Reflecting on 2026 AAP National Conference
Dr. Andrea Horbey of Knoxville, TN was one of three early-career physicians sponsored by the TNAAP Endowment Fund to attend NCE 2026 in San Diego. Below is her summary of her time at the conference.
I am grateful to the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (TN AAP) Endowment Fund for sponsoring my attendance at the 2026 AAP National Conference & Exhibition (NCE) in San Diego, California. The conference provided an incredible opportunity to learn from national leaders in pediatrics, share research, build professional connections, and gain new skills that I look forward to bringing back to my patients, colleagues, and community.
The conference began on Friday with a beach cleanup on Fiesta Island, co-hosted by the organization I Love A Clean San Diego. It was a meaningful start to a meeting focused on child health and advocacy, highlighting the important connection between environmental health and pediatric well-being. Later that day, I attended a session entitled “Trends and Truths: Responding to Environmental Health Claims That Parents Find Online,” which explored strategies for helping families navigate the growing amount of health information and misinformation they encounter online.
That evening, I attended a networking event hosted by the AAP Council on Communications and Media (COCM). As someone with a strong interest in health communication and media engagement, it was inspiring to meet pediatricians from across the country who share a passion for improving public understanding of children’s health. A particular highlight was receiving a copy of Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World by Dr. Jenny Radesky, whose work continues to shape conversations about healthy technology use in childhood.
Saturday offered a full day of learning. I started the morning with “Hands-on Healing: Integrating Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques and Integrative Therapies for Pediatric Headaches,” which provided practical approaches that can be applied in clinical practice. The morning continued with the conference plenary sessions, including the AAP President’s Address and a keynote presentation from Dr. Mike Varshavski (“Dr. Mike”), who spoke about the importance of providing accessible, science-based health information to combat public misinformation.
The afternoon was spent with the Section on Osteopathic Pediatricians, where programming focused on hematology and oncology through an osteopathic lens. The sessions included hands-on osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) workshops that I found particularly relevant to my work in inpatient pediatric pain management. Discussions on supportive therapies for patients experiencing acute vaso-occlusive pain crises related to sickle cell disease provided valuable insights that I hope to incorporate into my clinical practice.
One of the most memorable highlights of the conference was attending the TNAAP reception and mixer at the beautiful Odysea Waterfront Lounge at the Hilton Bayfront. The evening provided an opportunity to connect with pediatricians from across Tennessee, meet new colleagues, and strengthen relationships within our state chapter. A particularly meaningful moment was the recognition of Ruth Allen for her many years of dedicated service and advocacy on behalf of Tennessee’s children and families.
Later that evening, conference attendees gathered for the AAP San Diego Experience at the Rady Shell amphitheater. The event featured performances by Nashville’s own Sixwire, along with Al Paris of Kool & the Gang, former Journey lead vocalist Steve Augeri, and singer-songwriter Andy Grammer. It was a fun and memorable way to celebrate that pediatricians know how to go all out dancing, even after a full day of learning.
On Sunday, I continued attending the Section on Osteopathic Pediatricians program, which focused on pediatric infectious diseases and included additional hands-on OMM training. That afternoon, I had the opportunity to present our research poster, “Cannabis Use and Elevated Suicide Risk in Appalachian Youth,” during the Council on Adolescents and Young Adults poster symposium. I was proud to represent East Tennessee alongside my colleagues from Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, Dr. Suzanne Rybczynski and Dr. Christina Han. Sharing our work with pediatricians from across the country led to meaningful discussions about adolescent mental health, substance use, and the unique challenges facing youth in Appalachia.
The conference also provided a welcome opportunity to connect with family. During my time in San Diego, I was able to enjoy dinner with my younger brother, who lives in the city and serves as an executive chef at the Little Italy hotspot Nolita Hall.
My final day at NCE focused on media and communication training through the Council on Communications and Media. Sessions included social media education led by Dr. Tommy Martin, media interview training with health journalist Randy Dotinga, and podcasting workshops presented by Drs. David Hill and Joanna Parga-Belinkie. These sessions provided practical tools for communicating accurate, evidence-based health information through multiple platforms and reinforced the important role pediatricians play as trusted voices in public health.
As I reflect on my time at NCE, I am deeply appreciative of the TNAAP Endowment Fund’s support. The conference expanded my clinical knowledge, strengthened my research and communication skills, and connected me with inspiring pediatricians from Tennessee and across the nation. I return home energized by new ideas, meaningful professional relationships, and a renewed commitment to advocacy, education, and improving the health of children and adolescents. Thank you to TNAAP for making this opportunity possible.