This is the 2nd International Mongolian Conference on Pediatric Dentistry and Medicine, taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in late September 2026. I have been invited to share my 23 years of expertise with regards to the Pediatric Airway. Those in attendance are medical and dental students, trainees, and junior doctors at the School of Dentistry of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. I will dedicate 4 days total, lecturing about airway management for normal and syndromic children, and then I will host 2 separate hands-on workshops for willing conference participants. I typically carry 500 pounds of airway equipment in my luggage from Boston to Ulaanbaatar: several life-like mannequins, battery-powered airway laryngoscopes, endotracheal tubes, face masks, ancillary support tools such as nasal and oral airways, stethoscopes, tracheostomy sets, and bag mask ventilation supplies. My goal is to ensure that each attendee feels comfortable managing a child's airway by the time I leave Mongolia. Our initial conference in 2024 was highly regarded, thus we will return for a second session. At the course conclusion, I am able to donate many supplies to the local medical school for ongoing practice and teaching in the local community.
This course is designed to serve a broad spectrum of healthcare professionals who care for children throughout and nearby Mongolia. Our primary audience includes physicians, pediatric dentists, anesthesiologists, hospitalists, intensivists, nurses, and medical and dental students, many of whom practice in settings with limited access to specialized pediatric education and continuing professional development. By bringing together international and local experts, the conference provides participants with current, evidence-based knowledge and practical clinical skills that can be implemented immediately in hospitals, clinics, and dental practices across the country. Those who attend are eager to learn new skills, techniques, and expertise in a variety of pediatric scenarios. Participants will listen to live lectures in English, which are then translated in-person to the native dialect in Ulaanbaatar. There will be several workshops offering hands-on opportunities to learn airway management, CPR training on mannequins, critical care diagnosis and resuscitation algorithms, how to manage childhood obesity, medication options for Pediatric Sedation in the dental office and emergency room, child life distraction tools when medications are unavailable, psychological and mental well-being in sick or traumatized children; common pulmonary and respiratory ailments which may negatively impact sedation and anesthesia during procedural sedation.
Although the direct participants are healthcare professionals and trainees, the ultimate beneficiaries are Mongolia's pediatric patients and their families. Improving clinicians' knowledge of pediatric airway management, anesthesia, emergency response, pain management, and interdisciplinary care has the potential to enhance patient safety, reduce complications, and improve clinical outcomes.
The anticipated impact of this educational mission is to strengthen the knowledge, clinical skills, and confidence of physicians, dentists, hospitalists, intensivists, and medical and dental students through evidence-based lectures and hands-on workshops. By emphasizing practical airway management, perioperative safety, and interdisciplinary collaboration, participants will gain skills that can be immediately applied to improve patient care in their own institutions. The program is also expected to foster lasting professional relationships, encourage ongoing knowledge exchange between international faculty and local healthcare professionals, and support the development of future clinical educators. Ultimately, these efforts aim to improve patient safety, expand local clinical capacity, and create a sustainable multiplier effect as participants share their newly acquired expertise with colleagues and trainees.
Our educational mission was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from Sept 28 - Oct 1, 2026. We conducted our daily training sessions (8am-4pm) at the Department of Pediatrics at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. We were asked to provide lectures in pediatric resuscitation (PALS), airway workshops for hands-on simulation and training, and other topics related to pediatric and primary care practice throughout Mongolia. In this global health endeavor, we were able to offer high-quality and engaging education, to the international audience of pediatricians, gastroenterologists, allergy specialists, and intensivists. I am confident that the knowledge and mentorship which we shared over the 4 day course will have a lasting impact on pediatric patient care in Mongolia. Additionally, the relationships that were established amongst our educators and their students will hopefully last for years to come. I look forward to a return trip next year!
