In April 2026, I had the privilege of traveling to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, as an invited speaker at the National Confederation of Pediatricians of Mexico (CONAPEME) conference. Through COLAVI (Colaboración Latinoamericana Contra la Violencia Infantil), I led a workshop on sentinel injuries in infants and a presentation on the epigenetics of child abuse.
What struck me most was not the beautiful Pacific coast or charming colonial downtown, but the profound hunger for knowledge. Pediatricians and medical providers across Mexico are eager to learn how to identify and respond to child maltreatment. Many Latin American countries are at a pivotal moment as local laws are shifting toward greater child protection, including recent enactments of laws against physical punishment. Yet clinical infrastructure lags behind legislation. Most child sexual abuse evaluations are still performed by evidence technicians, not specialized medical providers. Child abuse teams are just beginning to emerge.
The energy and engagement from conference attendees was remarkable. This experience has sparked ideas for deeper collaboration with Mexico and across Latin America, building on the partnerships I have cultivated through COLAVI, Fundación Amparo y Justicia in Chile, and CONAPEME. There is immense potential for shared learning, research, and clinical innovation between our institutions.
I returned to Wisconsin grateful for our team at American Family Children’s Hospital and hopeful about what we can accomplish together across borders.
