Facebook
X
LinkedIn
Forward
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.
Additional Information
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 CPETC 2026 Brochure.pdf | 1.15 MB |
Course summary
- 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
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Sign-In & Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks Jason Kotas, NREMT |
| 8:05 a.m. | Surviving the Summit: Mountain & Outdoor Rural Trauma Dave Weber |
| 8:50 a.m. | Trauma Simulation Jessica Parker, DO, FAAP |
| 9:35 a.m. | Trauma Team Safety Lalit Bajaj, MD, MPH/MSPH |
| 10:20 a.m. | Break & Exhibits |
| 10:30 a.m. | Pediatric Airway Management Grant Young, MD |
| 11:15 a.m. | Legal Landmines in Pediatric Trauma: Protecting Patients & Team Members Patrick O'Rourke, JD |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch & Exhibits |
Breakout Sessions
| Time | Trauma Track | Critical Care Transport (CCT) Track |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 p.m. | Pediatric vs. Adult Imaging Ryan Vest, MD | Case Studies from the Pit Claire Gahm, MD, MPH |
| 1:45 p.m. | Sedation in Trauma Natasha Cabrera, MD Christopher Nichols, MD | Seizures & Stroke Erica Sheline |
| 2:30 p.m. | Handling Chaos Dave Weber | Ventilator Management: Tricks of the Trade Zach Quinby |
Thursday, November 12, 2026
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Sign-In & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks Jason Kotas, NREMT |
| 8:05 a.m. | From Tragedy to Transformation: Advocacy for Safer Childhood Environments Josh Stewart, PhD |
| 8:50 a.m. | EMS Case Study Jonathan D. Apfelbaum, MD |
| 9:35 a.m. | Innovations in Prehospital Trauma Care: From the Battlefield to Our Streets Joseph Kelly, MD |
| 10:20 a.m. | Break & Exhibits |
| 10:30 a.m. | Sky High Resuscitation: Pediatric Trauma in the Air Shannon Frost BSN, RN, CMTE, C-NPT, CPEN |
| 11:15 a.m. | E-Bike and E-Scooter Trauma José L. Díaz-Mirón, MD, MSCS |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch & Exhibits |
| 1:00 p.m. | Pediatric Surgical Emergencies Karisa Reynolds, MS, PA-C Brandi Axford, MSN, RN, PNP-AC/PC |
| 1:45 p.m. | The Hidden Wound: Mental Health in the Patient & Family After Trauma Tess Simpson, PhD |
| 2:30 p.m. | Emergency Management of the Pregnant Trauma Patient Jonathan "Jake" Hirshberg, MD |
| 3:15 p.m. | 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.
Hotel Room Block
A limited room block has been reserved for attendees of the Colorado Pediatric Emergency and Trauma Conference 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Anschutz Medical Campus.
The hotel is conveniently located near the Anschutz Medical Campus and offers comfortable accommodations, on-site dining, a fitness center, and other amenities.
Reserve your room: Hyatt Regency Denver Anschutz Medical Campus
We encourage attendees to reserve their accommodations early, as rooms within the conference room block are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Faculty
Jonathan D. Apfelbaum, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Medical Director
South Metro Fire Rescue
Centennial, Colorado
Brandi Axford, MSN, RN, PNP-AC/PC
Senior Instructor
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Pediatric Surgery and Trauma
Children's Hospital Colorado
Colorado Springs
Lalit Bajaj, MD, MPH/MSPH
Chief Quality Outcomes Officer
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Professor, Pediatrics – Emergency Medicine
University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine
Natasha Cabrera, MD
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Children’s Hospital Colorado
José L. Díaz-Mirón, MD, MSCS, FACS, FAAP
Associate Professor Surgery-Peds Surgery
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Shannon Frost BSN, RN, CMTE, C-NPT, CPEN
Clinical Manager
Children’s One Flight Team
Children's Hospital Colorado
Claire Gahm, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Global Health and EMS Physician
Children's Hospital Colorado
Pediatric Medical Director
Aurora Fire Rescue
Jonathan “Jake” Hirshberg, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Joseph Kelly, MD
Instructor, Pediatrics-Emergency Medicine
Children's Hospital Colorado
Colorado Springs
Christopher Nichols, MD
Associate Professor, Anesthesiology-Pediatric Anesthesiology Children’s Hospital Colorado
Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Children's Hospital Colorado
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Patrick O’Rourke, JD
Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado
Adjunct Faculty
School of Law
University of Colorado
Jessica Parker, DO, FAAP
Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice
Pediatrics-Emergency Medicine
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Zachary Quinby
Flight Respiratory Therapist
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Karisa Reynolds, MS, PA-C
Senior Instructor
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Physician Assistant
Pediatric General Surgery and Trauma
Children's Hospital Colorado
Erica K. Sheline, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Attending Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician
Children's Hospital Colorado
Tess Simpson, PhD
Pediatric Psychologist, Concussion Program
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Associate Professor
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SOM)
Josh Stewart, PhD
Founder and Principal Researcher
Rocky Mountain Research and Strategy
Ryan Vest, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiology
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Pediatric Radiologist
Children's Hospital Colorado
Dave Weber
Climbing Ranger, Grand Teton National Park
Owner, Mountain Rescue Collective, LLC
Flight Paramedic and Hoist Rescuer, Intermountain Health
Grant Young, MD
Medical Director - Perioperative Services & Anesthesiology
Children's Hospital Colorado - Colorado Springs
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.