pediatric Vascular Lesions, Hazel O. Groves Chair for Pediatric Dermatology, University of Minnesota
Katy Miller, MD, FAAP – Adolescent Medicine Specialist, Boynton Health, University of Minnesota
Michael Osterholm, PhD – Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Professor in the Technological Leadership Institute, College of Science and Engineering and Adjunct Professor in the Medical School all at the University of Minnesota.
Sara Polley, MD, FAPA, FASAM – Medical Director, Vantage Mental Health
Kathryn Schmit, MD, MPH – Pediatric Infectious Disease, Children’s Minnesota
Laura Speltz, MD – Pediatric Neurology, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota; MHealth Fairview Clinics in Woodbury and Maplewood
PLANNING COMMITTEE:
Jeff Bauer, Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics - Conference Director
Jessica Najarian-Bell, MD, CentraCare
Brandi Buczynski, University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics
Eileen Crespo, MD, Hennepin Healthcare
Kade Goepferd, MD, FAAP, Children's Minnesota - Conference Director
Mary Grimm, Children's Minnesota
Kim Honcharenko, RN, CHCP, Children's Minnesota
Jill Johnson, PharmD, Children's Minnesota
Hanna Jorgenson, Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Jordan Marmet, MD, University of Minnesota - Conference Director
Erin Martin APRN, CPNP, Children's Minnesota
Christy Matlock, RN, Fargo School District
Nathan Messbarger, MD, Children's Minnesota
Emily Borman Shoap, MD, FAAP, University of Minnesota
Katie Smentek, MD, FAAP, Mankato Clinic
Ilze Vogel, Children's Minnesota
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:
It is our intent that any potential conflict should be identified openly so that the listeners may form their own judgments about the presentation with the full disclosure of the facts. It is not assumed any potential conflicts will have an adverse impact on these presentations. It remains for the audience to determine whether the speaker’s outside interest may reflect a possible bias, either the exposition or the conclusions presented.
Planning committee members and presenter(s) have disclosed they have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing selling re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients and have disclosed that no conflict of interest exists with the presentation/educational event.

Accreditation Statement:
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Children’s Minnesota, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics. Children’s Minnesota is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Children’s Minnesota takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific interest of its accredited continuing education activities.
Credit Statement:
AMA
Children’s Minnesota designates this live activity for a maximum of 12.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent to their participation in the activity.
ANCC
Children's Minnesota designates this live activity for a maximum of 12.0 ANCC nursing contact hour. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
PHARMACY
Pharmacy credits will be recorded with the ACPE provided the pharmacist includes this information when setting up their user profile. Learners can access this at any time after logging into their account.
This program offers 12.0contact hours of continuing education. Most medical professional organizations accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. It is the individual’s responsibility to determine whether an education activity meets the continuing education requirements of their respective licensures and/or professional boards. Go to your respective organization’s website for more detailed information regarding credit requirements.
You may select a 1-day or full 2-day option to attend the conference. If you would like to attend the MNAAP social hour, meeting and awards event, please add this to your cart prior to check out.
Registration tips:
- If attending either the full conference, Day 1, or Day 2 only, please click on the individual event.
- If attending the MNAAP event along with the full conference, Day 1, or Day, 2 use the checkboxes to register and click on the ENROLL button.
Please select your options carefully as we are not able to accommodate changes.
REGISTRATION CLOSES AT NOON ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026. No onsite registrations.
SPECIAL EARLY BIRD code is valid now through MAY 30, 2026, for the 2-day/FULL Conference option ONLY.
Enter the code TCPU26EARLY to save $100 on your registration fees. The early bird cannot be combined with other reduced pricing options listed below.
There is a $50 non-refundable cancellation fee. No refunds will be processed after August 31, 2026. If you need to cancel, please email [email protected]
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY:
We are excited to once again offer a scholarship opportunity to cover the registration fees for medical students, nursing students, residents, advanced practice nursing students, fellows, pharmacy residents, physician associate/assistant students.
Please click on the link below to learn more and apply!
DISCOUNT CODES:
Medical Students, enter the code STUDENT for a reduced registration fee. Quantities are limited.
Residents, enter the code RESIDENT100 for a reduced registration fee. Quantities are limited.
Advanced Practice Nursing Student Only, enter the code APSTUDENT for a reduced registration fee. Quantities are limited.
**YOU ARE NOT PERMITED TO USE MORE THAN ONE COUPON CODE AT CHECKOUT**

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