3rd International Pediatric Cardio-Oncology Conference
Preliminary Agenda
Times are not final and subject to change
PRECONFERENCE ACTIVITIES
Thursday, October 22, 2026
6:00-8:00pm | Welcome Reception Hosted by The International Cardio-Oncology Society
Registration required — Click to register.
Friday, October 23, 2026
7:00-8:00am | Breakfast & Registration
8:00-8:30am | Welcome
Focus Block 1 | 8:30-10:00am | New Medications: How AI/Machine Learning has Been Applied to Developing New Meds, Studying Application
Session Leaders: James E. Bates, MD | Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University | Jonathan Bender, MD, MS | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center | Susan Dent, MD | Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester | Kasey Leger, MD, MSc | Seattle Children’s Hospital | Thomas D. Ryan, MD | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Evolution of Pediatric Cancer Therapy: Integration of Immune-Based and Targeted Agents into Contemporary Practice | James E. Bates, MD | Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University | John Perentesis, MD | Cincinnati Children’s, University of Cincinnati
The Cardiovascular Consequence of Immune Activation in Pediatric Oncology | Ashley Stein-Merlob, MD, PhD | University of California, Los Angeles
Small-Molecule Inhibitors in Pediatrics: Hypertension, Cardiomyopathy, and the Unknowns | Hari Narayan, MD, MSCE | University of California San Diego
Navigating Cardiotoxicities of Novel Agents in Pediatrics: Case Based Perspectives | James E. Bates, MD | Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University | John Perentesis, MD | Cincinnati Children’s, University of Cincinnati | Ashley Stein-Merlob, MD, PhD | University of California, Los Angeles | Hari Narayan, MD, MSCE | University of California, San Diego | Jonahan Bender, MD, MS | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center | Thomas D. Ryan, MD, PhD | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
10:00-10:30am | Break
Focus Block 2 | 10:30-12:00pm | Epidemiology Session | Machine Learning/ Big Data and its Application in Epidemiology
Session Leaders: Daniel A. Mulrooney, MD | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | Eric Chow, MD, MPH | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center | John Perentesis, MD | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center / University of Cincinnati | Annelise Mavinkurve-Groothuis, MD, PhD | Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology | Kristen Ness, PT, PhD | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Filling in the Gaps in Knowledge Together: International Registration of Treatment & Follow-up of patients and Survivors with Cardiovascular Disease | Annelise Mavinkure-Groothuis, MD, PhD | Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology
Cardiac Dysfunction in Childhood Cancer Survivors: Results from the DCCSS LATER 2 CARD Study | Lieke Feijen-Allenstein, PhD | Princess Maxima Center
Big Data, Small Patients: Leveraging Large Datasets to Identify Emerging Cardiotoxicities in Pediatric Oncology and the Role of AI in Large Epidemiology Studies | Jonathan Bender, MD | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Closing Roundtable Discussion of Clinical Implications of AI | Moderator | Daniel A. Mulrooney, MD | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Participants | Annelise Mavinkurve-Groothuis, MD, PhD | Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology | Lieke (Elizabeth A.M.) Feijen-Allenstein, PhD | Princess Maxima Center | Jonathan Bender, MD, MS | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center | Tochi M. Okwuosa, DO | Rush University Medical Center
12:00-1:30pm | Lunch
Sofia Blanco Memorial Lecture 1:30-2:45pm | Elizabeth Blume, MD | Boston Children’s Hospital
Session Leaders: Marta Blanco, MBA | Sofia’s Hope | Thomas D. Ryan, MD | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center | Steven E. Lipshultz, MD | University at Buffalo
Focus Block 3 | 2:45-3:45pm | Across the Chasm: Connecting Cardio-Oncology with Primary Care & Hospital Medicine
