IPEM25 Conference: A Hands-On Success in Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Irish Paediatric Emergency Medicine Association, hosted its third annual conference, IPEM25, at The Gibson Hotel on March 12th & 13th. With the theme “Hands-On PEM”, this year’s event placed a strong emphasis on practical, skills-based learning — and it delivered.

Over 250 delegates attended three action-packed days of immersive pre-conference workshops, engaging lectures, and lively panel discussions. With over 30 expert speakers from the UK, Australia, Greece, Italy, and beyond, IPEM25 brought together a truly international community passionate about advancing paediatric emergency medicine.

The pre-conference day offered a rich selection of focused workshops. Attendees took part in a full-day Ultrasound course, alongside sessions on nursing trauma skills, research in PEM, and paediatric critical care retrieval. The high-impact simulation workshop “Beyond APLS” challenged participants with advanced clinical scenarios and team-based learning.

Day 1 featured a wide range of sessions — from hands-on resuscitation to system-level thinking, including a spotlight on the role of AI in healthcare. A major highlight was keynote speaker Dr. Ffion Davies, Consultant Emergency Physician at University Hospitals of Leicester and immediate past president of IFEM, who delivered a powerful talk titled “What is your legacy for the next generation?”

The day concluded with a thought-provoking panel discussion: “Should we discuss a genocide at a PEM conference?” This session brought ethical reflection into sharp focus, featuring panellists such as Ms. Maeve O’Rourke human rights lawyer, and Dr. Gabrielle Colleran, President of the IHCA.

Day 2 continued the momentum with sessions on major trauma, minor injuries, and hands-on research. Esteemed speakers included Dr. Sinéad O’Donnell PEM Consultant from the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, and Dr. Peter Cosgrove, PEM Consultant at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

The day also featured the return of the crowd-favourite “Choose Your Own – LIVE Simulated PEM Adventure.” This dynamic session invited the audience to vote in real time on clinical decisions during a simulated paediatric emergency scenario. Delivered by the renowned PEM Adventure Team, it was once again a hit with attendees, building on its success at IPEM24.

Keynote speaker A/Prof Elliot Long from Melbourne, a global expert on paediatric sepsis, headlined the day with a thought-provoking session titled “The Sepsis Conundrum,” offering new insights into diagnosis and management strategies.

Academic excellence was a cornerstone of IPEM25, with over 50 abstracts submitted from across Ireland, the UK, Italy, Greece, Australia, and beyond. These high-quality submissions were showcased throughout the conference, reflecting the depth and diversity of research in our field. Day 2 featured a dedicated session on the Top PEM Articles of the Year, highlighting the most impactful publications and reinforcing the importance of knowledge dissemination in paediatric emergency medicine. Abstract presentations covered a wide range of topics, from high-impact randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses, to quality improvement initiatives demonstrating real-world impact and knowledge translation at the frontline of care. The breadth of scholarship and the engagement of delegates underscored IPEM25’s commitment to fostering academic growth and evidence-based practice.

With a mix of hands-on skill-building, cutting-edge research, and ethical discussions, IPEM25 proved to be a powerful gathering for paediatric emergency professionals across disciplines and borders.