EOS Connection 2023, APFED’s annual patient education conference for eosinophil-associated diseases, was held on Friday, June 30, and Saturday, July 1, 2023.
This hybrid event was in Denver, CO at the Hyatt Regency Aurora – Denver Conference Center and also streamed online for virtual participants. You can still participate and access recordings of conference sessions on-demand.
Thanks to the support of our Education Partners, we were able to offer onsite attendance for $50, plus travel grants.
While the live events have passed (June 30-July 1, 2023), you can still register to watch recordings of the presentations and explore the virtual Exhibit Hall and Poster Hall. The virtual conference environment will be available through December 2023.
APFED Members: You can register for free. The discount code was emailed in April and July 2023.
Not yet an APFED member? Visit apfed.org/membership to sign up. Your confirmation email will contain a discount code to waive the registration fee.
If you have questions or can’t locate your discount code, please contact conference@apfed.org.
Everyone who registers for the conference can:
APFED members are eligible for discounted registration, dependent on membership level. To become an APFED member, please visit apfed.org/membership.
Event participants are expected to follow the conference Code of Conduct & Engagement Guidelines.
SPECIAL PRE-CONFERENCE WEBINAR
June 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM ET
We held a special pre-conference webinar featuring Nathalie Nguyen, MD, of Children's Hospital Colorado to learn about eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and inflammation. During this webinar, she discussed the role eosinophils play in the body, how EoE works, and more.
Thank you to Sanofi and Regeneron, our Presenting Level Education Partners for EOS Connection 2023, for their support of this webinar.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Denver, CO, on Thursday, June 29 - Saturday, July 1, or online for EOS Connection 2023 on Friday, June 30 - Saturday, July 1.
Concurrent activities for teens and kids were offered in Denver, CO, on Friday, June 30. View teen programming schedule.
Have you ever wanted to see how a research lab is set up? Here’s your chance! Children’s Hospital Colorado is offering lab tours for APFED conference registrants and their travel companions. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Long pants and closed toe shoes must be worn on the tour. We will meet in the Hyatt at the APFED Registration Desk at 3:45 p.m. and depart together as a group to the hospital.
Space is limited to 16 participants; pre-registration is required. This tour is full as of June 26.
Co-hosted by APFED and Children's Hospital Colorado
Nathalie Nguyen, MD
Childrens Hospital Colorado
During this special pre-conference webinar featuring Nathalie Nguyen, MD, she discussed eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and inflammation, including the role eosinophils play in the body, how EoE works, and more.
Wendy Book, MD
APFED
Nathalie Nguyen, MD
Childrens Hospital Colorado
Amiko Uchida, MD
University of Utah School of Medicine
Caitlin Burk, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital for Children
Glenn Furuta, MD
Children's Hospital Colorado
Calies Menard-Katcher, MD, MSCS
Children's Hospital Colorado
Salvatore Oliva, MD, PhD
Sapienza University of Rome
8:10 a.m. MT: Welcome
APFED and Children's Hospital Colorado Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Diseases Program
8:15 a.m. MT: EGID Diagnostics: Current and Pipeline
Nathalie Nguyen, MD
8:35 a.m. MT: EGID Treatments: Current and Pipeline
Calies Menard-Katcher, MD, MSCS
8:55 a.m. MT: CEGIR Research Update and CEGIR Scholar Presentations
Glenn Furuta, MD, Amiko Uchida, MD, Salvatore Oliva, MD, PhD, Caitlin Burk, MD
9:45 a.m. MT: Panel Q&A
Dan Atkins, MD
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Maureen Bauer, MD
Children’s Hospital Colorado
10:50 a.m. MT: Role of the Allergist in Care
Dan Atkins, MD
11:10 a.m. MT: Role of Food and Environmental Triggers in EoE (including OIT)
Maureen Bauer, MD
11:30 a.m. MT: Panel Q&A
Raquel Durban, MS, RD, CSP, LD/N
Asthma & Allergy Specialists, PA (Charlotte, NC)
This session is presented courtesy of Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition
Maureen Bauer, MD
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Kelly Klaczkiewicz, RD, CSP
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Taryn Van Brennan, RDN
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Rebecca J. Doidge, MS, CCC-SLP
Children's Hospital Colorado
1:45 p.m. MT: Shared Decision Making + Q&A
Maureen Bauer, MD
This session is presented courtesy of Sanofi and Regeneron
2:15 p.m. MT: Dietary Strategies
Taryn Brennan, RDN, Kelly Klaczkiewicz, RD, CSP
2:40 p.m. MT: Feeding and Swallowing Difficulties
Becky Doidge, MS, CCC-SLP
3:00 p.m. MT Dietary Panel Discussion + Q&A
Jane Robinson, PhD
Children’s Hospital of Colorado
Wendy Book, MD
APFED
Ryan Piansky
Patient Advocate
Kaycee Bennett
Patient Advocate
Heather & Jeric Silvestri
Patient Advocate
Mary Jo Strobel
APFED
3:30 p.m. MT: Mental Health/Coping + Q&A
Jane Robinson, PhD
4:00 p.m. MT: Patient Panel
4:45 p.m. MT: APFED Updates and Adjourn
Sessions will conclude by approximately 5 p.m. MT. There will be a break before the evening social activity.
Food will be served. Conference Room VI.
