For more than a decade, Stephanie Kukora, MD, neonatologist and Director of Scholarship in the Bioethics Center, has partnered with colleagues at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa to help expand neonatal training opportunities and quality improvement efforts. Through collaborations with the Vermont Oxford Network and nonprofit partners, the team supported the development of a neonatal intensive care fellowship program that is helping strengthen specialized neonatal care capacity across Ethiopia. 

More recently, Anik Patel, MD, FAAP, Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician and Global Health Associate Program Director, has contributed to the development of Ethiopia’s first Pediatric Emergency Medicine-Pediatric Intensive Care (PEM-PICU) fellowship at SPHMMC. The program has already graduated its first cohort of fellows, representing a significant milestone in pediatric critical care training within the country.

The partnership also includes participation by Ethiopian physicians in Children’s Mercy’s Pediatric Bioethics Certificate Program. During a recent visit to Addis Ababa, Drs. Kukora and Patel collaborated with local physicians through educational sessions, bioethics seminars and simulation-based training. The visit provided opportunities to strengthen existing relationships, support trainees and exchange clinical expertise with colleagues working in resource-constrained environments. 

Clinicians from both institutions report that the collaboration has become a valuable source of shared learning. Ethiopian physicians bring extensive experience caring for critically ill children despite equipment and supply limitations, while Children’s Mercy faculty contribute expertise in neonatal medicine, emergency care, critical care education and bioethics. These exchanges have helped identify innovative approaches to clinical practice, quality improvement and resource stewardship. 

As the partnership continues to grow, Children’s Mercy faculty are exploring additional opportunities for multidisciplinary engagement, including expanded educational exchanges involving nursing, respiratory therapy and other clinical specialties. Ongoing collaborative work in neonatal medicine, pediatric critical care and bioethics is expected to continue through virtual teaching, trainee participation and joint scholarly activities. 

This international collaboration reflects Children’s Mercy’s commitment to advancing pediatric specialty care through education, mentorship and global partnerships while supporting the development of sustainable training programs that improve outcomes for children worldwide.

Congratulations to Ellen Keyser Endelman (Current Pediatric Ethics Fellow & Student), whose workshop entitled, “Art, Ethics, and Identity - The Paper Doll as Spiritual Care,” accepted at the annual conference of the Pediatric Chaplain's Network to be held May 4-7.

Congratulations to faculty and program alumni who have had proposals accepted for presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2026 Meeting, April 24-27, in Boston:

Session Title: Good Faith Conversations: A Medical Improv Workshop for Clinicians Navigating Religion and Belief at the Bedside

Workshop Leaders:

1.    Stephanie Kukora, MD (she/her/hers) (Faculty & Graduate, 2014) (Role: Submitter, Leader)

2.    Ellen L. Keyser Endelman, M.Div., BCC (she/her/hers) (Current Pediatric Ethics Fellow & Student) (Role: Co-Leader)

3.    Scott Moerdler, MD (he/him/his) (Role: Co-Leader)

4.    Shannon G. Hanson, PhD, MPH (Role: Co-Leader)

Session Type: Workshop
Session Date: Saturday April 25, 2026
Session Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
 

Abstract ID: 2270654
Abstract Title: Ethical Considerations for Using Alternative Methods of Consent in Neonatal Clinical Trials: Recommendations from a Modified Delphi Consensus Process

Authors:

1.    Stephanie Kraft, JD (she/her/hers) (Role: Presenting Author, First Author)

2.    Abigail Brickler, MBE (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

3.    Abril Beretta, Bachelor of Science in Psychology (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

4.    Kaashif Ahmad, MD, MSc (he/him/his) (Role: Co-Author)

5.    Justin Clapp, PhD, MPH (Role: Co-Author)

6.    Neal W. Dickert, MD, PhD (he/him/his) (Role: Co-Author)

7.    Rebecca A. Dorner, MD, MHS (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

8.    Elizabeth Field, MS (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

9.    Katherine Guttmann, MD (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

10. Anup Katheria, M.D. (Role: Co-Author)

11. Andrea Kelsh, BA (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

12. Stephanie Kukora, MD (she/her/hers) (Faculty & Graduate, 2014) (Role: Co-Author)

13. Diana Montoya-Williams, MD MSHP (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

14. Benjamin Mooso, MS (he/him/his) (Role: Co-Author)

15. Muntasir Natour, MD (he/him/his) (Role: Co-Author)

16. Laura Heck Ryan (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

17. Simran Sekhon (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

18. Sandhya Subramanian (Role: Co-Author)

19. Elliott Weiss, MD, MSME (he/him/his) (Role: Co-Author)

Session Type: Poster Session
Poster Session Name: Neonatal Clinical Trials 1
Poster Session Date: Saturday April 25, 2026
Poster Session Time: 3:30 PM - 5:45 PM
 

