Under the leadership of Dr. Katherine Twombley, the International Pediatric Transplant Association (IPTA) continues to expand innovative educational opportunities for trainees worldwide. One such initiative is the Pediatric Transplantation Master Class Symposium 2026, scheduled for 24–25 April 2026, which represents a significant step forward in broadening access to pediatric transplant education.

Recognizing the growing global interest in pediatric transplantation and the need to reach a broader audience of trainees, the IPTA leadership supported the development of an additional educational platform accessible to many more fellows and early-career professionals.

The symposium, themed “From Basic to Breakthrough: Advancing Pediatric Transplantation Care,” provided comprehensive educational content spanning fundamental principles, emerging science, clinical advances, and future innovations in pediatric transplantation. By removing the traditional cap on participant numbers, IPTA created a more inclusive learning environment that allows trainees from diverse regions and resource settings to benefit from world-class faculty expertise and international collaboration.

This initiative also highlights IPTA's commitment to strengthening the global pediatric transplant workforce. Through lectures, interactive discussions, networking opportunities, and exposure to current advances in transplantation, participants will gain valuable knowledge that can be translated directly into clinical practice and research endeavors.

The collaboration among regional transplant organizations and international partners further underscores the global nature of this effort. The symposium serves as an example of how IPTA continues to evolve its educational portfolio while maintaining its core mission of improving outcomes for children worldwide who require transplantation.

IPTA congratulates Dr. Katherine Twombley and the organizing team for developing this innovative educational program. The Pediatric Transplantation Master Class Symposium 2026 represents an exciting new chapter in trainee education and exemplifies IPTA's dedication to mentorship, collaboration, and excellence in pediatric transplantation.

International faculty from the United States played a prominent role throughout the meeting. Dr. Katherine Twombley, President of the International Pediatric Transplant Association (IPTA), delivered highly acclaimed presentations on antibody-mediated rejection, mentor-mentee collaborations in transplantation, and the development of pediatric transplant registries in partnership with IPTA. Additional contributions from U.S. experts including Dr. Amanda Lochrie, Dr. Dechu Puliyanda, and Dr. Jyothsna Gattineni enriched discussions on donor advocacy, graft survival, steroid minimization, growth after transplantation, and long-term transplant care. Dr. Rupesh Raina, serving as an IPTA Council Member and international leader in pediatric nephrology and critical care nephrology, delivered an engaging lecture on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Transplantation. The presentation explored how machine learning, predictive analytics, precision medicine, and AI-driven clinical decision support systems are transforming transplant care by improving risk prediction and enhancing long-term graft outcomes. The session stimulated significant discussion regarding future opportunities for integrating AI into pediatric transplant programs globally.

IPTA is seeking qualified candidates to be considered for open Councillor and Officer positions beginning in March 2027. Nominations and applications are welcome from anyone who has been an IPTA member in good standing for at least 1 year. Service to IPTA on committees, communities or special activities relevant to the society is an asset.

All applications will be reviewed by the IPTA Nominations Committee, who will present a final slate of candidate officers and councillors to the IPTA membership for the 2026 election.

The deadline for submission of applications is Monday August 10th, 2026.

We are seeking to appoint the following Officer positions to the Executive Council:

• President-Elect
• Secretary-Treasurer
• We are also seeking to fill 5 Councillor positions.

Council Terms:

• Councillors – 4 years
• Officers – 2 years

Dear IPTA Members,

We're pleased to share that the SMARTER Initiative has curated a series of enriching programs for this month's focus on pediatric liver transplantation.

We encourage active participation in these educational activities led by experts in the field. Thank you for your commitment to ongoing learning.

VISIT THE SMARTER INITIATIVE PAGE

VISIT THE QUESTION BANK PAGE

1: Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation Handbook Liver Transplant in Pediatric Populations (includes an Audiobook, Podcast, and Multiple-Choice Question Bank for each chapter!)

1. Chapter 29 - Pediatric Liver Transplantation
2. Chapter 30 - Perioperative Management after Liver Transplant
3. Chapter 31 - Immunosuppression after Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Population
4. Chapter 32 - Combined Liver-Kidney Transplantation for Primary Hyperoxaluria Type I
5. Chapter 33 - Human Hepatocyte Transplantation
6. Chapter 34 - Split Liver Transplantation

2: Journal Club Presentation:
Use of Machine Perfusion in Pediatric Liver Transplantation PowerPoint Presentation (by Daniella Levy Erez, MD, MTR)

3. Grand Rounds Presentation:

1. Pediatric Liver Transplant: Surgical Aspects & Techniques PowerPoint Presentation (by Dr. Amanda Jensen, MD, MS
2. Pediatric Liver Transplant: Outcomes & Complications (by Dr. Amanda Jensen, MD, MS

4: Grand Rounds Presentation:
Immunosuppression in Pediatric Liver Transplant (by Dr. Megan Lewis, PharmD

5. Handout: Psychosocial Considerations in Pediatric Liver Transplantation

6. Handout: Nutritional Management in Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients

We are pleased to announce significant funding enhancements to two of IPTA's flagship Outreach Committee initiatives: the IPTA Outreach Partnership Program and the IPTA Outreach Fellowship Program.

