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42nd Steven J. Parker Memorial Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Conference: Clinical Problems in Primary Care (2026)
We are excited to announce a new format for the 2026 Parker Developmental-Behavioral Conference! Instead of the traditional two full days of lectures, the event will now take place over 1.5 days. Register for the full program or for the individual ½ or full day sessions.
We will start on Thursday, March 5th at 12:00 PM with an in-person only, skills-based workshop on Trauma-Informed Care: How to Make It Happen in Your Practice. (Held on the BU Medical Campus in Boston's South End - 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA)
This dynamic conference session brings together leading clinicians and advocates to explore how trauma, resilience, and anti-racism intersect in pediatric care. In today’s demanding healthcare environment, providers need practical, sustainable strategies to support both their patients and themselves. Through presentation, discussion, and small-group work, participants will gain actionable tools to enhance care, apply trauma-informed and anti-racist frameworks, and strengthen clinician well-being. The session will provide a reflective space for providers to learn strategies to mitigate the impacts of difficult work and reinforce a commitment to sustainable practice change.
The second day, Friday, March 6th (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM), will follow our traditional hybrid format, offering both in-person (at the Trustees Ballroom on the Boston University Charles River Campus, 1 Silber Way, Boston MA) and virtual attendance via Zoom. The day will feature a module on Educating Neurodiverse Children in a New Landscape as well as talks covering relevant Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics topics, including the ever-popular 10 Best Papers presentation.
Please join us for this engaging, effective, and convenient learning experience!
Note: Participants will receive separate continuing education certificates for each program.
About Dr. Parker
Steven Parker, MD graduated from Cornell University, University of Michigan Medical School and completed pediatric residency at Stanford University Hospital. He completed a fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Boston with T. Berry Brazelton in Child Development. He started his career in private pediatric practice but after 3 years joined the faculty at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center (the former Boston City Hospital) and he became Director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics in 1994, a position he served for over 13 years. He founded and directed the Comprehensive Care Program at BMC – a national model in family centered care for children with developmental disabilities. He published extensively on many areas in DBP and also was the voice of pediatrics for WebMD. His compassion, wisdom and insight in supporting children and families across Boston and the country will not be forgotten. In addition, he cofounded this conference in 1984 with Dr. Barry Zuckerman and it is in his memory that we hold the annual Steven J. Parker Memorial Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Conference. We hope for all participants that it is an annual opportunity to revisit the topics that are at the core of pediatric practice and to remember Steve’s own advice for parents from his blog:
“Enjoy your kids! Enjoy the ride! Some day soon you’ll wonder how it all went by so fast and why you didn’t appreciate it more as it was happening."
Target Audience
These programs are designed for the entire pediatric healthcare team: primary care physicians, pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, child mental health professionals and family nurse practitioners.
Learning Objectives
Thursday March 5th Workshop Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to apply trauma-informed, anti-racist tools to enhance patient engagement and care delivery across clinical settings.
- Identify the impacts of evolving and complex patient care on provider well-being and incorporate healing-centered practices to foster clinician sustainability
Friday March 6th Program Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Explain the challenges of (and solutions for) caring for special and vulnerable populations in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric topics.
- Discuss strategies for supporting youth and families as they navigate the special education process when presenting with a wide variety of challenges including autism spectrum, anxiety and deafness.
- Describe the latest clinical information on a variety of other developmental and behavioral issues in children and families.
Register for the full program or for the individual ½ or full day sessions.
Thursday, March 5th
Trauma-Informed Care: How to Make It Happen in Your Practice.
An In-person only, skills-based workshop
BU Medical Campus - 72 E. Concord Street, Boston MA
Session Overview: This dynamic conference session brings together leading clinicians and advocates to explore how trauma, resilience, and anti-racism intersect in pediatric care. In today’s demanding healthcare environment, providers need practical, sustainable strategies to support both their patients and themselves. Through presentation, discussion, and small-group work, participants will gain actionable tools to enhance care, apply trauma-informed and anti-racist frameworks, and strengthen clinician well-being. The session will provide a reflective space for providers to learn strategies to mitigate the impacts of difficult work and reinforce a commitment to sustainable practice change.
