As they began preparing for their third Pediatric & Lifespan Data Science Conference (April 29-30), leaders of CHOC Research Institute’s Data Science Team wanted to make a real-world impact beyond the presentations and discussions in the conference rooms.
That was the idea since the conference began in 2023, says Louis Ehwerhemuepha, PhD, director of research computational and data sciences (computational research) at Rady Children’s Health in Orange County. And it was a mandate from Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Terence Sanger.
This year’s two-day conference brings together experts in medicine, research, and data science from around the world to address some of the most pressing challenges in pediatric and lifespan research. The program will feature several keynote addresses, panels exploring the role of AI and AI agents, a hackathon focused on developing cutting-edge applications to address health-related social needs, and an event to pack 10,000 meals in support of families experiencing food insecurity.
The keynote addresses will highlight a broad range of timely and impactful topics.
Annie Qu, PhD, will discuss the development of novel AI algorithms for integrating multimodal, heterogeneous, and longitudinal data to improve predictive performance.
Katherine Andriole, PhD, will explore the full lifecycle of AI applications for biomedical imaging and radiology, from initial conceptualization through evaluation of clinical impact.
Rick Whitted, MBA, will examine how household-level lived experience can be translated into structured, interoperable data that meaningfully informs pediatric care, health system design, and sustainable models of whole-child health.
Dr. Kara Goss will address the lifelong cardiopulmonary impact of premature birth. Across all keynote sessions, speakers will consider the evolving role of AI and the promise of AI agents in advancing research and care.
Panel presentations will focus on forward-looking approaches to evaluating AI and AI agents in research, clinical care, and health-related social needs. A particularly impactful patient and family panel will offer a unique perspective on how families are using AI today, as well as their insights into how healthcare could be transformed through thoughtful and responsible integration of AI technologies.
In addition, there will be several short presentations, abstract podium and poster presentations, and a hackathon that teaches Agentic AI with applications to summarization of discharge notes and development of a social needs connectivity app.
‘Health and Hope’ partnership
As part of the mandate for real-world impact, several projects, research studies, and transatlantic partnerships have been established by data science leaders and clinical collaborators across the hospital. This reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that advances in research and innovation extend beyond theory and technology to deliver tangible benefits for patients, families, and communities.
In direct alignment with this mandate, a collaboration with US Hunger will support the packing of 10,000 red lentil jambalaya meals during this year’s conference. This hands-on initiative is designed to deepen the community impact of the event while giving participants an opportunity to contribute to activities with immediate, meaningful benefits for patients and families. The meal is a vegan, gluten-free, shelf-stable option with a 12-month shelf life that is simple to prepare and clearly labeled.
More than 45% of the meals will be distributed through clinics in Orange County and Pomona, with the remaining meals delivered directly to families through trusted community partners. Together, these efforts underscore the conference’s mandate to translate collaboration, science, and service into measurable improvements in community health.
Conference Goals
Together, the Pediatric & Lifespan Data Science Conference reflects a shared vision for how innovation, collaboration, and responsibility can shape the future of healthcare. By bringing together global experts, amplifying patient and family voices, advancing thoughtful applications of AI and AI agents, and pairing scientific dialogue with direct community action, the conference underscores a clear mandate: progress in data science must translate into meaningful improvements in health across the lifespan. As the field continues to evolve, this gathering serves as both a forum for discovery and a call-to-action anchoring cutting-edge research in compassion and lasting impact for children, families, and communities.
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