Society for Pediatric Anesthesia and the American Academy of Pediatrics Pediatric Anesthesiology 2026

The SPA-AAP Pediatric Anesthesiology 2026 meeting is scheduled to take place from March 13 to March 15, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. The conference features a comprehensive educational program that includes plenary sessions, highly specialized workshops, round table discussions (RTDs), seminars, and problem-based learning discussions (PBLDs). The event is designed to explore groundbreaking scientific advancements, share clinical best practices, and introduce emerging technologies to improve pediatric patient safety and care.
Learning Objectives
The program is designed to fulfill a wide array of educational goals across its specialized sessions. Key overarching learning objectives include the ability to:

Differentiate ultrasound probes for various age groups in the performance of advanced ultrasound-guided regional blocks.

Evaluate current opportunities and limitations of integrating AI-driven decision support into the pediatric operating room environment.

Explain how EEG-based monitoring contributes to patient safety by helping to avoid excessively deep anesthesia, thereby reducing the risk of emergence delirium.

Analyze the unique challenges of medication dosing and delivery in pediatric anesthesia that contribute to perioperative error risk.

Discuss the latest scientific studies that are being performed in pediatric anesthesia to advance the specialty.

Describe the pediatric anesthesiologist’s role in optimizing outcomes beyond the operating room and immediate postoperative period, including ICU liberation principles.

Formulate strategies to integrate technology and AI into pediatric anesthetic workflows to support clinical decision-making and reduce cognitive load.

Target Audience

The educational program is designed for pediatric anesthesiologists, advanced practice providers (APPs) such as CRNAs and NPs, medical residents, and medical students.
Best for Pediatric Anesthesiologists, Surgeons, Ophthalmologists, Dental Anesthesiologists, Intensivists, Neonatologists, Obstetricians, and Cardiologists.

Topics
The meeting covers a comprehensive and detailed list of topics, organized into specific sessions, workshops, seminars, problem-based learning discussions, and round tables:
Main Plenary Sessions:

Session I: Innovation at Altitude – Reaching New Heights in Anesthesia Care

Ubiquinone-5: Innovation at the Cellular Level

Can the Algorithm Keep Up? Real-Time AI for Pediatric Risk Stratification in the OR

Safeguarding Developing Brains: EEG-Guided Anesthesia to Prevent Emergence Delirium in Children

When Genes Meet Gas: Preventing Cerebral Injury in Vulnerable Children

Session II: Whole Child, Whole Team – Human-Centered Strategies in Pediatric Anesthesia

Deepening our Impact – ICU Liberation Principles for the Pediatric Anesthesiologist

Taking the Guesswork Out of GLP-1 Management: Latest Recommendations and POCUS to the Rescue

Silent Signals: The Value of Preoperative Mental Health Screening for Our Patients

Session III: The Pinnacle of Quality – Elevating Pediatric Anesthesia Standards

The Proactive Pre-Op: Using Conversational AI to Optimize Pediatric Patient Safety

From Risk to Resilience: Advancing Medication Safety in Pediatric Anesthesia through Technology and AI

Pulse of Innovation: Advances in Pediatric Non-Invasive Arterial Pressure Monitoring

Session IV: AAP Advocacy Session

The AAP and its Role in Modern Advocacy for Children

Session V: SPA-SPPM JOINT SESSION: Precision and Progress: Novel Strategies for Pediatric Pain Relief

Innovating Pain Relief: Novel Analgesic Development Based on Genetics of Rare Diseases with Altered Pain Sensitivity

Precision at the Start: Advancing Regional Techniques for Our Youngest Patients

Transitional Pain Clinics: Where Healing Meets Innovation

Session VI: Refresh Your Knowledge – Pediatric Anesthesia Updates

Low-Flow Anesthesia – Unique Challenges in Pediatric Anesthesia

The MAPP to a Better OR: Microaffirmations and the Power of Collaboration

Tackling the Diaphragm in Tiny Warriors: Mastering CDH Repair

Sweet and Steady: Navigating Glycemic Control in the Perioperative Period

Session VII: KEYNOTE

Keynote Address – Fireside Chat with Dr. Jerome Adams

Session VIII: AAP Ask the Experts

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Anti-Vaccine Sentiment in Pediatric Patients

