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NASPGHAN is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 Society Awards, honoring exceptional individuals whose leadership, service, scholarship, and commitment to education have advanced pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition. These prestigious awards recognize the lasting impact recipients have made on the specialty, the Society, and future generations of pediatric GI professionals.
Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients!
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Harry Shwachman Award
Harland Winter, MD
Mass General Hospital for Children
Recognized for a lifetime of outstanding contributions and leadership in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition.
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Margaret Stallings Distinguished Service Award
Benjamin Gold, MD, FAAP, F-NASPGHAN
GI Care for Kids
Honored for exceptional service and enduring dedication to NASPGHAN and the pediatric GI community.
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Master Educator Award
Christine Waasdorp Hurtado, MD, MSCS, FAAP, F-NASPGHAN
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Recognized for excellence in teaching, mentorship, and the education of future pediatric gastroenterology professionals.
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Teri Li Young Educator Award
Paul Tran, MD
Phoenix Children’s
Honored as an emerging educator whose innovation, enthusiasm, and commitment are helping shape the next generation of pediatric GI clinicians.
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Recipients were selected following nominations from the membership and a rigorous review, scoring, and voting process conducted by the NASPGHAN Awards Committee (Shwachman and Stallings) and Medical Education SIG (Master and Teri Li Educators), with final approval by the NASPGHAN Council. Note the Teri Li Young Educator Award recipient was approved by the NASPGHAN Foundation.
The 2026 award recipients will be formally recognized during the NASPGHAN Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 23, at 4:15 PM during the Annual Meeting in San Diego. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding leaders for their remarkable contributions to our specialty.
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Evaluation and Management of a Post-Surgical Patient with Hirschsprung Disease: It Takes a Village and Intricate Teamwork
July 29, 2026
8PM ET
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Join NASPGHAN’s Neurogastroenterology and Motility Committee for an expert-led webinar on July 29 at 8PM ET, focused on the evaluation and management of post-surgical patients with Hirschsprung disease.
This 60-minute session will explore long-term post-surgical complications, including fecal incontinence, obstructive symptoms, constipation, Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis, and postoperative anatomical complications associated with various surgical techniques.
Through three focused presentations led by pediatric neurogastroenterology, motility, and colorectal surgery experts, attendees will gain practical guidance on diagnosis, management, and the integral role of multidisciplinary GI and surgical decision-making. The webinar will conclude with an interactive question-and-answer discussion.
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The application period is closing soon for two Council for Pediatric Nutrition Professionals (CPNP) scholarship opportunities supporting attendance at the 2026 NASPGHAN Annual Meeting and CPNP Nutrition Symposium in San Diego. If you work with pediatric dietitians or dietetic interns, please help share these opportunities with eligible colleagues and trainees.
CPNP Travel Scholarships provide $500 to help eligible pediatric dietitians attend the CPNP Nutrition Symposium (October 23–24), offering exceptional education, networking, and professional development. Current CPNP members are eligible but must have paid their 2026 dues. Non-member dietitians are also eligible and receive their first year of CPNP membership at no cost if awarded a scholarship. Dietetic students are not eligible for this scholarship but are encouraged to apply for the Teaching and Tomorrow Program.
Application deadline: August 2. Learn more and apply.
The CPNP Teaching and Tomorrow Program provides up to 10 dietetic interns/students with the opportunity to attend the NASPGHAN Annual Meeting and CPNP Nutrition Symposium while connecting with experienced mentors and exploring careers in pediatric GI nutrition. The scholarship includes meeting registration, hotel accommodations, meals, and local transportation.
Application deadline: July 31. Learn more and apply.
Click the links above to learn more about eligibility requirements and submit an application today. Questions? Contact Steve Farace at sfarace@naspgphan.org.
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Submit Your Proposal for the
2027 NASPGHAN Single Topic Symposium
NASPGHAN is now accepting proposals for the 2027 Single Topic Symposium (STS) program. STS proposals are an opportunity for NASPGHAN Committees and Special Interest Groups to help shape timely, high-impact education for the pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition community.