Wendy Book, MD
APFED
Stacey Ivits
Patient Advocate
Ryan Piansky
Patient Advocate
Tina Singer
Patient Advocate
9:00 a.m. MT
Welcome
9:15 a.m. MT
Patient Panel Discussion
Njira Lucia Lugogo, MD
University of Michigan
Diagnostics, Treatments, and Future Directions + Q&A
Michael Rosenblum, MD, PhD
University of California San Francisco
Update on APFED-funded research
Thanai Pongdee, MD
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota
Diagnostics, Treatments, and Future Directions + Q&A
Paneez Khoury, MD
National Institutes of Health
Diagnostics, Treatments, & Future Directions + Q&A
Holly Knotowicz, MS, CCC-SLP
Picky Eaters Anonymous
Ryan Piansky
Patient Advocate
Conversation with APFED's Podcast Co-hosts
Virtual sessions will conclude at approximately 12:00 p.m. MT.
Optional in-person offsite family-friendly activities will be available in Denver, CO, on Saturday, July 1, additional fees may apply.
Group ticket sales for the Downtown Aquarium closed on Friday, June 23. You may still purchase individual tickets directly from the aquarium.
A limited number of travel grants were available on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible applicants.
Hyatt Regency Aurora – Denver Conference Center
13200 East 14th Place
Aurora, CO 80011
Group room rate: $210 per night + applicable taxes. The hotel group rate is available from June 28-July 1, 2023. Rooms must be booked by June 6, 2023. You may make your hotel reservations online. If you call the hotel directly for reservations, mention you are with the APFED conference to get the special rate.
Check-in is at 3 PM and checkout is at 12 PM.
Conference attendees were responsible for their own transportation.
Airport. The hotel is approximately 15 miles (~20-minute drive) from Denver International Airport. The hotel does not provide a shuttle service.
Train. The hotel is ~14 miles from Amtrak Denver Union Station.
Public transportation. The closest bus station is Colfax, which is about 1 mile from the hotel.
If you have questions not answered below, please contact conference@apfed.org.
Please review all applicable state and local COVID-19 travel restrictions, guidance, and resources before traveling to participate onsite at our event. APFED is closely monitoring COVID-19 protocols and may make adjustments as required by local and federal guidelines. If you experience symptoms of COVID, or feel ill, please do not attend the event and expose other attendees who may be more at risk for COVID infection.
Please complete this form in order to:
You may also find this denver area information helpful, it includes information about attractions in the area.
There are multiple ways to get around Denver, including:
You may also find this denver area information helpful, it includes tips for getting around the area.
Wear what is comfortable for you! The conference rooms may be a little cool, so you may want to bring a sweater.
Unless a conference activity is specifically listed for children under age 11 or advertised as “family friendly” or “attendees of all ages” welcome, children under age 11 will not be permitted into sessions.
We do have conference program and activities planned that are appropriate for children ages 5 and up. These will be clearly listed on the final agenda.
Children must have a chaperone at these activities. APFED does not provide childcare services, but as a courtesy, can provide information upon request about local childcare services available.
You may also find this denver area information helpful, it includes local childcare options and area attractions.
Onsite conference registration includes four (4) meals: a buffet at Thursday's reception, plus breakfast, a boxed lunch, and a buffet at the family social on Friday.
We are also working with the Hyatt to offer special APFED menus for in-room dining and at the onsite Borealis restaurant.
In addition, you may find this denver area information helpful, it includes grocery stores and restaurants near the hotel.
Onsite conference registration includes four (4) meals: a buffet at Thursday's reception, plus breakfast, a boxed lunch, and a buffet at the family social on Friday. Foods are served with restricted diets in mind.
APFED works with the catering staff to educate them on how to avoid cross-contact and provides ingredient substitution and specialty food recommendations. We work to ensure catering staff labels all ingredients carefully, and that buffet items are separated with designated serving utensils. Please be cautious, read all food labels, and be aware that some foods may contain ingredients that you should avoid.
To provide for conference attendees who have formula or other dietary needs, we will provide a Hospitality Suite for food storage and preparation. The suite includes a refrigerator/freezer, microwave, sink, dish soap, paper towels, and disposable tableware. This room will be staffed and open during posted hours, Thursday-Sunday. Conference attendees can gain access to this suite outside of the posted hours. More information will be provided onsite at check-in. Guest rooms are also equipped with mini refrigerators.
We are also working with the Hyatt to offer special APFED menus for in-room dining and at the onsite Borealis restaurant.
In addition, you may find this denver area information helpful, it includes grocery stores and restaurants near the hotel.
Yes! Our conferences are a success thanks to the generosity of our volunteers! We often have tasks leading up to the conference, and onsite at the conference during that weekend. To add your name to our volunteer list, please contact Cara Schmitt at cschmitt@apfed.org. We may not have something to assign you right away, but we will keep your contact information handy. Please note that we cannot waive conference fees for volunteers.
A limited number of travel grants are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible applicants. Learn more and apply.
If you would like to attend onsite but the registration fee poses a hardship, please email conference@apfed.org stating your need and a request for waived conference registration.
Cancellations must be received in writing mail@apfed.org by 5 p.m. ET on June 22, 2023. to receive a full refund of registration fees. After that time, no refunds will be issued. We will ship conference materials and email a link to recorded sessions to paid registrants who are unable to attend. Hotel cancellations must be made separately. Charges may be incurred if reservations are not cancelled.
Thank you to Children's Colorado for collaborating with APFED on EOS Connection 2023.
Thank you to our Education Partners for supporting EOS Connection 2023.