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This conference is jointly presented by  and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology.

Accreditation/Credit Designation Statement

Physician
Provided by ²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú.

²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Nurses
Texas Children’s Hospital is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Needs Statement

²ÝÁñÉçÇøÈë¿Ú professionals caring for high-risk infants must stay informed about advancements in neonatal nutrition management, as inadequate early nutrition can significantly hinder growth and development, impacting long-term outcomes. Recent guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) underscore the importance of fetal nutrient retention and functional normalcy. Despite this knowledge, many premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) continue to experience slower growth than expected. Unique challenges within the NICU environment, combined with social determinants of health, further complicate the nutritional needs of these vulnerable infants. To address these issues, this interdisciplinary conference will provide pediatricians, neonatologists, nurse practitioners, dietitians, and other stakeholders with the latest resources and best practices to enhance nutritional care and ultimately improve both short- and long-term outcomes for premature infants.

Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participants should be able to:

• Define basic nutritional requirements for neonatal growth and describe specific nutritional problems faced by low birth weight and premature infants
• Describe the importance of increasing the incidence and duration of breastfeeding
• Identify approaches to addressing nutritional concerns for premature infants after hospital discharge
• Summarize the nutrition needs and management of premature infants born between 22-23 weeks.
• Explain how to manage the effects of mental health to the family during a NICU stay

Target Audience

Physicians, fellows, residents, medical students, advanced practice providers, nurses, neonatal dietitians, and other healthcare providers.

Educational Methods

Lectures, panel discussion, small group breakout session.

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation and possible bias.