CIF Children’s Health Challenge

Program Agenda

12:30 PM Registration & Check-In

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Welcome Remarks

1:15 PM – 1:55 PM Panel Discussion

Pediatric Rare Disease—The Challenges and Pathways Forward: Rare diseases affect millions of children and their families, yet significant challenges remain in diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, and access to innovative therapies. This discussion will explore both the lived experience of the panelists, and how they are working and mobilizing to create pathways to accelerate progress and improve outcomes for pediatric rare-disease patients and their families.
Moderator: Melindah Sharma Managing Director, Manatt Health Strategies
Panelists: Amber FreedCEO & Founder, SLC6A1 Connect; Hannah Aura Shaval, MD Chief of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Atlantic Health System, Terry Jo Bichel CEO & Founder, Combined Brain

1:55 PM – 2:10 PM Coffee Break

2:10 PM – 3:30 PM Children’s Health Challenge Pitch Competition

The five finalist entrepreneurs (selected from 220 applicants) present breakthrough solutions designed to address critical challenges in pediatric health and healthcare delivery.

3:30 PM – 4:05 PM Fireside Chat: Children’s Health in the Digital Age

As technology increasingly becomes ubiquitous in children’s lives, there are both opportunities and challenges. The internet, social media and AI can affect the health of children in numerous ways, including its effect on youth mental health, its impact in the classroom, and the misinformation that children, teens and parents receive online. This conversation will explore these evolving challenges, and the need for innovative approaches to ensure that children’s health is not adversely impacted by this rapidly advancing digital technology.

Featured Speaker: Chelsea Clinton, PhD Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation and Clinton Health Access Initiative

Moderator: Andrew Racine, MD, PhD President, American Academy of Pediatrics

4:05 PM – 4:35 PM Coffee Break & Light Bites

4:35 PM – 5:15 PM Panel Discussion

Accelerating Pediatric Innovation—Real World Perspectives on Bringing Solutions to Children: Bringing innovative pediatric solutions from concept to clinical impact requires collaboration across healthcare, industry, advocacy, philanthropy, and government. This panel will explore practical strategies and real-world experiences in accelerating innovation for children.

Moderator:John Parker, Trustee, Hood Foundation; Managing Partner, Springhood Ventures

Panelists:Orin Herskowitz President, Mussallem CHD Alliance; Janna Patterson, MD, MPH Chief Education & Global Health Officer, American Academy of Pediatrics; Vasum Peiris, MD MPH Former Chief Medical Officer of Pediatrics & Special Populations, FDA

5:15 PM – 5:25 PM Innovation Awards Presentation

5:25 PM – 5:30 PM Closing Remarks

5:40 PM – 7:30 PM Reception, Refreshments & Networking