Time | Session | Speaker(s) | |
11:30am | Registration and Lunch |
| |
12:00pm | Welcome and Agenda |
| |
| What You Will Leave With Today? Commitment To Practice Change | Marilyn Augustyn, MD and Jack Maypole, MD | |
12:05pm | Harris Lecture Keynote: Beyond the Buzzword: The Science and Practice of Trauma Informed Care | Heather C. Forkey, MD | |
1:00pm | Translating Anti-Racism Toolkit Implementation: Understanding the Role of Trauma-Informed Engagement in Patient Care | Neena McConnico, LMHC | |
1:30pm | Racism Toolkit (Small Group Breakout) |
| |
|
| Facilitators: Marilyn Augustyn, MD Sarah Hacking, LICSW Bridget Poznanski, PhD Arathi Reddy, DO | |
2:10pm | Small Group Debriefing |
| |
2:30pm | Break | ||
2:45pm | The Family Preparedness Plan: Implementing Clinical Sanctuaries and Healing-Centered Tools | Carmen Rosa Noroña LICSW, MS.Ed, IECMH-E and Ivys Fernández-Pastrana, JD | |
3:30pm | Using the Family Preparedness Plan 2.0 (Small Group Breakout) | Facilitators: Soukaina Adolphe, MD Carmen Rosa Noroña LICSW, MS.Ed, IECMH-E Genevieve L. Preer, MD Rachel McColl Vuolo, MD FAAP | |
4:00pm | Small Group Debriefing |
| |
4:15pm | Vicarious Traumatization/ Supporting the Clinician | TBD | |
5:00pm | Wrap Up |
| |
5:10pm | Adjourn |
| |
Friday, March 6th
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Hybrid Didactic Conference
In-Person Location - BU Charles River Campus - 1 Silber Way, Boston, MA
Remote: Zoom
Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
7:30am | Registration and Continental Breakfast | |
8:00am | Welcome and Introduction | Marilyn Augustyn, MD Audrey Christiansen, MD |
MODULE ONE | Educating Neurodiverse Children in a New Landscape |
|
8:10am | KEYNOTE: Advocacy in the Current Landscape | Julia Landau, Esq. Ewidji Vincent |
9:00am | Neurodivergent Children and Special Education Options | Jodi Wenger, MD |
9:45am | Running Away is Not Okay: Understanding and Reducing Risk of Accidental Injury for Autistic People | Rachel McColl Vuolo, MD FAAP |
10:15am | Is 18 the Magic Number? | Katie Campbell, MA |
10:45am | Break | |
11:00am | ADHD, Emotional Disorder, Specific Learning Disability – When Does the Name Matter? | Marilyn Augustyn, MD Audrey Christiansen, MD |
11:45am | How Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Learn in the Classroom: A Historical Perspective | Arielle Spellun, MD |
12:15pm | Lunch (provided for in-person attendees) | |
MODULE TWO | DBP Potpourri |
|
12:55pm | Introduction to Module |
|
1:00pm | Caring for Children and Families Affected by FASD | Rachel Amgott, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC |
1:45pm | Lessons Learned From Caring for Babies for Over Thirty Years | Susan A. Minear, MD |
2:30pm | Break | |
2:45pm | Procedures, Pain, and Partnership: Collaborative Care for Patients with Diverse Abilities and Needs | AbbieJayne Cristoforo, MS, CCLS Christina M. Lazdowsky, NP Jacqueline McKendry MS, BCBA, LABA Bailey Pratt, BS, CCLS |
3:15pm | The Role of Medication in PTSD | Dana D. Rubin, MD |
3:45pm | 10 Best Articles in DBP of 2025 | Marilyn Augustyn, MD Audrey Christiansen, MD Melinda Futran, MD Jack Maypole, MD |
5:00pm | Adjourn |
|
THURSDAY
In Person Only - Hiebert Lounge (14th Floor, L Building, 72 East Concord Street, Boston MA) Boston University Medical Campus
FRIDAY
In-Person or Zoom - The Metcalf Trustee Center is located on the Boston University Charles River campus at 1 Silber Way Boston, MA on the 9th floor. Guests can easily get here via Storrow Drive, I-90, and public transportation.
We will be using Zoom Webinar for the online program. Connection info will be sent out the week of the meeting.
