FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2026
American Pediatric Society Announces Nationwide Children’s Hospital as Host Institution for APS Howland Visiting Professor Program
September 21, 2026 – The American Pediatric Society (APS) is pleased to announce that Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been selected as the host institution for the 2027 APS Howland Visiting Professor Program. This program serves as an extension of the prestigious APS John Howland Award, the highest honor bestowed by APS in recognition of distinguished leadership and contributions to academic pediatrics.
The 2026 APS John Howland Award recipient, pioneering pediatric cardiologist and geneticist Bruce D. Gelb, MD, will visit the institution to share his knowledge and experience, exchange ideas, and discuss critical issues affecting academic pediatrics.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital was selected for the APS Howland Visiting Professor Program for their compelling alignment with the APS mission and its programmatic goal to advance child health by extending the reach of the wisdom and knowledge of the APS Howland awardee.
“The APS Howland Visiting Professor Program reflects our commitment to strengthening academic pediatrics by connecting current and future leaders with the field’s most distinguished innovators,” said APS President Tamera Coyne-Beasley, MD. “We congratulate Nationwide Children’s Hospital on its selection as the 2027 host institution and look forward to the meaningful exchange of ideas and mentorship that Dr. Gelb’s visit will inspire.”
Created in honor of clinician-scientist John Howland, MD, the APS John Howland Award is the most prestigious award bestowed by the APS. By reinstating the APS Howland Visiting Professor Program, the society continues to extend the reach and impact of APS Howland awardees by bringing the awardee directly to APS member institutions for engagement with academic leaders and early-career professionals alike.
Dr. Gelb, the 2026 recipient, is known for his transformative research uncovering the genetic causes of congenital heart disease (CHD) and related disorders. His early work, supported by the National Institutes of Health, helped establish the molecular foundations of CHD and led to landmark discoveries explaining why some children are born with heart defects. Among his most influential contributions was identifying the first genetic cause of Noonan syndrome, work that paved the way for understanding a broader group of developmental conditions now known as the RASopathies. These insights have shaped how physicians worldwide diagnose, predict, and treat these disorders.
APS members applied for the APS Howland Visiting Professor Program on behalf of their academic institutions. The awarded institution will receive up to $5,000 to support travel, honoraria and other expenses incurred from hosting the visiting professor.
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The American Pediatric Society (APS) founded in 1888 as the first pediatric society in North America, is committed to strengthening academic pediatrics by expanding the workforce, nurturing leaders, and developing innovative approaches to address child and adolescent health challenges. APS’s more than 1,800 members are recognized leaders in pediatrics who work together to advance the Society’s vision of a healthier future for all children and adolescents. For more information, please visit aps1888.org, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Media Contact:
Lisa Thompson
Association Director
American Pediatric Society
(346) 980-9707
lthompson@aps1888.org