“Minding the Gap”
2026 Howard H. Steel Conference
Dec. 2: Precourse
Dec. 3-5: Conference
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
Orlando, Florida
2026 Poster Submission Site is Now Open!
Thank you everyone who submitted an Oral presentation abstract and/or Course proposal. Poster abstracts for the Steel conference will be accepted before October 1, 2026.
The Steel Assembly invites Researchers, Clinicians, Engineers, and Innovators to submit Course Proposals and/or abstracts for Oral and Poster presentations for our December 2026 meeting. This year’s theme, “Mind the Gap,” focuses on identifying, understanding, and bridging critical gaps in Science, Technology, and Clinical Practice.
Registration will open soon!
Sessions will include:
- Free Papers
- Scientific Posters
- Point-Counterpoint
- Audience Engagement
- Consumer Participation
Examples of Gaps to Explore:
- Knowledge Gaps: Unanswered questions in neurorehabilitation, biomechanics and engineering.
- Clinical Gaps: Disparities across pediatrics and adult care and translation from research to practice.
- Data Gaps: Missing evidence for long-term efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
- Implementation Gaps: Challenges in scaling interventions from lab to clinic and home use.
- Technology Gaps: Limitations in current devices, interfaces, and stimulation techniques.
- Equity Gaps: Addressing socioeconomic and geographic barriers to advanced therapies.
Topics of Interest:
- Neuroplasticity and Recovery Mechanisms
- Robotics and Assistive Technologies
- Clinical Trials and Translational Research
- Health Equity and Access in Neurorehabilitation
- Emerging Technologies and AI in Rehabilitation
Join us in closing the gaps that limit progress and patient outcomes. Your work can help shape the future of care for children living with spinal cord injury!
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Cristina L. Sadowsky, MD
Chair, Steel Assembly
It is my great pleasure to invite you to join us for Steel Assembly 2026, to be held in vibrant Orlando, Florida. The 2026 conference theme, “Minding the Gap” calls upon us to recognize and bridge the spaces – whether in knowledge, resources, access, or outcome – that affect the care of children and adolescents living with spinal cord-related dysfunctions.
The Steel Assembly has long been a gathering place for those dedicated to advancing care, research, and collaboration in pediatric spinal cord medicine. In 2026, we will once again unite a diverse community of healthcare professionals – physicians, nurses, therapists, psychologists, researchers, and all who share a commitment to improving the lives of our young patients.
Through engaging plenary sessions, interactive workshops, and case-based discussions, we will explore innovative strategies, share best practices, and develop actionable solutions to close the gaps that challenge our field. And of course, Orlando offers the perfect backdrop for both professional connection and a bit of fun.
Whether you are a seasoned expert or early in your career, your voice, your experience, and your passion are essential to the conversation. Together, we can create a stronger continuum of care and a brighter future for every child and adolescent we serve.
I look forward to welcoming you to Orlando and to an unforgettable Steel Assembly 2026.
Stephen M. Haley Memorial Lecture
The Current & Future Management of Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury
Dr. MJ Mulcahey, PhD, OTR\L, CLCP, FASIA
Thomas Jefferson University
Dr. MJ Mulcahey, PhD, OTR\L, CLCP, FASIA, has been named the 2026 Howard H. Steel Stephen M. Haley Memorial Lecturer. Dr. Stephen Haley was an esteemed colleague who transformed how we assess outcomes of physical function, activity, and participation in children with physical disabilities, including spinal cord injury. Stephen Haley died far too early due to complications from leukemia.
Dr. Mulcahey is a licensed occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience as a clinician-scientist in pediatric rehabilitation. After obtaining her occupational therapy degree, MJ practiced as an occupational therapy clinician and researcher for over 20 years at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia. Her practice area was with families and children with spinal cord injuries, brachial plexus birth injuries, cerebral palsy, limb loss, and other neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions. During her tenure at Shriners, MJ pursued a PhD and advanced training in measurement and outcomes assessment. As part of the Shriners team, she developed the Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Data Set for longitudinal assessment of pediatric SCI. She led a multi-center study that established guidelines for evaluating the neurological consequence of spinal cord injuries in children, which have been adopted globally. In collaboration with others, MJ has also conducted pediatric spinal cord injury research on the outcomes of upper extremity reconstruction and percutaneous and implanted functional electrical stimulation. Over the last decade, MJ has focused her research on developing and validating IRT-derived clinical outcome assessments, including the Pediatric SCI Measure and the Pediatric Measure of Participation.
Dr. Mulcahey has received numerous awards for her work in pediatric spinal cord injury including the Clinical Excellence Award from the American Paraplegia Society, Comarr Memorial Award for Distinguished Clinical Service from the Academy of SCI Professionals, American Spinal Injury Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Sir Ludwig Guttmann Lecture and Plenary from the International Spinal Cord Society. Currently, she is a tenured Professor of Occupational Therapy and Director of the Center for Outcomes and Measurement in Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, USA, and is a certified life care planner with Turning Point Life Care Planning based in Los Angeles, CA.
The McCollough Lecture
The Past, Present, and Future Landscape for OrthoMind the Gap, Share the Model: Standardizing Data Collection in Pediatric Spinal Cord Injurypaedic/Neurosurgical Management of Children and Adolescents with SCI
Dr. James A.G. Crispo, MSc, PhD
Principal Health Scientist
Dr. James A.G. Crispo has been named the 2026 Steel Assembly Newton C. McCollough Lecturer. The lecture is named in honor of Newton C. McCollough, a pioneering advocate and supporter of pediatric spinal cord injury programs associated with the Steel community. The lecture serves as a legacy platform highlighting major advances in pediatric SCI care and research.
Dr. Crispo is the Principal Health Scientist and a founding partner at TruEffect Inc. (www.TruEffect.ca), a Canadian firm specializing in health research, surveys, data analytics and visualizations, and knowledge translation. Dr. Crispo holds academic appointments as an assistant professor in the Human Sciences Division at NOSM University and as an adjunct scientist in the Mental Health and Addictions Research Program at ICES.
James Crispo completed a PhD in Population Health at the University of Ottawa, with postdoctoral training in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia. His research uses administrative claims and other large datasets to examine health service utilization, care pathways, and outcomes among children with spinal cord injury in Canada and the United States. He is also interested in how electronic health information, common data models, and emerging tools such as AI can be leveraged to improve data quality, standardization, and care for pediatric populations.
James is the recipient of several awards, including the ASIA 2024 Vogel Award, a Research Trainee Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC, a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Research Award, and a prestigious Fulbright Canada Student Award to the United States.
2026 Steel Conference Program Committee:
- Rebecca Martin, OTR/L, OTD (Program Chair)
- Randy Betz, MD
- Glenda Bosques, MD
- Kristy Hayes
- Linda Jones, PT, PhD
- Laura Krisa, PhD
- MJ Mulcahey, PhD, OTR/L
- Kathryn Noonan-Eaton, MSOT, OTR/L
- Cristina Sadowsky, MD
- Eimear Smith, MD
- Kathy Zebracki, PhD
Hotel Information:
1900 E. Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
Discounted hotel rates are good through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026 or when the room block fills, whichever comes first.
Partner with STEEL!
Increase your visibility and strengthen relationships with leaders in Pediatric SCI. Industry support is key to the success of this conference and demonstrates your commitment to improving patient care. Read more about the many levels of sponsorship package.
E-mail: info@steelassembly.org
The Howard H. Steel Conference on Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction is provided by the Steel Assembly, an affiliate of the American Spinal Injury Association.