Medical Staff Presentations Strengthen and Advance Care for Patients

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California Displays Significant Medical Staff Presence at Annual AACPDM Meeting

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California’s Assistant Chief of Orthopaedics Jon Davids, M.D., and orthopaedic surgeon Vedant Kulkarni, M.D., presented at the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Development Medicine (AACPDM) meeting Sep. 23 to 26 – the world’s largest annual scientific meeting dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people with cerebral palsy (CP) and other developmental disabilities.

Their involvement with a worldwide network of professionals working together to provide the most effective outcomes for patients strengthens and advances care for patients with CP and childhood-onset disabilities at the Northern California Shriners Hospital and beyond.

“Most importantly, the meeting has placed the experience of the person with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities front and center,” said Dr. Kulkarni, “a mission that aligns perfectly with the patient-centered approach at Shriners Hospitals for Children.”

The doctors featured two podium presentations and two instructional courses at this year’s virtual meeting. Health care professionals from around the globe attended with the opportunity to earn over 89 continuing medical educational credits.

In collaboration with surgeons from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, Dr. Davids led an instructional course reviewing the top published research studies in the field of neuro-orthopaedics.

Dr. Kulkarni gave two podium presentations about research studies focusing on gait analysis and spina bifida. For the fourth year in a row, he also led a popular instructional course on utilizing the HipScreen app – an award-winning mobile app that empowers providers and caregivers to perform hip surveillance for children with cerebral palsy.

“I started attending AACPDM meetings in 2016, and was struck with the multi-disciplinary and collegial nature of the society,” said Dr. Kulkarni. “Through the years, I have been able to form close collaborations and friendships with specialists from around the globe, learning lessons that have directly benefitted our patients.”

The first AACPDM meeting brought a small group of medical professionals together in 1948. It has since grown to include over 1,100 health professionals promoting excellence in research and services for those with and at risk for CP and other developmental disabilities across the globe, according to AACPDM’s history.

“The annual meeting has grown into an important event that provides professionals the opportunity to hear about the most up-to-date research, learn from experts at breakfasts and instructional courses, and connect with colleagues old and new,” said AACPDM First Vice President Susan Sienko, Ph.D. “The connections created at the annual meeting have blossomed into research collaborations and long-standing friendships.”

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California changes lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Dr. Kulkarni and Dr. Davids furthered the three pillars of this mission by participating in the AACPDM meeting this year.

“Teaching, learning and networking at this meeting has facilitated clinical and research collaborations, and has certainly validated our commitment at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California to providing multidisciplinary care for these children,” said Dr. Davids.

The full citations of the presentations from Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California staff members include:

• Davids JR, Shore B, Whitaker AT – Neuro-Orthopaedic Journal Club: Top Articles in the Last Year Relating to the Orthopaedic Management of Children with Neuromuscular Disorders and Classic Perspectives. Instructional Course.
• Kulkarni VA, Kephart DT, Bagley A, Davids JR – Gait Analysis at Your Fingertips: Accuracy and Reliability of Mobile App Enhanced Observational Gait Analysis in Children with Cerebral Palsy. Podium Presentation.
• Kulkarni VA, Evans M, Kephart DT, Sheng D, Davids JR – Spina Bifida Functional Classification System: A Preliminary Study. Podium Presentation.
• Kulkarni VA, Davids JR, Bratkovich S, Thomason P – Interpreting Hip Surveillance X-Rays with the HipScreen App: A Primer for the Radiology Novice. Lunch and Learn Session Course.