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2026 Nashville
Twentieth International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome / Abusive Head Trauma
Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza - Nashville, TN
September 22, 23, and 24, 2026
The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome is pleased to announce our twentieth biennial conference will be in Nashville on September 22, 23 and 24, 2026. This three-day conference brings together leading physicians, neuroscientists, child protection specialists, and legal professionals to present the latest scientific research and evidence-based practices on SBS/AHT. As misinformation continues to spread in public discourse, this trusted forum provides clarity, truth, and collaboration among the world’s foremost authorities.
Participants will explore topics on diagnosis, prevention, and family support services—gaining valuable tools and insights to strengthen their practice and impact.
This milestone event promises to be an inspiring, informative, and unforgettable gathering—we can’t wait to see you there.
Return to this page and follow our social media channels for the latest updates on the conference. Click this link to book your room at the Special Conference Room Rate.
2026 Nashville Venue
Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza
2100 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
Immerse yourself in old and new Nashville at the iconic, award-winning Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza. Our Nashville hotel near Broadway is your stage for exploring the vibrant city we call home. Our Nashville hotel is located in midtown Nashville across from Vanderbilt University in the West End—off the tourist path—just minutes from Nashville’s most renowned attractions.
Reserve Your Room Today
Loews Nashville Hotel provides conference attendees a substantial discount when registering through the link on this website. The minimum check-in date is September 20, 2026 and the maximum check-out date is September 25, 2026. if you have any special requests such as ADA rooms, roll aways, special pillows, etc. please book your room dates and follow up with a call to hotel reservations at 800-235-6397 with any additional requests.
Reserve your newly renovated Deluxe or Luxury room as soon as you are able. The room block closes August 26, 2026. Loews Nashville Hotel has a limited number of rooms available at the discounted rate.
Special Conference Room Rate: $269 per night, plus applicable taxes and fees.
Click Here to Reserve Your Room
NOTE: If you need to extend your room booking dates, please call the Reservations Department at 800-235-6397. Due to technical issues, you will not be able to extend your dates online. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. We will update here when the issue is resolved.
2026 Nashville Abstract
Abstract Submission
Interested in presenting at the Twentieth International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma? Join other world-renowned experts and share your latest research, policies, investigative techniques, legal expertise and prevention efforts focused on shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma.
The NCSBS is now accepting abstracts for workshop and poster presentations. The program planning committee is looking for abstracts to present from the following areas of expertise:
- Latest medical diagnostic and treatment of SBS/AHT cases
- Investigative and legal procedures and techniques
- Evidence-based and creative SBS/AHT prevention initiatives and programs
- Support for families and rehabilitation for victims of SBS/AHT
All contact information must be included as well as a thorough biography. The abstract will need to be submitted as a separate document with a word minimum of 200 words and a maximum of 1000. The abstract file must be uploaded as a Microsoft Word or PDF document. Please note: presentations with commercial interest will not be accepted.
Accepted abstract presenters will be responsible for own travel and registration costs. Co-authors presenting must also register for the conference.
Please Read the Abstract Submission Requirements Document Before Submitting an Abstract
Abstract Submission Requirements
DEADLINE EXTENDED: Abstracts Due February 27, 2026
Any questions can be directed to the NCSBS Conference Team at (801) 447-9360 or .
Register for the Nashville SBS Conference
Registration is OPEN!
2026 Registration Prices
| Physicians | $675 |
| General | $575 |
| Students* | $375 |
| Families of Victims | $250*** |
| Survivors | Free |
| Groups of 5-9** | $525 per attendee |
| Groups of 10+** | $475 per attendee |
| Baby Bootcamp for Trauma Investigators Only |
$150 per attendee |
| Baby Bootcamp for Trauma Investigators Add-On |
$125 per attendee |
*Requires a field of study/year and affiliations for registration
**Email for information on registering as a group
**Requires that groups register together and pay in full as one transaction
Registration rates include access to all keynote, breakout sessions and opening reception. The NCSBS will provide two breaks per day which includes coffee and snack items. Lunch is on your own.
