The NEC Society, in partnership with the Section of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, is proud to announce that Dr. Mark Underwood will provide the opening keynote presentation for the 2019 NEC Symposium.

Dr. Mark Underwood, Chief of the Division of Neonatology at the University of California at Davis, Co-Chair of the 2017 NEC Symposium, and Advisor for the NEC Society, has been integral to the movement to advance NEC research and improve outcomes for medically fragile infants at risk of the disease. Jennifer Canvasser, founder and director of the NEC Society shares, “Dr. Underwood exemplifies the NEC Society’s core values of patient-family centered care, prioritization of human milk for vulnerable babies, and commitment to innovative solutions to this complex and devastating disease. We are grateful for his leadership.”

The 2019 NEC Symposium will take place on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, June 2 – 5, 2019. The theme of the 2019 conference is “Breaking down the barriers to NEC prevention and treatment.” The meeting will bring together diverse stakeholders from around the world, including clinicians, patient-families, and governmental organizations. Dr. Underwood highlights how, “Caring for a premature or sick newborn requires a team of dedicated professionals. I love working with parents, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, social workers, and specialists to provide the very best care for these fragile little guys.”

2017 NEC Symposium at UC Davis

The 2019 meeting follows an immensely successful NEC Society conference held in April 2017 through a partnership with the University of California at Davis and support from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The 2017 NEC Symposium’s highlight reel showcases the meeting’s momentum and commitment to innovative solutions. The 2017 NEC Symposium’s executive summary provides a concise overview of every session and key points that were presented at the first NEC meeting in North America.

Dr. Samir Gadepalli, a University of Michigan pediatric surgeon and founding member of the NEC Society’s Scientific Advisory Council, will co-chair the 2019 NEC Symposium, along with the directors of the NEC Society, Jennifer Canvasser, MSW and Erin Umberger, M.Arch. Dr. Gadepalli cared for Jennifer’s son Micah, who died from complications of NEC when he was 11 months old. Dr. Gadepalii notes that, “Learning from our patients and families is key to being a better researcher, better clinician, and better person. None of us can solve complex problems alone and this conference brings together diverse knowledge, skills and experiences to break down these barriers. From young to seasoned researchers incorporating the global perspective, we will discover innovate ways to move the field forward.”

Registration for the 2019 NEC Symposium will open in the fall of 2018. Additional keynote speakers and details will be announced in the coming months, stay tuned!

Please email Jennifer@NECsociety.org with questions.

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