Department of Pediatrics
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Cultivating Connections Day 1 & 2 Schedules

Day 1 Schedule - April 13, 2026

Time Event Speaker Conference Room
7 a.m. Yoga
8–9 a.m. Registration & Networking Breakfast
9–9:15 a.m. Conference Welcome Jill Denson, PhD, MSW – assistant professor, UW Prevention Research Center Director, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
9:15–10:15 a.m. Keynote Claudette Onyelobi, MD – assistant professor, Division of Neonatology & Newborn Nursery, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
10:15–10:30 a.m. Break/Transition
10:30–11:30 a.m. Engagement Workshops:

1.      Workshop 1

2.      Workshop 2

3.      Workshop 3

4.      Workshop 4

5.      Workshop 5
11:30–11:45 a.m. Break/Transition
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Poster Session
12:45–1:45 p.m. Networking Lunch
1:45–2:45 p.m. Keynote –

FIMR in Action: Using Data to Drive Community and Health Department Collaboration
  • Ryan McAdams, MD (moderator) – professor, Division of Neonatology &Newborn Nursery, Division of Global Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

  • Melissa Seidl – Public Health Strategist, City of Milwaukee Health Department

  • Abbigail Brown – Public Health Nurse, Rock County Public Health

  • Kristi Ferrara, RN, BSN – Public Health Nurse, Rock County Public Health

  • Joanna O’Donnell, GC-C – Program Manager, Injury Prevention and Child Death Review, Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin

  • Cateryn Morateck, MPH – Epidemiologist, Injury Prevention and Death Review, Wisconsin’s voice for Children’s Health

  • Sarah Hughes, DNP, RN – Public Health Supervisor, Public Health Madison and Dane County
2:45–3 p.m. Break/Transition
3–4 p.m.  

Engagement Workshops:

1.      Workshop 1

2.      Workshop 2

3.      Workshop 3

4.      Workshop 4

5.      Workshop 5
4–4:15 p.m. Closing remarks for day 1 Jill Denson, PhD, MSW – assistant professor, UW Prevention Research Center Director, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
5:15–6:15 p.m. An Evening of Art & Connection:

Join us for an evening of connection and creativity! Enjoy light refreshments and a cash bar while viewing the Visual Stories of Maternal and Child Health. This is a perfect opportunity to network, reflect, and celebrate the diverse voices within our community.

Day 2 Schedule - April 14, 2026

Time Event Speaker Conference Room
7 a.m. Yoga    
8–9 a.m. Registration and Networking Breakfast    
9–9:15 a.m. Conference Welcome Day 2! Jill Denson, PhD, MSW – assistant professor, UW Prevention Research Center Director, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health  
9:15–10:15 a.m. Keynote Jasmine Zapata, MD, MPH – assistant professor, Division of Neonatology & Newborn Nursery, Division of Neonatology & Newborn Nursery, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health  
10:15–10:30 a.m. Break/Transition  
10:30–11:30 a.m.  

Engagement Workshops:

  1. Workshop 1
  2. Workshop 2
  3. Workshop 3
  4. Workshop 4
  5. Workshop 5
  
11:30–11:45 Break/Transition  
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Keynote –

Title: The Importance of Fathers’ Mental Health in Perinatal Families

Session Overview: Fathers’ perinatal mental health and parental experiences are beginning to be recognized as an important part of perinatal family health. Fathers’ perinatal mood and anxiety can have deleterious effects on both mothers’ mental health and infant development. In addition, the quality of father involvement with the child can have important implications for the child’s health. Cultural assumptions of the importance and value of fathers influence research, clinical practice, and policies and these assumptions must be updated by current research to best improve family health.

 Sheehan Fisher, PhD – Associate Dean, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Success, The Graduate School, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine  
12:45–1:45 p.m. Networking Lunch  
1:45–2:45 p.m.  

Engagement Workshops:

  1. Workshop 1
  2. Workshop 2
  3. Workshop 3
  4. Workshop 4
  5. Workshop 5
  
2:45–3 p.m. Conference Closing Remarks & Prize Announcements

 

 Jill Denson, PhD, MSW – assistant professor, UW Prevention Research Center Director, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health