Session Leaders: Marta Blanco, MBA | Sofia’s Hope | Peter Wolf | Cardio-Oncology Advocate | Chelsea Kriesberg, DNP, CPNP-AC, CCRN | Advocate Children’s Heart Institute
Introduction | Peter Wolf | Cardio-Oncology Advocate | Chelsea Kriesberg, DNP, CPNP-AC, CCRN | Advocate Children’s Heart Institute
Speakers | Linda Rivard, BSN | Alique Topalian, PhD, MPH | University of Cincinnati Cancer Center
Q&A
3:45-4:00pm | Break
Focus Block 4 | 4:00-5:30 | Who, When, and How: A Precision Approach to Preventing and Treating Pediatric Cardiotoxicity
Session Leaders: Neha Bansal, MBBS, MD | Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone Health | Joseph Carver, MD | Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania | Nathanya Baez Hernandez, MD | University of Texas | Julia Steinberger, MD, MS | University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital
Risk Stratification in Pediatric Cardio-Oncology: Identifying Who is at Highest Risk | Olga H. Toro-Salazar, MD | Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, Vanderbilt Medical Center
Beyond Myocardial Disease: Optimizing Cardiovascular Health in Children with Cancer | Stephanie Dixon, MD, MPH | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Primary Cardioprotection Dexrazoxane - The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown | Steven E. Lipshultz, MD | University at Buffalo
The Gamut of Cardiomyopathy in Pediatric Cancer: When is the Right Time to Start Heart Failure Therapy | Joseph Carver, MD | Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania | Nathanya Baez Hernandez, MD | University of Texas Southwestern | Hugo Martinez, MD | The University of Texas | Julia Steinberger, MD, MS | University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital
Cases Presented By | Neha Bansal, MBBS, MD | Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone Health
5:30-7:30pm | Poster Session
Session Leaders | Thomas D. Ryan, MD | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center | Veronica Santos, MD, MSc | AC Camargo Cancer Center and Santa Marcelina
Saturday, October 24, 2026
7:15-7:45am | CO Academy | Practical Exercise Prescriptions for Patients Treated for Childhood Cancer
Presenter | Kristen Ness, PT, PhD | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Session Leader | Thomas D. Ryan, MD | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
8:00-9:00am | Keynote Address
Tochi M. Okwuosa, DO | Rush University Medical Center
Session Leader: Thomas D. Ryan, MD | Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
9:00-9:15am | Break
Focus Block 4 | 9:15-11:15am | Nursing | Transition of Care of Pediatric Cancer Patients Across the Cancer Care Continuum: Examining the Role of Nursing
Session Leaders: Anecita Fadol, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN | The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center | Chelsea Kriesberg, DNP, CPNP-AC, CCRN | Advocate Children’s Heart Institute
Introduction of Session and Speakers
The Cancer Care Trajectory from Pediatric Cancer Patient to Adult Survivor: Lessons Learned Along the Way | Shelby R. Boone, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC, CPN | Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital
The Role of the Nurse Navigator in Pediatric Cardio-Oncology | Tiffany Berthod, MSN, RN, CPN, CCRC | Connecticut Children’s
The NP-Driven Pediatric Cardio-Oncology Clinic | Chelsea Kriesberg, DNP, CPNP-AC, CCRN | Advocate Children’s Heart Institute
Palliative / End-of-Life Care in Pediatric Cancer Patients with End-Stage Cardiotoxicity | Meggan Mikal-DeMont, DNP, APRN-FPA, PCNS-BC, CPNP-PC, CHPPN, FPCN | Advocate Children’s Hospital and Lightways Home Based Palliative and Hospice Care
Recap | Shelby R. Boone, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC, CPN | Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital
Panel Discussion | Q&A
11:15-12:00pm | Break and Lunch Pickup
12:00-1:00pm | Fireside Chat with Pioneers in Pediatric Cardio-Oncology - A Tale of Two Continents | Yiu-fai Cheung, MD | The University of Hong Kong | Greg Armstrong, MD | St. Jude Research Hospital
1:00-1:30pm | Closing Remarks