2026 AWS Annual Conference

Advocacy: Speaking Out and Scaling New Heights for Our Patients, Our Profession, and Ourselves

Friday, September 25 & Saturday, September 26
Washington, DC

Conference Speakers 

Keynote Speaker: Dana Suskind, MD

Dana Suskind, MD, is Founder and Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, Founding Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, and Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics, and Public Policy (affiliated) at the University of Chicago. She has dedicated her research and clinical life to optimizing foundational brain development and preventing early cognitive disparities, with an emphasis on helping parents and caregivers leverage their power as brain architects. Her pioneering research extends into the critical intersection of artificial intelligence and early childhood, exploring how emerging technologies can enhance—rather than replace—the pivotal role that caregivers play in building healthy young brains. Dr. Suskind is a recognized thought leader on the national stage and celebrated author of “Thirty Million Words,” “Parent Nation,” and her most recent book, “Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity, and Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI.”