University Symposium on Population Health to Feature Hoffman
Creighton’s Institute for Population Health (IPH) will welcome Benjamin Hoffman, MD, CPST-I, FAAP, immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as its keynote speaker for the third annual University Symposium on Population Health—Population Health at the Crossroads of Policy and Practice from 12:30-4:30 p.m. CST on Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Harper Center, Ahmanson Ballroom, on Creighton’s Omaha campus. Hoffman will share his expertise and experiences at the intersection of health policy, authentic community engagement, and improving health and safety outcomes for children and families during his session. Registration is free and CE credits are available. The event will be live-streamed for those on our Phoenix campus and others unable to attend in person.
“The American Academy of Pediatrics has been my home for injury prevention and child advocacy,” Hoffman said. “As the premier professional organization for pediatricians in this country, we represent over 67,000 members who are committed to ensuring the health and well-being of all children.”
In addition to his role as a practicing pediatrician at Oregon Health Sciences University’s (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Hoffman serves as the medical director for the hospital’s injury prevention program (DIPP).
“Dr. Hoffman is a nationally recognized expert in child injury prevention and education and has recently served as the national president and primary spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics,” said Creighton’s IPH Executive Director Scott Shipman, MD, MPH. “He has proven expertise in policy and in practice at local, regional, and national levels. He brings a wealth of insight to Creighton and the community on priorities for ensuring the highest levels of health and well-being for our children.”
Session Schedule and Registration Link
See the full schedule for the symposium with speakers and a link to register. In addition to Hoffman’s keynote address, titled “What today’s Health Professionals Need to Know About Community Advocacy,” sessions will include a panel presentation titled “Navigating Access to Care in the Current Policy Environment” and a panel discussion titled “Food Insecurity – A Look at the Impact of Social Needs on Health.”
The OHSU DIPP program includes the Tom Sargent Safety Center, for which Hoffman also serves as director. Shipman developed and launched the initial safety resource center when he worked at OHSU 20 years ago. The center is located in the main lobby of the hospital and offers a variety of safety products, including home safety items like cabinet locks and window guards, as well as bike helmets, personal flotation devices and firearm lockboxes and vaults. All products are available to anyone and are sold at cost, with educational resources on proper usage provided by trained injury prevention staff.
“The injury prevention program at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital seeks to provide education, products and services to our patients, and to partner with our community to help prevent unintentional injury,” Hoffman said.
Other injury prevention program components include:
- Child Passenger Safety
- Newborn Safety
- Inpatient Safety Team
- Suicide Prevention
In 2024 alone, the injury prevention program staff worked with more than 4,500 families, including approximately:
- 800 Doernbecher admitted patients
- 3,500 newborns in the mother and baby unit (distributing about 350 safe sleep kits, including a portable crib at reduced or no cost)
- 350 infants in the neonatal intensive care unit
Additionally, program staff:
- Performed more than 2,700 car seat checks last year. Hoffman noted that there is a 76% critical misuse rate in car seats, meaning car seats are frequently improperly installed which can lead to serious injury or death in car accidents.
- Distributed more than 700 car seats to parents at a reduced cost or no cost.
- Consulted with approximately 140 families to provide firearm and medication lockboxes
Learn more about Doernbecher Injury Prevention Program and the Tom Sargent Safety Center. In addition to leading the DIPP, Hoffman also serves as a professor of pediatrics at OHSU and as director of the Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs. He earned his medical degree from Harvard in 1992 and completed his residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