Register for the conference by clicking this button: REGISTER NOW
Babies and Toddlers (BaT) Baby Bootcamp for Trauma Investigators
The NCSBS in partnership with Babies and Toddlers, Inc will be hosting an investigators' bootcamp directly before the SBS/AHT conference on Monday, September 21, 2026. This course will provide an explanation of basic terminology and medical diagnosis commonly associated with serious physical injury and death in babies and toddlers. We will explore how to approach serious assault and homicide investigations of babies and toddlers under the age of four and why the use of a detailed integrated timeline is critical. Attendees will be provided with a BaT Crib Sheet, a BaT Investigative Worksheet and other reference materials. Through a case study, attendees will learn about the significance of the presence or absence of medical findings, with a specific focus on Abusive Head Trauma and other injuries, and how to distinguish mimics from abuse in complex medical and law enforcement investigations.
Conference Loyalty Program
Don't forget that if you attended our 2022 International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome / Abusive Head Trauma (SBS/AHT) in Philadelphia and/or the 2024 conference in Salt Lake City you save up to 15% on your individual registration price. This discount cannot be combined with anyone receiving the group discount. Our Conference Attendee Loyalty Program introduced at the Philadelphia conference rewards our frequent attendees and places attendees in three tiers*:
- Ally: Earn 10% off registration fees after attending one conference
- Use Coupon Code "AllyNash2026" in the registration form**
- Supporter: Earn 15% off after two conferences attended
- Use Coupon Code "Supporter2026" in the registration form**
- Champion: Earn 20% off after three conferences attended
* Attendance credit began with the 2022 Philadelphia conference.
** The NCSBS will confirm eligibility for this coupon code. Anyone ineligible who uses this code will be required to pay the difference prior to attending the conference.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations 30 days or sooner before the conference will not be accepted. Cancellations more than 30 days prior to the conference are subject to a $50 cancellation fee.
Email Catherine at or call 801-447-9360 ext.112 if you have any questions about the conference.
2026 Resources for Families
The NCSBS recognizes that families and caregivers of victims of SBS may need additional support and services during their stay in Nashville. The Loews Vanderbilt Hotel offers multiple accessible rooms and can accommodate additional requests to help make your stay as stress free as possible. Click this link for more information about the hotel's accessibility options.
Accessibility in Nashville
Visit Music City touts Nashville's accessibility: "In Music City, everyone belongs. From ADA-compliant accommodations and restaurants to sensory-friendly attractions and inclusive music festivals, we welcome those with mobility, auditory, visual, and sensory differences to feel at home in Nashville. Come explore a city that’s as welcoming as its music." For a guide to navigating accessibility in Nashville, please visit this link.
2025 Virtual Family Symposium
Presents The
Virtual Family Support Symposium
May 14, 2025
The Virtual Family Support Symposium will be held on a virtual format and will feature presentations addressing many of the issues that families of victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma (SBS/AHT) face.
Registration is FREE!
Attendance for this event will be FREE to everyone who would like to participate thanks to the generosity of the Matty Eappen Foundation! Though attendance is free for all participants, registration is required in order to receive information regarding symposium updates, announcements, and Zoom instructions.
This symposium will not be offering any continuing education units (CEUs) and will program presentations that are relevant and valuable to families of victims of SBS/AHT. These presentations might include topics like processing grief, resources to navigate available resources at the state and federal level, and therapies that may be available for victims of SBS/AHT for example.
For questions about the symposium, please contact the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome:
Phone: (801) 447-9360 ext.105
Email:
Registration is Closed.
Book Your Newly Renovated Room for the Nashville Conference
Reserve Your Room for the Nashville Conference at a Substantial Discount:
The Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, our venue for the Twentieth International Conference on SBS/AHT, recently announced some exciting renovations and improved features, which are are on track to be completed this August. The hotel features a newly renovated lobby with a brand new 24-hour marketplace, Nashville's most technologically advanced hotel gym and a new dining area, bar and lounge.
