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Colorado Pediatric Emergency and Trauma Conference 2026
Overview
This interdisciplinary Pediatric Trauma Conference provides focused, evidence-based education to address critical gaps in the assessment, stabilization, and management of injured children across EMS, emergency, transport, rural, and hospital settings. The activity emphasizes pediatric-specific trauma principles, team-based care, and emerging best practices to improve confidence, consistency, and outcomes during high-risk, low-frequency pediatric trauma events.
Target Audience
This program will be of interest to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, EMS providers, aeromedical personnel and ancillary staff.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this accredited educational activity, learners will be able to:
1. Apply evidence-based pediatric trauma principles that account for anatomical, physiological, and developmental differences to improve assessment, imaging, airway management, sedation, and resuscitation decisions in injured children.
2. Demonstrate effective interdisciplinary trauma team practices, including role clarity, situational awareness, communication, and psychological safety, during high-risk, low-frequency pediatric trauma events.
3. Adapt pediatric trauma management strategies to complex environments, including rural, high-altitude, and in-flight medical transport settings, with attention to patient safety and resource limitations.
4. Integrate emerging pediatric trauma advancements - including trauma systems of care, technology, whole blood use, and updated evidence-based guidelines - into clinical decision-making across the continuum of care.
5. Identify opportunities for systems-level improvement and prevention, incorporating injury prevention advocacy, mental health considerations, legal responsibilities, and post-injury care coordination for pediatric patients and families.
Learner Outcome
As a result of participating in this Pediatric Trauma Conference, learners will report increased knowledge and demonstrate enhanced readiness to deliver standardized, timely, developmentally appropriate care and to manage high‑risk, low‑frequency pediatric trauma across diverse clinical and environmental settings through the application of case-based learning.
Scholarship Assistance
We are excited to offer 10 EMS Scholarships that will cover the in-person registration fee and 4 Rural Health Scholarships that will cover in-person registration and 2 nights at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver.
If you represent an EMS agency, a rural hospital, or are a volunteer EMS provider, please consider applying for this fantastic opportunity. Applications are due Sept 12 and award notifications will be announced Sept 25.
Click here to submit an application
Do not register for the conference prior receiving a reply to your scholarship application. Separate registration instructions will be sent directly to all scholarship recipients.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
7:30 a.m. Sign-In and Continental Breakfast
8:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks - Jason Kotas, NREMT
8:05 Surviving the Summit (Mountain/Outdoor Rural Trauma Lecture) - Dave Weber
8:55 Trauma Simulation - Jess Parker
9:35 Trauma Team Safety - Lalit Bijaj, MD, MPH/MSPH
10:20 Break / Exhibits
10:30 Pediatric Airway Management - Grant Young
11:15 Legal Landmines in Pediatric Trauma: Protecting Patients & Team Members - Patrick O’Rourke, JD
12:00 Lunch / Exhibits
1:00 Breakout Sessions
Trauma Sessions | CCT Sessions | |
1:00 | Pediatric vs Adult Imaging | Vent Management – Tricks of the Trade
|
1:45 | Sedation in Trauma Christopher Nichols, MD | Case Studies of the Pit |
2:30 | Topic TBD | Seizure/Stoke |
3:15 Evaluation & Adjourn
Thursday, November 12, 2026
7:30 a.m. Sign-In and Continental Breakfast
8:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks - Jason Kotas, NREMT
8:05 From Tragedy to Transformation: Advocacy for Safer Childhood Environments - Josh Stewart
8:50 EMS Case Study - Jonathan D. Apfelbaum, MD
9:35 Title TBD - Joseph Kelly
10:20 Break / Exhibits
10:30 Sky High Resuscitation: Pediatric Trauma in the Air - Flight Team Member
11:15 E-Bike and E-Scooter Trauma - José L. Díaz-Mirón, MD, MSCS
12:00 p.m. Lunch / Exhibits
1:00 Pediatric Surgical Emergencies - Karisa Reynolds, MS, PA-C, Brandi Axford, MSN, RN, PNP-AC/PC
1:45 The Hidden Wound: Mental Health in the Patient & Family After Trauma - Tess Simpson
2:30 Emergency Management of the Pregnant Trauma Patient - Jonathan “Jake” Hirshberg, MD
3:15 Evaluation & Adjourn
Hybrid conference. You may attend virtually, or in-person at Children's Hospital Colorado.
Virtual registrants will receive a ZOOM link via email to join the conference.
Medical: Children’s Hospital Colorado is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Children’s Hospital Colorado designates this live activity for a maximum of 12.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nursing: Children’s Hospital Colorado is approved with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This educational offering for 12.5 nursing contact hours is provided by Children’s Hospital Colorado.
EMS: Children's Hospital Colorado is an approved provider of EMS continuing education through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division. Children's Hospital Colorado is EMS Training Group #EO49. This education offering is good for 12.5 hours.
General Attendance: A general certificate of attendance will be available for all other care providers.
Criteria for Successful Completion:
Registration, attendance, sign-in and submission of the evaluation, including a written response to questions related to any change in practice that you may make as a result of learning that took place at this activity, are required for successful completion and receipt of the certificate of attendance. Claim only those hours you attend.
Available Credit
- 12.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 12.50 Approved Trauma Education
- 12.50 Attendance
- 12.50 Approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 12.50 Colorado State EMS
- 12.50 NCPD
- 12.50 Approved Trauma Education
Click here for more information.
Price
Cancellation Policy
A registration refund, minus a $10.00 cancelation fee, will be granted if cancellation is requested by 10/28/2026. No refunds will be granted after this date or for non-attendance. You may send a substitute by notifying the conference coordinator at least three days prior to activity.
Children’s Hospital Colorado reserves the right to modify the agenda or cancel this conference in the event of an unforeseen circumstance, or if minimum acceptable registration is not attained by 10/11/2026 with a full refund to participants. If you require special assistance or services to allow full participation, please notify us at least four weeks in advance of the activity.