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With the National Conference & Exhibition located in Orlando, Fla., this fall, the AAP is developing programs and taking measures to ensure a safe and supportive environment for attendees.
“The National Conference promises to be educational, inspirational and energizing with hot and emerging topics,” said National Conference Planning Group member Rani S. Gereige, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, who is executive director of medical education at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. “Hosting the National Conference in Florida brings the support of all pediatricians banding together for the health and well-being of all children, youths and their pediatricians. Having all of you (in Florida) sends a clear message of solidarity, inclusion, equity and advocacy, and reaffirms the will to continue to speak against culture wars and health disinformation.”
Florida Chapter President Thresia B. Gambon, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., FAAP, said pediatricians in the state welcome support from colleagues and the Academy during the event scheduled for Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.
“We know Florida has made several unfortunate decisions the last few years, and the pediatricians have been here fighting for children’s and women’s rights,” Dr. Gambon said. “It has been and continues to be a hard journey. Some providers have left the state, but most have stayed. We live here, our families are here and our patients are here. We want to continue to be here to represent, to try to educate our legislators to make better decisions and hopefully improve care in our state.”
The AAP is committed to inclusion, equity and respectful treatment of all conference attendees and seeks to provide a professional atmosphere in which attendees can learn and network with colleagues.
“The Academy recognizes that people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, pregnant people, and those from other marginalized groups may have concerns about Orlando and we will be working hard to ensure all attendees experience a welcoming and safe environment,” said AAP CEO/Executive Vice President Mark Del Monte, J.D.
While the conference will support Florida pediatricians, it also will buoy AAP members who are caring for children in other states with challenging environments. Sessions will equip, inform and support members no matter where they are located. The planning group is working to identify a track of programs on topics related to marginalized communities.
At last year’s AAP Leadership Conference, Alabama Chapter President Nola Jean Ernest, M.D., Ph.D., FAAP, responded to questions about whether the National Conference should stay in Florida as planned.
“Ever since I stood at the Leadership Conference and urged my colleagues to stand arm-in-arm with pediatricians in District X (Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Puerto Rico), the environment has become more challenging for children, families and pediatricians,” she said. “This is now true in many areas of the country as well. Regardless of where we gather, it is more important now than ever that we do gather and demonstrate a unified voice that advocates for children.”
Advocacy efforts and special events will be announced in the coming months, including details on a Get Out the Vote campaign to engage members prior to the national election in November.
The AAP also is working with a nonprofit organization that helps event attendees and travelers offset their spending in destinations where laws do not align with their values, by making it easy to donate to local charities that do. In consultation with the Florida Chapter, the AAP will develop a list of several Florida-based nonprofit organizations that benefit children and families. In addition, the AAP is developing a list of local minority-owned businesses and restaurants for members to consider visiting while attending the meeting.
“Our National Conference is the largest gathering of pediatricians in the world. There is tremendous power in convening,” said AAP President Benjamin D. Hoffman, M.D., FAAP. “I hope every member of the AAP who is able to join us in Orlando will come and bring a colleague with them.”
Conference registration opens May 1 for AAP members and May 8 for nonmembers. The conference will offer a limited virtual program that will include a livestream of all plenary sessions and select other sessions. Recordings of these sessions will be available through Jan. 31, 2025. Attendees may cancel their in-person registration at any time without penalty and be converted to virtual-only attendance.
For more information and to register, visit www.aapexperience.org.
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Supporting our Members, Family, and Local Communities in Orlando
