Date/Time

Activity/Topics/Speakers

Thursday, July 23, 2026

11:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.

Adolescent/Adult Workgroup

George Capone, MD

1:10 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

DS-ASD Workgroup

Lina Patel, PsyD; Noemi Spinazzi, MD

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Down Syndrome Project ECHO: Behavioral Challenges

Moderator: Brian Chicoine, MD
Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L

As a result of participation in this activity, members of the healthcare team will be able to:

1. Describe the Project ECHO model used by the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group Project ECHO.
2. Identify, from a multidisciplinary perspective, various contributing factors to a change in behavior or challenging behaviors in a person with Down syndrome.
3. Discuss interventions for behavioral changes or challenging behaviors in people with Down syndrome."

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Member meeting

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Welcome reception

8:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m.

Welcome and Announcements

Friday, July 24, 2026

8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Evaluation and management of obstructive sleep apnea in children with Trisomy 21

Akinyemi Ajayi, MD

9:20 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.

Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment in Down syndrome: Translating Current Research into Clinical Practice and Creating Momentum Towards Broader Awareness

Moderator: Elizabeth Boatwright, MD
Gena Heidary, MD, PhD
Melinda Chang, MD
Rudaina Banihani, MD

10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Nutritional Implications of GLP-1 Agonist-Supported Weight Loss in Down Syndrome

Dominica Nichols, PhD, RD, LDN
Lauren Ptomey, PhD, RD, LD
Shannon Frizzell, MS, RDN, LDN

As a result of participation in this activity, members of the healthcare team will be able to:

1. Interpret clinical trial data on weight loss interventions in adults with Down syndrome, with a focus on changes in muscle and fat mass, and evaluate the impact of fat mass reduction on metabolic and inflammatory markers relevant to cardiometabolic risk.
2. Summarize current clinical approaches to obesity management using GLP-1 receptor agonists, including emerging clinical guidelines, efficacy data, and patient selection criteria relevant to pediatric and adult patients with Down syndrome.
3. Discuss strategies to support adequate nutrition and prevent malnutrition in patients with Down syndrome during treatment with weight loss medications.

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Medical and Surgical Management of Obesity in Down syndrome

Moderator: Dominica Nichols, PhD, RD, LDN
Vibha Singhal, MD, MPH, DABOM
Andrea Videlefsky, MD, FAAFP
Asef Mahmud, MD

As a result of participation in this activity, members of the healthcare team will be able to:

1. Discuss the prevalence of obesity in DS, causes, consequences
2. Review current methodologies for weight management and how Challenges for patients w DS
3. Review specific interventions that have been effective for patients w DS

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Long Term Outcomes for Patients with Congenital Heart disease repair and Down Syndrome

Zahid Amin, MD

As a result of participation in this activity, members of the healthcare team will be able to:

1. Describe long term risks / complications of CHD in DS including pulmonary hypertension
2. Learn to how to clinically assess for signs and symptoms of Right sided heart failure
3. Describe importance family counseling of management of weight issues in relation to CHF

2:35 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.

Lightening Round:

(1) International Summit on Physical Fitness in Down syndrome - Summary and Recommendations

(2) Vaccine safety and efficacy in individuals with Down syndrome

Nicolas M. Oreskovic, MD, MPH, BA
Bernard Khor, MD, PhD
Noemi Spinazzi, MD

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

NIH INCLUDE Project: Community-Engaged Research to Advance Clinical Care Across the Lifespan           

Melissa Parisi, MD, PhD

4:05 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.

T21 Online Clinic: An Interdisciplinary Virtual Model Expanding Access to Comprehensive Care Across the Lifespan

Lidia Gómez Puente, MD
María José Delgado Montemayor, MD
Alejandra Ochoa, MD
Gabriel Couto Keever, MA

As a result of participation in this activity, members of the healthcare team will be able to:

1. Identify key barriers limiting access to comprehensive health care for individuals with Down syndrome and how virtual models can address them.
2. Describe the essential elements for implementing a person- and family-centered interdisciplinary digital clinic.
3. Analyze the outcomes and lessons learned from the T21 Online Clinic model for adaptation in diverse clinical and geographic contexts.

4:40 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.

Practice Changing Articles - Update in the Medical Literature

Peter Bulova, MD
Kishore Vellody, MD