The goal of the STS program is to bring together experts around a focused area of pediatric GI, hepatology, or nutrition to share emerging research, foster collaboration, advance new research initiatives, and provide meaningful educational programming on topics important to NASPGHAN members.
NASPGHAN members are encouraged to review the full proposal guidelines and begin preparing submissions now!
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The slate of candidates for the 2026 NASPGHAN leadership election has been finalized following review by the Nominations Committee and ratification by NASPGHAN Council. Thank you to the many members who submitted nominations and to the committee members whose thoughtful review helped shape this year's ballot.
Members will begin voting in August to fill the offices of President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, Clinical Practice Councilor, and Canadian Councilor. The 2026 ballot will include:
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President-Elect Candidate
Dr. Valeria Cohran, MD, MS – Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
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President-Elect Candidate
Rohit Kohli, MBBS, MSCi, NASPGHAN-F – Children's Hospital Los Angeles
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Secretary-Treasurer Candidate
Ajay Jain, MD, DNB, MHA– Saint Louis University/SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
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Secretary-Treasurer Candidate
Rina Sanghavi, MD, MBA, FAAP – UT Southwestern Medical Center/Children's Health Dallas
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Clinical Practice Councilor Candidate
Rosalyn Diaz, MD – Private Practice
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Clinical Practice Councilor Candidate
Khyati Mehta, MD – Loma Linda University
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Canadian Councilor Candidate
Catharine Walsh, MD, Med, PhD, FRCPC – The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
| | | The 2026 NASPGHAN election will open the first week in August with voters receiving direct email notice with a link to their ballot. We encourage all eligible voting members (Full NASPGHAN members) to make their voice heard and submit their 2026 ballot when in receipt of the ballot. | | |
Applications Open for the 2026 NASPGHAN DEEP Program
Build confidence as an educator and presenter through NASPGHAN’s interactive professional development program! Now in its third year, the DEEP Program has helped more than 40 graduates strengthen their presentation skills, build confidence as educators, and prepare for future speaking opportunities.
Session One: Development and Delivery of a Dynamic Presentation
August 12, 2026, at 7PM ET
Medical education experts, including members of the NASPGHAN Medical Education SIG, share best practices for preparing and delivering effective presentations.
Session Two: Practice Delivering a Dynamic Presentation
TBD
Participants are divided into small groups led by expert facilitators. Each participant will deliver a brief presentation and receive constructive feedback from the facilitator and fellow participants.
Session Three: Applying Your Skills - Reflection and Next Steps
TBD
Participants come together to reflect on what they learned, discuss how they applied their new presentation strategies and share insights from their small-group practice sessions.
Eligibility, submission requirements and full program details can be found here!
Applications are due July 31, 2026.
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Child Health Groups Respond to CMS Proposals to Limit Medicaid State Directed Payments and Fee-for-Service Practitioner Payments
This week NASPGHAN joined other national and state organizations representing children’s health in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asking that pediatric health care services be exempted from proposed Medicaid payment changes that go beyond changes made in H.R. 1 — the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (H.R. 1).
H.R. 1 caps state directed payments (SDPs) for four service types (inpatient services, outpatient services, nursing facility services, and qualified practitioner services at academic medical centers) at 100 percent of Medicare rates in Medicaid expansion states and 110 percent of Medicare rates in non-Medicaid expansion states. In situations where no Medicare payment rate exists for a covered Medicaid service, the statute requires the payment limit to default to the payment rate under the Medicaid state plan or waiver.
CMS’ proposed rule goes beyond the statute by: capping all SDPs for all services; prohibiting the “uniform rate increase” type of SDP; expanding the SDP cap to also include targeted fee-for-service (FFS) supplemental payments; and more.
The letter focuses on how the proposed regulation would impact the financing of pediatric care and children's access to care.
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NASPGHAN 2026 Belongs on Your Calendar
NASPGHAN 2026 is more than a meeting. It’s a full week of learning, collaboration, and connection in San Diego.
Start with the Annual Meeting, then build your week with the Postgraduate Course and Single Topic Symposia.
Register and start planning!
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