A new Northwestern Medicine study has found patient navigators — trained guides who help patients access care and resources while working alongside the healthcare team — can ease the often challenging transition to motherhood for low-income pregnant individuals, leading to better health in their postpartum period and more consistent primary care for years to come. The goal is to increase patients' independence and comfort with engaging with the healthcare system. In cancer care, patient navigation has received widespread adoption, and is even funded by Medicaid, but has been largely underused and understudied in postpartum care. These findings lay the groundwork for future research and potential funding for patient navigation.

Rates of advanced stage colorectal cancer are climbing in young patients, marking a need for increased vigilance, according to data presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition Oct. 2-6, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center.

Thousands of pediatric patients canceled or missed doctor appointments at a large pediatric referral center in the Midwest during a recent surge in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, according to new research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference and Exhibition in San Diego.   

Teddy bears fitted with medical devices such as gastronomy (feeding) tubes may help normalize and lessen medical anxiety in children who need the same devices, according to a project presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition Oct. 2-6, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center.  

Physicians used osteopathic manipulative treatment to effectively improve the head shape of babies who developed a flattened spot on the back or side of their head, a condition called positional plagiocephaly (PP), according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego Oct. 2-6.