Course Directors: 
Maria E. Perez, DO
Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition)
Associate Program Director, Fellowship Training Program
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Tanaz Danialifar, MD
Associate Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship Program
Director of GI Resident and Medical Student Education
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles


Postgraduate Course
Thursday, October 22, 2026
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

8:00 AM - 9:20 AM Module 1: Inflammatory Diseases
Moderators: Maria Perez, DO, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago and Lindsay Albenberg, DO, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

8:00 AM EGIDs: Beyond the Esophagus – A Case Based Approach
                 Joshua Wechsler, MD, MSci, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago
8:20 AM Biosimilar Updates: What’s the Difference?
                Ross Maltz, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital
                Learning objectives:
  • Discuss the evidence on the efficacy and safety of biosimilars and switching to a biosimilar  in the management of pediatric IBD
  • Discuss practical considerations for initiating and switching patients to a biosimilar
  • Evaluate the impact of biosimilars on access to care and healthcare costs
8:40 AM Beyond Luminal Disease: Management of Perianal IBD
                Sabina Ali, MD, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital 
                Learning objectives:
  • Recognize the epidemiology, clinical spectrum, and classification of perianal Crohn's disease in children.
  • Apply a systematic diagnostic approach using imaging and examination for evaluation. Multidisciplinary medical-surgical treatment algorithm for pediatric perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease.
  • Evaluate available, emerging and novel therapies for pediatric perianal Crohn's disease.
  • Address the unique psychosocial burden and quality-of-life impact of perianal disease in children and adolescents with IBD.
  • Evaluate the evidence that perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease can be prevented in children through early treatment strategies and risk stratification.
9:00 AM IBD Therapy: Integrating New Approvals into Clinical Practice
                Lina Felipez, MD, Nicklaus Children's Hospital  


9:20 AM Break/Presenters Available for Questions
9:40 AM - 10:40 AM Module 2: Endoscopy
Moderators: Tanaz Danialifar, MD, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Steve Ciciora, MD, Endeavor Health

9:40 AM When Things Go Wrong: Navigating Adverse Events in Pediatric Endoscopy
                        Nadia Ibrahimi, MD, Children's Mercy Hospital
                        Learning objectives:
  • Recognize early clinical and procedural signs of major adverse events in pediatric endoscopy.
  • Apply a structured and practical approach to the initial management of key complications, including bleeding and perforation.
  • Incorporate technical and procedural strategies to minimize complication risk during endoscopy.
10:00 AM Like a Stone: Evidenced-Based Management of Pediatric Choledocholithiasis
                        David Vitale, MD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
10:20 AM What the FLIP to do: Functional luminal assessment in pediatric 
                        Kenneth Ng, DO, Johns Hopkins Children's Center
10:40 AM - 11:40 AM Module 3: Nutrition/Potpourri
Moderators: Maria Perez, DO, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago and Rula Harb, MD, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

10:40 AM Beyond the Prescription: The role of Nutrition in the New Era of Obesity Care
                        Sarah Barlow, MD, MPH, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center Dallas
11:00 AM From Panels to Practice: Genetic Testing for the Pediatric Gastroenterologist

11:20 AM H. Pylori – What’s Bugging You and How to Approach it
                        Nicola Jones, MD, PhD, FRCPC, The Hospital for Sick Children  

11:20 AM – 11:40 AM Transition Break/Presenters Available for Questions

11:40 AM - 1:00 PM Learning Lunches*/Lunch on your own
*Learning Lunches are a seperately ticketed event

1. IBD Therapy – Decision Making in Clinical Practice
Sabina Ali, MD, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
Minesh Patel, DO, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

2. Biliary Atresia /Neonatal Cholestasis
Sanjiv Harpavat, MD, PhD, Texas Children's Hospital
Neeharika Bade, MD, Augusta University / Medical College of Georgia

3. CF Liver Disease
Michael Narkewicz, MD, Children's Hospital Colorado
Senthilkumar Sankararaman, MD, Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital
 
4. Integrative Medicine for DGBIs – A Hands on Approach

Rachel Borlack, MD, Childrens Hospital At Montefiore
Pua Hopson, DO, Mayo Clinic

5. Rome V Criteria – Novelties and Applications
Samuel Nurko, MD, Boston Children's Hospital
Julie Snyder, Psy.D., Boston Children's Hospital

6. Drugs and Diet – How to Manage them both in Obesity Care
Sarah Barlow, MD, MPH, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center Dallas
Brock Williams, PhD RD CNSC, The Hospital for Sick Children

7. EGIDs – Esophagus and so much more!
Joshua Wechsler, MD, MSci, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago
Sophia Patel, MD, Cleveland Clinic  

8. Things that go Bump in the Endoscopy Suite
Nadia Ibrahimi, MD, Children's Mercy Hospital
Javier Monagas, MD, Baylor College of Medicine / The Children's Hospital of San Antonio

1:20 PM - 2:40 PM Module 4: Liver/Pancreas
Moderators: Tanaz Danialifar, MD, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Erealda Prendaj, MD, Wake Forest University

1:20 PM Biliary Atresia and Neonatal Cholestasis: What’s New in Early Diagnosis and Management
                Sanjiv Harpavat, MD, PhD, Texas Children's Hospital
1:40 PM Benign but not Trivial: Pediatric Liver Lesions Demystified
                James Squires, MD, MS, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh  
2:00 PM Medications and Pancreatitis: Myths, Facts, and Clinical Pearls
                Aliye Uc, MD, Univ of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
2:20 PM CF Associated Liver Disease: Translating New Guidelines into Practice
                Michael Narkewicz, MD, Children's Hospital Colorado
                Learning objectives
  • Review the major changes in CF Foundation Guidelines for Screening, Monitoring and Management of CF Hepatobiliary Disease Guidelines
  • Know the predictive value and pitfalls in screening US
  • Discuss the evaluation and management of potential drug induced liver disease in children and adolescents with CF receiving highly effective modulator therapy

2:40 PM - 3:00 PM Break/Presenters Available for Questions
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Module 5: DGBI/Motility
Moderators: Maria Perez, DO, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago and Thomas Ciecierega, MD, NYP - Weill Cornell Medical College

3:00 PM  Top to Bottom: Highlights from Rome V
               Samuel Nurko, MD, Boston Children's Hospital
3:20 PM Integrative Strategies for DGBI: Beyond the Meds
                Rachel Borlack, MD, Childrens Hospital At Montefiore
3:40 PM The Pelvic Gut Connection: Unmasking Gynecological Comorbidities in Pediatric DGBIs
                Lusine Ambartsumyan, MD, Seattle Children's Hospital
 
4:00 PM  Conclusion of Program/ Presenters Available for Questions