2023 Conference

Date:
Friday, September 22, 2023
Location:
Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center at Capitol Hill

What is the Alabama Newborn Screening Program?

The Alabama Newborn Screening Program, established in 1964, ensures that state laws, rules, and regulations mandating newborn screening are executed. In Alabama, all newborns are screened for many rare and serious disorders before they leave the hospital. These inherited disorders can lead to death, intellectual disability, or developmental delays if not identified early.  Babies with these conditions may look healthy at birth and have no family history of problems. Early detection of these conditions through newborn screening leads to normal growth and development and reduces morbidity, premature death, and other developmental disabilities.

The program establishes protocols to ensure early identification and follow-up of infants affected with certain genetic or metabolic conditions.  The program works in partnership with pediatric specialists throughout the state to ensure all babies identified with abnormal results receive appropriate follow-up.

The University of South Alabama Center for Continuing Education is pleased to provide conference management and registration support for this conference.

More info

Event Details

Register Online Now

Early Registration (through August 12, 2023)
Conference attendee - $55

Group Registration
Call (251) 460-7200
M - F, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Registration (received after August 12, 2023)
Conference attendee - $65

For assistance, contact
By phone: (251) 460-7200
Via email: usacontinuinged@southalabama.edu

Cancellation Policy:
No refunds will be given after August 31, 2023. Substitutions are permitted prior to September 15, 2023. Refunds processed prior to August 31, 2023, will be the registration fee minus any applicable processing fees.

OBJECTIVES


At the end of this conference, the participant should be able to:

  1. Describe lysosomal storage disorders (Pompe/MPS-I) and associated signs and symptoms
  2. Recognize how families are affected when their child is diagnosed with an inherited disorder
  3. Visualize the steps for processing newborn screening specimens received at the State Health Laboratory
  4. Describe best practices in newborn hearing screening and early intervention
  5. Discuss three components of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention system
  6. Identify three techniques for proper collection of the newborn screening specimen
  7. Acquire knowledge on newborn screening vendor services
Agenda

7:15 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast

 

8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Welcome
Wes Stubblefield, M.D.,
ADPH District Medical Officer

Introductions/Housekeeping
Rachael Montgomery, B.S.N., R.N.,
Newborn Screening (NBS) Follow-up Manager

 

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Lysosomal Storage Disorders
(Pompe and MPS-I)
Ali Al-Beshri, M.D., Assistant Professor,
University of Alabama at Birmingham Genetics

 

9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Break/Exhibits

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Parent Panel

  • Family (SMA)
  • Family (Congenital Hypothyroidism)
  • Family (MPS-I)
  • Family (Hearing)
  • Family (Sickle Cell)

 

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Working Lunch- Data Exchange of Newborn Screening Information (lunch provided)

 

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Laboratory Tour
Sharon P. Massingale, Ph.D., HCLD/CC/(ABB), State Laboratory Director

Derek Kennedy, B.S., Newborn Screening Laboratory Division Manager

Rachael Montgomery, B.S.N., R.N., Newborn Screening Follow-Up Division Manager


1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Best Practices for Early Hearing and Intervention
Ukawia Johnson, L.M.S.W., B.B.A., Family Educator, Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind



1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Break/Exhibits

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions:

  • Newborn Hearing Screening
    Mary Ellen Whigham,
    A.S.N., R.N., Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Coordinator
    Nancy Strong, B.S.N., R.N., EHDI Surveillance Coordinator
  • Specimen Collection
    Derek Kennedy,
    B.S. NBS Laboratory Manager          Rachael Montgomery, B.S.N., R. N., NBS Follow-up Manager

 

3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Speed Table with Vendors
(5 minutes to share about entity and Q/A)

 

4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Conference Evaluation

Exhibitors

Vendors desiring to exhibit at the conference are welcome. The rates are listed below.

  • Gold Sponsor ($1,000)  
    • Choice of exhibit location
    • Company literature and flyers distributed with conference materials
    • Company logo, description, and sponsorship listed on the conference program
    • Speed table session to share information about your company and/or services.
  • Silver Sponsor ($800) 
    • Assigned exhibit location
    • Literature and flyers distributed with conference materials
    • Company description and sponsorship listed on the conference program
    • Speed table session to share information about your company and/or services
  • Bronze Sponsor ($600)
    • Assigned exhibit location
    • Flyers available for distribution
    • Sponsorship listed on the conference program
    • Speed table session to share information about your company and/or services.