Keynote Speaker Mark D. Peterson, Ph.D., M.S., CSCS, FACSM Addresses the Importance of the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Aging with Cerebral Palsy

Dr. Soroush Baghdadi, Director of the UCLA/LuskinOIC Center of Cerebral Palsy, to lead Welcome and Insight Discussion

Cerebral Palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood in the United States, affecting about 1 in 345 children and resulting in roughly 10,000 new diagnoses each year.

On Saturday, March 21, 2026, LuskinOIC and the Center for Cerebral Palsy at UCLA will host, “Cerebral Palsy Grows Up,” a professional conference and family forum designed for medical professionals, people with cerebral palsy, and family members affected by cerebral palsy. The Conference coincides with March’s National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

The Professional Conference portion of the symposium kicks off at 8AM with a focus on Hip and Knee Pathologies Throughout the Years by Soroush Baghdadi, MD; Muscle Pathology and Stiffness by Kristen Reider, PT, PhD; Clinical Management of Cerebral Palsy in Adults by Maya Newman, MD and Lindsay Pietruszewski, DPT; Women's Reproductive Health in CP by Eileen Fowler, PT, PhD, and a panel discussion of Lived Experience, facilitated by Resheda Patterson, MSW including Sarah Wright, Joe Holt, and William Volkmann as panel members. Additionally, continuing education units for attending therapists will be provided by the PT Board of California.

Keynote Speaker, Mark D. Peterson Ph.D., M.S., CSCS, FACSM will address both the professional and family forum on the current state of evidence and clinical guidelines for aging with cerebral palsy and the unique challenges faced by adults in accessing and receiving appropriate care. Dr. Peterson is the Charles E. Lytle, Jr. Endowed Research Professor at the University of Michigan-Medicine and a Fulbright Scholar. He researches health and chronic disease associated with disabilities, particularly cerebral palsy. He has over 200 publications and leads the development of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cerebral Palsy. He is also the proud father of a teenager with cerebral palsy.

The symposium’s Family Forum begins at 1PM and is designed for children and adults with cerebral palsy and neuromuscular disorders, their families, support systems, and care teams, to learn and network about current cerebral palsy treatments, resources, and other shared interests.

Community partners who will be on-site to provide resources at the family forum include: Momentum Refresh Vehicles, Southern California Resources for Independent Living, CALIF Independent Living Center, SoCal Trykers, Disability Rights California, Inclusion Matters, Hope in CA Behavioral Health Specialists, California Medical Pharmacy (DME and Med supplies), LA County Disability Services

The Saturday, March 21 symposium will be held at LuskinOIC’s Downtown LA campus at 403 West Adams Blvd. Registration is required for both the Professional Conference Agenda & Registration and Family Forum Agenda & Registration.

For more information about the Institute, please visit luskinoic.org and follow us @LuskinOIC

About Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children

Founded in 1911, Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children is a nonprofit pediatric orthopaedic hospital dedicated to providing world-class care to children regardless of their families' ability to pay. In partnership with UCLA Health, LuskinOIC serves more than 60,000 patient visits annually, with over 85% of patients covered by Medi-Cal or underinsured. The Institute operates both locally and globally, with pro bono clinics serving underserved communities. For more information, visit luskinoic.org.

About Center for Cerebral Palsy at UCLA

The Center for Cerebral Palsy is dedicated to improving motor function in children and adults with cerebral palsy and related movement disorders through a program of timely diagnosis, comprehensive assessment, and individualized treatment.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260319253393/en/

LuskinOIC and the Center for Cerebral Palsy at UCLA will host “Cerebral Palsy Grows Up,” a professional conference and family forum designed for medical professionals, people with cerebral palsy, and family members affected by cerebral palsy.