This is the first of the podcasts where we’ll highlight and preview this year's 80th Annual Meeting. Vice President Kristie Bjornson discusses Abstract Submissions for the meeting, her chosen theme, and some of the science she and her team are excited to include in programming. Specific details about the formatting of abstracts and scoring rubrics are available at the following link:

https://www.aacpdm.org/events/2026/abstract-submission

Abstracts are due January 31 at 11:59PM EST – we look forward to learning more about your work! #AACPDM2026

In this replay from the AACPDM Village, we join past Community Council Chair Jen Lyman interviewing Dr. Alfred Scherzer. Dr. Scherzer served as President of the AACPDM in 1986 and was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. He was the Historian from 2009 to 2019. He also was Chair of the International Affairs Committee (1986-1990) and Chair of the Advocacy Committee (1990-1994).

The Village of the AACPDM was a project of the Diamond Jubilee meeting. Contributors to the project included: 2021 Scientific co-chairs Anna McCormick and Julie Sees; Communications committee representatives Kristie Bjornson, Ginny Paleg, and Sruthi Thomas; Historian Bill Oppenheim; Past President Deb Gaebler, Producer Gregory Tilton and Host Jen Lyman; supported by AACPDM staff (Tamara Wagester, Erin Freimark, Erin Brewster).

Catch up with and get to know Academy leadership! Past President Laurie Glader and Director at Large Jeremy Bauer kick off the podcasting series discussing a variety of topics and share some mentorship opportunities.

Mentorship opportunities:

1. Advisor program: https://www.aacpdm.org/get-involved/advisor-program
2. Emerging Leaders: https://www.aacpdm.org/professional-opportunities/emerging-leaders-program
3. Mentorship program in collaboration with Cerebral Palsy Foundation: https://www.cerebralpalsyfoundation.org/healthcare-mentorship-program/

Link to Podcasts we loved working with for #AACPDM2025:

• Research Works: https://researchworks.net/
• Cerebral Palsy Health: https://cpresource.org/media/podcasts/cerebral-palsy-health-jen-lyman
• PedsOrtho Podcast: https://www.posnacademy.org/channel/Peds+Ortho+Podcast/116705041
• Complex Care Journal Club: https://www.openpediatrics.org/complexcarejournalclubpodcast
• Parálisis Cerebral Respuestas (Cerebral Palsy Answers): https://www.azucenagarcia.com/podcast

Register for the Mental Health e-Course: https://www.aacpdm.org/professional-opportunities/ecourses/20252026-lifespan-ecourse

Contact us at [email protected]

In this special teaser episode, Theresa Moulton walks through the origin story of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM). Our six founding members are physicians Bronson Crothers (Neurology), Winthrop Phelps (Orthopedics), Temple Fay (Neurosurgery), Meyer Perlstein (Pediatrics), George Deaver (Rehabilitation Medicine), and Earl Carlson (Internal Medicine). They were brought together by Jayne Shover in 1964, initially as the National Cerebral Palsy Advisory Council and later as the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy. This episode launches our 80th year celebration, thanks for listening!

Online references:

https://www.aacpdm.org/about-us/history https://www.aacpdm.org/enewsletter/2021/01/#article3 https://www.aacpdm.org/enewsletter/2018/05/ https://www.aacpdm.org/enewsletter/2017/12/

Cover art photo of Jayne Shover from https://www.pibetaphi.org/PiBetaPhi/media/History/6%20Arrow%20Archive/Arrow%20PDFs/1970-1979/v88n4-Summer-1972.pdf

Learn more about AACPDM membership: https://www.aacxpdm.org/membership/benefits

Voices heard include:

• Susan Sienko
• Robert Christopher
• Helen Horstmann
• Michael Alexander
• Peter Rosenbaum
• Charlene Butler
• Theresa Sukal-Moulton

First episode coming soon! Learn more at AACPDM.org