Abstract ID: 2275467
Abstract Title: Interprofessional Perspectives on Withdrawal of Life Supportive Therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Survey Study

Authors:

1.    Kwai Tei Chan Poon, MD (she/her/hers) (Graduate, 2025) (Role: First Author)

2.    Sharla Rent, MD, MSc-GH (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

3.    Monica Lemmon, MD (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

4.    Susan Izatt, MD, MEd (Role: Co-Author)

5.    Stephanie Kukora, MD (she/her/hers) (Graduate, 2014) (Role: Presenting Author)

Session Type: Poster Session
Poster Session Name: Clinical Bioethics
Poster Session Date: Monday April 27, 2026
Poster Session Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Poster Session Location: Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 
 

Abstract ID: 2275772
Abstract Title: Moral Tensions at the Bedside: A Survey of Neonatal Nurses’ Perceptions of Trisomy 18 Care

Authors:

1.    Isabella M. Hadden, MBA, BSN (she/her/hers) (Graduate, 2025) (Role: First Author)

2.    Angela Knackstedt, BSN, RN, NPD-BC (she/her/hers) (Faculty & Graduate, 2012) (Role: Co-Author)

3.    Kelstan Ellis, DO, MBe, MS-CR (she/her/hers) (Faculty & Graduate, 2022) (Role: Co-Author)

4.    Stephanie Kukora, MD (she/her/hers) (Faculty & Graduate, 2014) (Role: Presenting Author)

Session Type: Poster Session
Poster Session Name: Clinical Bioethics
Poster Session Date: Monday April 27, 2026
Poster Session Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Poster Session Location: Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 
 

Abstract ID: 2272245
Abstract Title: The Pediatric Anesthesia Informed Consent Tool (PACT) to Improve Patient and Parent Engagement: Development and Pilot Testing

1.    Sunny Jeong, BScN, MBE (she/her/hers) (Graduate, 2024) (Role: First Author)

2.    Michelle A. Stage, MS, ABD (Role: Co-Author)

3.    Richard H. Blum, MD, MSE (Role: Co-Author)

4.    Elaine C. Meyer, PhD, RN, MBE (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

5.    Mollie A. Ruben, PhD (Role: Co-Author)

6.    Danielle Blanch-Hartigan, PhD, MPH (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

7.    David B. Waisel, MD (he/him/his) (Role: Co-Author)

8.    Stephanie Kukora, MD (she/her/hers) (Faculty & Graduate, 2014) (Role: Presenting Author)

Session Type: Poster Session
Poster Session Name: Clinical Bioethics
Poster Session Date: Monday April 27, 2026
Poster Session Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Poster Session Location: Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 
 

Abstract ID: 2275582
Abstract Title: Evaluating the Impact of a Certificate Program in Pediatric Bioethics for Interdisciplinary Healthcare Professionals on Professional Development and Practice

Authors:

1.    Vanessa S. Watkins, MPH (she/her/hers) (Graduate, 2015) (Role: First Author)

2.    Angela Knackstedt, BSN, RN, NPD-BC (she/her/hers) (Faculty & Graduate, 2012) (Role: Co-Author)

3.    Brian S. Carter, N/A, MD (he/him/his) (Faculty) (Role: Co-Author)

4.    Jeremy R. Garrett, PhD (he/him/his) (Faculty) (Role: Co-Author)

5.    Kadriye O. Lewis, Ed.D (she/her/hers) (Role: Co-Author)

6.    Stephanie Kukora, MD (she/her/hers) (Faculty & Graduate, 2014) (Role: Presenting Author)

Session Title: Clinical Bioethics
Session Type: Oral Abstract
Session Date: Monday April 27, 2026
Session Time: 2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Presentation Time: 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center