The minimum check-in date is September 20, 2026 and the maximum check-out date is September 25, 2026. if you have any special requests such as ADA rooms, roll aways, special pillows, etc. please book your room dates and follow up with a call to hotel reservations at 800-235-6397 with any additional requests.
You can book a newly renovated Deluxe or Luxury room at a deeply discounted rate. Special Conference Room Rate: $269 per night, plus applicable taxes and fees. Room block closes August 26, 2026, so reserve your room today.
Click Here to Reserve Your Room
For more information about the Twentieth International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma in Nashville, Tennessee, CLICK THIS LINK.
Medical Consensus
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General Consensus
In May 2018, The Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR), European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR), American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology (ASPNR), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR), American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), Swedish Paediatric Society, Norwegian Pediatric Association and Japanese Pediatric Society published a joint consensus statement on abusive head trauma/shaken baby syndrome. This is the most comprehensive and complete consensus statement published to date. The statement is published in Pediatric Radiology.
American Academy of Pediatrics
The AAP's Abusive Head Trauma in Infants and Children: Technical Report provides a thorough review of the evidence-based literature around AHT. Additionally, the AAP's Technical Report describes the incidence of AHT, risk factors for AHT, and details the thorough clinical evaluation of a victim who presents with suspected AHT.The American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Shaken Baby Syndrome (also known as Shaken Impact Syndrome) is a serious form of abuse inflicted upon a child. It usually occurs when a parent or other caregiver shakes a baby out of anger or frustration, often because the baby will not stop crying.Canadian Joint Statement on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma
Shaken Baby Syndrome is a collection of findings, all of which may not be present in any individual child with the condition. Injuries that characterize Shaken Baby Syndrome are intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in and around the brain); retinal hemorrhage (bleeding in the retina of the eye); and fractures of the ribs and at the ends of the long bones.The American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology participated in the production of the AAP's Abusive Head Trauma in Infants and Children: Technical Report and have staff recognized as authors and liaisons on the final report.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Abusive head trauma (AHT), which includes shaken baby syndrome, is a preventable and severe form of physical child abuse that results in an injury to the brain of an infant or child. AHT is most common in children under age five, with children under one year of age at most risk. It is caused by violent shaking or blunt impact.The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
A child suspected of abusive head injury is referred by paediatricians to an ophthalmologist for evaluation. The incidence of abusive head injury in children is highest in infancy and less frequently seen in children over 3 years of age. Retinal haemorrhages have a high positive predictive rate for abusive head injury.French Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
SBS is a type of inflicted, non-accidental or abusive head injury caused by shaking (either alone or combined with an impact). It mainly occurs in babies under the age of one. It is thought that 180 to 200 children per year are victims of this type of abuse in France, although this value is certainly an underestimate. Failure to diagnose SBS increases the likelihood of recurrence.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), also known as non-accidental trauma (NAT) , is a diagnosis that may include a combination of findings including broken long bones such as arms or legs, skull fractures, brain bleeding and retinal hemorrhages. SBS occurs when a baby is shaken repeatedly, often by a frustrated caretaker in an effort to quiet an inconsolable baby. The eyes are examined in suspected cases of SBS as part of an overall examination of a child when abuse is suspected. Permanent damage to vision can also occur as a result of direct injury to the eye or the brain. Damage to the brain is the main reason for poor vision.
Research
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Articles Everyone Should Know
These are some of the most relevant research articles about Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma that will aid a lay person wanting to learn more about this form of child abuse.
Recent Research
The list below contains the most recent research relevant to SBS/AHT published during the past few years. The list cites the article’s title, author(s), title of the periodical or book, publication date and a link to the abstract or full article (if available).
State Specific Legislation
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Please click on a state to see the legislation related to shaken baby syndrome specific to that state.
FAQ
Attention on Prevention Podcast
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Attention on Prevention podcast brings in guests to talk about the prevention of child and infant maltreatment as well as delve into other parenting issues. We'll bring in families of victims of abuse and victims themselves to discuss their stories, world experts in various medical fields to discuss current research and past experiences as well as other guests with legal and prevention backgrounds. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. You can find each month's episode here on our website or wherever you get your podcasts.
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