Don’t Miss Your Shot: Perioperative Vaccination as a Teachable Moment

Session IX: Poster Presentations and Awards

Lightning Abstracts

Poster Award/Oral Presentations

Moderated Posters

Session X: From the Editors – Notable Papers from the Past Year

Anesthesiology

A & A

Pediatric Anesthesia

Session XI: Refresh Your Knowledge – Pediatric Anesthesia Updates

From Chest Compressions to Cutting-Edge: The New Era of Resuscitation

Thin Air, Real Risks: Air Embolism, Pneumothorax, and Rare Pediatric Anesthesia Emergencies

Pediatric Vascular Access: Sizing, Strategies, and Smart Techniques

ASA Lecture: How Do We Get Paid? The Economics of Anesthesiology

Session XII: Update from the SPA Grant Recipients

Updates from SPA Young Investigator Research Grant Recipient

Updates from SPA MDMP Grant Recipient

Session XIII: Beyond the Mountain – Advocacy in Action in Pediatric Anesthesia

Global Reach, Local Impact: Reimagining Resourcefulness in Pediatric Anesthesia

When the Caregiver Hurts: Second Victim Syndrome

Silent Risks: Advocacy for Safety and Standards in Pediatric Dental Anesthesia

Session XIV: The Collaborative Climb – Elevating Collaboration to Elevate Care

High Reliability in High Stakes: Building Pediatric OR Teams that Rise to the Occasion

Beyond the OR Doors: Who Is Sedating and How Do We Keep It Safe?

No One Climbs Alone: Creating Inclusive Cultures in Pediatric Anesthesia

Session XV: Rocky Mountain High, Carbon Footprint Low – Greening Pediatric Anesthesia Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Small Changes, Big Impact: Applying Behavioral Insights to Anesthesia Sustainability

Why, How, and Do it Now: Deactivating the Central Nitrous Oxide Pipeline

TIVA for All: Practical Strategies to Make TIVA Your Green Default

Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Symposium Topics:

Considerations for Post-Operative Pain Management in Pediatric Patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Anesthesia Considerations for Craniotomy for a Large MCA Aneurysm at the M1-M2 Junction in the Newborn: DOL 0

Anesthesia Beyond Borders: CRNAs Impact on Medical Missions

Anesthesia for Lymphatics

Seminars:

SEMINAR 1: TIVA for Tots, North America

SEMINAR 2: Wake Up Safe – A Practical Approach to Quality Improvement and Performance Management

SEMINAR 3: It’s Coming, Are YOU Ready? Mass Casualty Preparedness for the Busy Pediatric Anesthesiologist

SEMINAR 4: Green Makes Cents – Financial Wins from Environmental Innovation in Healthcare

SEMINAR 5: Going with the Flow – Intraoperative Care for the ECMO Patient

SEMINAR 6: Wake Up Safe – Advanced Quality Improvement, Safety and Performance Management

SEMINAR 7: The Art of Inhaled Inductions – Crowdsourcing Stylistic Micro-Decisions and Evaluating Their Evidence

SEMINAR 8: Empowering Educators – Facilitator Training for SPA’s Novel Web-Based Well-Being Curriculum – No Experience Necessary!!

Workshops:

Pediatric Advanced Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia

SPPM/SPA WORKSHOP: Exploring the Newest Techniques in Pediatric Regional Anesthesia

SPPM/SPA WORKSHOP: Integrating Acupuncture in Pediatric Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine

SPPM/SPA WORKSHOP: We’ve Got Your Back – Hands-On Ultrasound Skills for Neuraxial Procedures and a Guide to Create Your Own Phantom

Advanced Techniques for Peripheral Vascular Access

Comprehensive Pediatric Point-of-Care (POCUS)

Difficult Airway

One Lung Ventilation in Pediatric Patients

Pediatric Gastric POCUS Workshop

Ultrasound-Guided Caudal Block, Single Injections, and with Catheter Advanced Cephalad at the Lumbar or Thoracic Spine Level

Mastering and Teaching Pediatric Spinal Anesthesia: From First Stick to Program Launch