The inaugural Poland Foundation conference is being planned. Dates, location details, and registration will be posted here when confirmed. Contact us to be added to the notification list.
Why a dedicated conference matters
Poland anomaly affects roughly 1 in 20,000 to 30,000 people. In a country of 330 million, that means approximately 11,000 to 16,000 people in the United States are living with the condition — and almost none of them know another person who has it. A physician seeing a new Poland anomaly diagnosis may never have seen one before. A family processing the news may search for weeks before finding a single other family who has been through it.
A dedicated conference changes that. In a single event, families who have never met anyone like their child can spend a weekend with dozens of families who understand exactly what they have been through. Clinicians who have treated a handful of cases can connect with surgeons and specialists who have treated hundreds. Researchers can hear directly from patients about what matters most.
The Poland Foundation conference is built for all three audiences — and designed so they can talk to each other.
What to expect
The conference is structured around three tracks:
Family track. Practical sessions for parents and patients at every stage — from newly diagnosed families with young children through adults who were diagnosed late. Topics include navigating school and disclosure, understanding treatment options, insurance appeals, and connecting with others who have been through the same decisions.
Clinical track. Sessions for physicians, surgeons, and allied health professionals on Poland anomaly diagnosis, surgical techniques, multidisciplinary management, and the practical challenges families face that clinical training rarely covers.
Community time. Unstructured time built into the schedule specifically for families to meet each other. For many attendees, this is the most valuable part of the weekend.
Location: St. Louis
The conference is planned for St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis was selected for its central geography — accessible by direct flight from most major US cities and within driving distance for much of the Midwest — and for its concentration of pediatric specialty care, including institutions with Poland anomaly surgical experience.
Travel assistance for conference attendance
Poland Foundation is committed to ensuring that travel cost is not a barrier to conference attendance for families who need to be there most. A travel assistance program for conference attendees is being developed alongside the general travel assistance program. Details will be posted when the conference schedule is confirmed.
For general travel assistance for medical appointments, see our Travel Assistance page.
Clinicians: get involved
If you are a physician, surgeon, or allied health provider with Poland anomaly experience and are interested in presenting at or contributing to the conference, we want to hear from you. Contact us with your specialty and area of interest.
Stay informed
Conference details — dates, registration, agenda, and speakers — will be posted on this page as they are confirmed. To be notified when registration opens, contact us and ask to be added to the conference list.