Barbara Barlow, MD, FAAP, FACS
Professor of Surgery in Epidemiology
Columbia University Center for Injury Science and Prevention
Executive Director and Founder, Injury Free Coalition for Kids
Welcome to the 27th Annual Injury Free Coalition for Kids National Conference! It is so exciting to be back in person! 2022 has been a wonderful year for our Coalition. Our membership continues to grow and National Injury Prevention Day has expanded. The journal, Injury Epidemiology will continue to publish an Injury Free Annual Conference Supplement, representing papers from our annual meeting. Please enjoy your copy of the Journal from the 2019 conference and remember to cite papers from our meetings as you prepare your papers for publication.
Dr. Marlene Melzer-Lange, Chair of the Program Committee, and of the Injury Free Board, has developed an exciting program for this year’s conference. Our keynote speakers are experts in injury epidemiology—Drs. Wendy Pomerantz and Holly Hanson will share their experiences with COVID and pediatric injuries. Dr. Sadiqa Kendi will share her perspectives on disparities and injury prevention as part of her keynote. We honor Dr. Marilyn Bull as our Pioneer Award recipient—she will discuss child passenger safety for children with special health care needs as well as safe ambulance transport. We are excited for their presentations!
This year we had a record number of abstracts submitted. The Scientific Committee chose the best to be presented as podium presentations, panels, posters, and workshops with a focus on disparities in Injury Prevention. A special thank you to Dr. Kathy Monroe for organizing the abstract selections and judging during the conference.
Enjoy the conference, form new injury prevention relationships, learn from others, ask questions during the meeting, and develop ideas for programs which will keep our children and their families safe. Partner in your battle to keep children Injury Free!