Travel
A block of rooms has been reserved at the nearby Hotel Commonwealth in the heart of Kenmore Square for $219 + taxes for our out of town participants. Rooms at this rate can be booked using this link: https://bookings.hotelcommonwealth.com/?adult=1&arrive=2026-03-05&chain=22989&child=0&config=RBE¤cy=USD&depart=2026-03-07&group=41520260305PRKR&hotel=95031&level=hotel&locale=en-US&productcurrency=USD&rooms=1&theme=RBE2
You can also make a reservation by telephone by calling the Reservations Department toll-free at (1 866) 784-4000 (in the United States and Canada) or (1 617) 532-5019 or via email at [email protected] Please identify yourself as part of the BU Medical - Steven J. Parker Conference group when calling or emailing.
Reservations should be made by Thursday, February 5th, 2026.
For more details on the Hotel Commonwealth, please visit: https://www.hotelcommonwealth.com/
Keynote Speakers
Heather C. Forkey, MD
Director, Foster Children Evaluation Service (FaCES)
UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center
Professor and Vice Chair of Pediatrics , UMass Chan Medical School
Co-Medical Director, American Academy of Pediatrics National Center for Relational Health and Trauma-Informed Care
Julia Landau, Esq.
Senior Project Director
Director of Disability Education Justice Initiative
Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine /Boston Medical Center Speakers
Soukaina Adolphe, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Medical Director
Ambulatory Primary Pediatric Clinic at Boston Medical Center
Rachel Amgott, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC
CNE Course Advisor
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics | Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Marilyn Augustyn, MD
Course Co-Director
Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Division of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics
Co-Editor, “Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics: A Handbook for Primary Care
Katie Campbell, MA
Senior Community Wellness Advocate,
Neurodivergent Urban Youth Clinic,
Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center
AbbieJayne Cristoforo, MS, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Ambulatory Clinics Crosstown
Ivys Fernández-Pastrana, JD
Program Manager
Center of Excellence in Immigrant Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
Co-Founder EASE Clinic
Melinda Futran, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Primary Care Pediatrician
Comprehensive Care Program Pediatrician
Sarah Hacking, LICSW
Mental Health Clinician
Child Witness to Violence Project
Christina M. Lazdowsky, NP
Instructor of Pediatrics
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Jack Maypole, MD
CME Course Co-Director
Clinical Associate Professor in Pediatrics
Vice Chair of Population Health and Practice Transformation
Director, Comprehensive Care Program (CCP) Medical Director, Special Kids Special Care Program
Jacqueline McKendry MS, BCBA, LABA
Behavior Specialist
The Autism Program at Boston Medical Center
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Susan A. Minear, MD
Clinical Professor
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric
Rachel McColl Vuolo, MD, FAAP
Internal Medicine-Pediatrics
Fellow, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Affiliate Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine
UMass Chan School of Medicine
Medical Director, Saint Peter’s Free Medical Program, Worcester, MA
Neena McConnico, LMHC
Assistant Professor
Carmen Rosa Noroña LICSW, MS.Ed, IECMH-E
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics.
Child Trauma Clinical Services & Training Lead.
ETTN Boston Site Associate Director
Dana S. Rubin, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine
Bridget Poznanski, PhD
Assistant Professor
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
Bailey Pratt, BS, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Ambulatory Clinics Crosstown
Genevieve L. Preer, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Arathi Reddy, DO
Assistant Professor
Arielle Spellun, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician
Co-Director of the BMC Pediatric Deaf and Hard of Hearing Collaborative
Director of Health and Wellness at Deaf Center, Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, Boston University
Ewidji Vincent
Former Young Adult Leader Fellow at Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Jodi Wenger, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Comprehensive Care Program, Grow Clinic
Planning Committee - Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center
Rachel Amgott, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC
CNE Course Advisor
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics | Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Marilyn Augustyn, MD
Course Co-Director
Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Division of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics
Co-Editor, “Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics: A Handbook for Primary Care
Audrey Christiansen, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Training Director, Division of Developmental Pediatrics
Melinda Futran, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Primary Care Pediatrician
Comprehensive Care Program Pediatrician
Jack Maypole, MD
CME Course Co-Director
Clinical Associate Professor in Pediatrics
Vice Chair of Population Health and Practice Transformation
Director, Comprehensive Care Program (CCP) Medical Director, Special Kids Special Care Program
Maureen A. Patterson-Fede, LICSW
Division of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics
CCE Program Managers: Claire P. Grimble, CMP & Ilana Hardesty, MA
Thursday March 5th Workshop - Credit Types: AMA, ANCC, Social Work, MOC, Participation, ICPE
In support of improving patient care, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 4.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
MOC
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 4.75 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.