These complementary programs advance pediatric transplant capacity-building in emerging and underserved settings. The Outreach Fellowship Program supports individual clinical training, while the Outreach Partnership Program fosters structured, long-term partnerships between pediatric transplant centres. Together, they reflect IPTA's commitment to sustainable global outreach, mentorship, and transplant capacity building.

Outreach Fellowship awardees and the emerging centre awardee of the Outreach Partnership Program will receive free registration to the IPTA Congress!

Please note that both applicant and mentors need to be IPTA members in good standing for applications to be eligible. The deadline to apply is August 3rd 2026.

The IPTA Careers & Mentoring Committee has continued to expand its scope and international reach in 2026. With the addition of a Fellow and an AHNP member, and by moving to monthly virtual meetings across time zones, the committee now actively connects members from Germany, India, the United States, New Zealand, and Argentina.

Alongside ongoing activities, the committee has focused on three core areas: advancing mentoring initiatives, shaping proposals for the 2027 IPTA Congress, and strengthening its visibility across meetings and partner societies.

Mentoring remains a central pillar. We continue to actively encourage applications from potential mentees via the IPTA website. Individualized mentoring has proven highly valuable, with very positive feedback from participants in the first IPTA mentoring cycle. Colleagues particularly highlighted the benefits of tailored guidance, career development support, and the opportunity to build meaningful international connections. We strongly encourage interested early-career colleagues to apply!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SIGN UP

For the 2027 Congress, two workshop formats have been submitted, one didactic and one interactive, reflecting the committee’s commitment to both structured learning and active engagement.

A key priority this year is the development of a webinar series aimed particularly at early-career colleagues and early faculty members. The planned content will support scientific development, covering topics such as research methodology, and scientific publishing, including contributions from the editors-in-chief of Pediatric Transplantation, while also addressing personal development through leadership skills, career planning, effective communication, and strategic networking. Further details and access information will be shared via a dedicated link.

In addition, the committee is working jointly with the Education Committee on a symposium tailored to IPTA Fellows, planned for October 17–18, 2026. More details to follow!

Overall, the Careers & Mentoring Committee remains closely aligned with IPTA’s strategic priorities and continues to evolve in response to the needs and suggestions of its community.

The Ethics Committee was excited to have active engagement from the community at the September 2025 Congress in Berlin, with two well-received presentations from our committee, including a lively workshop about ethical considerations in re-transplantation in the setting of nonadherence, and on sex/gender. We also had three abstracts related to position papers in progress for our Committee.

At our Committee Meeting at the Congress, Tom Blydt-Hansen completed his term as Committee Chair (and we are grateful to his willingness to remain on the Committee as the Council representative), and Debra Lefkowitz and Aviva Goldberg began a term as Co-Chairs. We also want to thank outgoing members Anna Gold, Michael Freeman, Jaime Restrepo, and Alejo de Sarasqueta for their service on the Committee, and welcomed new members Laura Beresford (AHNP Correspondent), Maria Basto Duarte, Javier Castro, Moran Plonsky Toder, Don Hayes and Hee Gyung Kang.

Since the Congress, the Ethics Committee has been hard at work in generating proposals for the IPTA 2027 Congress in Charleston, SC, USA. We submitted a total of 4 proposals for symposia or workshops on topics including global perspectives on ethical issues related to transplantation of patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities, moral distress in pediatric transplantation, transplantation in suicidal and treatment-refusing adolescents, and foundations and frameworks in transplant ethics.

Additionally, we have continued to work on a number of position papers. The first one, “Guidance on the Ethical Use of Mandates for Vaccination Prior to Organ Transplantation in Children,” is soon to be submitted to Pediatric Transplantation. Additional papers currently under development include (1) neurodevelopmental considerations in listing decisions, (2) retransplantation in the setting of nonadherence, and (3) Is a Chronic Dialysis Program a Prerequisite for a Kidney Transplant Program?

Finally, we are excited to embark on a collaboration with the AHNP Committee in planning for the fall Virtual Education Symposium.