By attending this activity and providing your ABP number and Date of Birth, you authorize BU CCE office to report your information to the ACCME so that we may process your MOC Part II credit on your behalf.
Physician Assistant
NCCPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of 4.75 hours of Category 1 credit for completing this program.
Nurses
Nursing Contact Hours: 5.00 of which TBD are eligible for pharmacology credit.
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 4.75 clinical continuing education credits.
Other Learners
All other learners may claim a certificate of participation. Consult your professional licensing board regarding the applicability and acceptance of certificates of participation for programs certified for credit by organizations accredited by Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Education.
Interprofessional Continuing Education
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 4.75 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Friday March 6th Program - Credit Types: AMA, ANCC, Social Work, MOC, Participation, ICPE
In support of improving patient care, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.
This continuing medical education activity has been reviewed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and is acceptable for a maximum of 7.50 AAP credits. These credits can be applied toward the AAP CME/CPD Award available to Fellows and Candidate Members of the American Academy of Pediatrics
MOC
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 7.5 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.
By attending this activity and providing your ABP number and Date of Birth, you authorize BU CCE office to report your information to the ACCME so that we may process your MOC Part II credit on your behalf.
Physician Assistant
NCCPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of 7.5 hours of Category 1 credit for completing this program.
Nurses
Nursing Contact Hours: 8.00 of which 0.5 are eligible for pharmacology credit.
This program is pending approval by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 7.5 clinical continuing education credits.
Other Learners
All other learners may claim a certificate of participation. Consult your professional licensing board regarding the applicability and acceptance of certificates of participation for programs certified for credit by organizations accredited by Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Education.
Interprofessional Continuing Education
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 7.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Available Credit
- 12.25 ABP Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment
- 12.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine designates this Live activity for a maximum of 12.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 13.00 ANCC
- 12.25 Social Work (ACE)
- 12.25 Participation
Price
Discounts Available:
- BU Alumni are 20% off. Please use coupon code ALUMNI20 at checkout.
- Residents/Fellows/Students – Free but must register using coupon code BPEDS26FRS at checkout.
- BU/BMC Faculty/Staff Discounted Rate 70% off. Please use coupon code BUBMC at checkout
Please note the registration fees for Friday are the same for both in-person or virtual attendance. Note that the syllabus materials for the 2026 conference will be all electronic. We will not have paper copies.
To pay by check, please create an account and email us at [email protected] or call 617-358-5005 and we will assist you.
Cancellation Policy
Substitutions may be made at any time without an additional charge. Refunds, less an $50 administrative fee, will be issued for all cancellations received two weeks prior to the start of the meeting. Should cancellation occur within the two-week window, a credit will be issued, not a refund. Credits will be honored for up to two years. “No shows” are subject to the full course fee. Cancellations/substitution(s) must be made in writing. Refunds or credits will not be issued once the conference has started. This course is subject to change or cancellation.
If you need to cancel your registration, please click here.
Sharing Your Information Through Participant Lists:
If you checked "Yes" to sharing your information on the participant list, we only share name, degree, organization, city and state. Checking "Yes" indicates we may share your name with exhibitors from commercial entities (ineligible companies) including pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Special Services / Dietary Needs
Boston University strives to be accessible, inclusive and diverse in our facilities, programming and academic offerings. Your experience in this event is important to us. If you have a disability, require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you require a reasonable accommodation for another reason please contact the BU-CCE Office at least 3 weeks prior to event to discuss your needs. For in person meetings with meals, we will work to accommodate dietary requests (including, but not limited to: kosher, vegetarian, low cholesterol, and low sodium) received in writing at least three weeks prior to the start of the conference. Please contact us at [email protected]
Please Note
The conference organizers may take pictures or record videos during the conference. In registering for the conference, you acknowledge that BU-CCE may photograph you during the meeting, and you agree that we may include images of yourself, intact or in part, for conference promotional activities or other related endeavors. This material may also appear on the conference's website or associated social media outlets. If you do not wish to be photographed, please let the BUSM representative onsite know
Unauthorized Registration Sites
Registration for courses managed by BU-CCE can only be completed through our website at https://cme.bu.edu. Course registrations made through other sites cannot be honored. BU-CCE is not able to refund fees paid through unaffiliated registration sites, such as eMedEvents.com
Please report any unauthorized websites or solicitations for registrations to [email protected].
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner. Please submit a written grievance to the CCE office at [email protected], 617-358-5005. Grievances would receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.