State Spotlight: West Virginia’s First Multiday Pediatric Symposium

Last month, West Virginia's EMSC Program hosted its inaugural multiday pediatric symposium. To learn more about this unique event, we spoke with Erin Timbrook, along with her team, who spearheaded the initiative.

Timbrook joined the EMSC just a year and a half ago and really hit the ground running. She and the West Virginia team saw an opportunity to transform their annual one-day pediatric symposium into something even bigger—a multiday, highly educational event that was also family-friendly!

What inspired the decision to expand to a multiday event? And how did the planning unfold?
“Each year, we host a single-day Pediatric Symposium, but when we realized we had carryover funds available, we saw an opportunity. A colleague suggested we check out The Summit Bechtel, a Boy Scouts of America camp in southern West Virginia. Once we visited, we knew it was perfect—it had classrooms, event spaces, and exciting amenities like zip lining and rock climbing! We also have five simulation ambulances spread across the state for training, and this site could accommodate all of them for our skills day. We began planning in March, and by May, we had instructors and presenters ready to go. It really came together so quickly, everyone was on board!”

Tell us more about the event. What activities and sessions were offered?
“The symposium was designed for both EMS clinicians and nurses, and they received continuing education credits for all the courses. We offered 21 different classes for health care professionals, covering everything from airway management to sports trauma. We also had a focus on provider mental health as well — particularly in the aftermath of difficult pediatric cases. To make this event family-friendly, we provided daycare services for young children and educational sessions for kids aged 4 and up, including topics like “The Importance of 911,” Stop-the-Bleed, and CPR training. The kids’ track was really important to us because we wanted to spark an early interest in the field of emergency services.”

How many people attended?
“We had 124 health care providers registered, plus 11 vendors. To keep costs affordable, vendor registration fees helped offset expenses. We were able to charge just $25 per attendee for the full event. We also offered family registration packages, covering meals and activities for spouses and kids. Including family members, we had over 150 attendees!”

How were you able to offer such an affordable price for such a comprehensive event?
“We used grant funding to subsidize costs, which helped us keep the registration fee low. Since this was our first year hosting a multiday event, we wanted to make it as accessible as possible and get buy-in for future events. While we may not have the same grant funding every year, now attendees know it’s worth the investment when we have to charge a higher registration fee.”

What kind of feedback did you receive?
“The response was overwhelmingly positive! Attendees were asking for next year’s dates while we were still wrapping up. Beyond the written evaluations, we heard firsthand during meals and evening events how much everyone enjoyed it. There was constant chatter about the classes, what people learned, and how much fun the kids were having. It was incredibly rewarding.”

If you'd like to learn more about the pediatric symposium or West Virginia’s EMSC program, visit their website or contact Timbrook at erin.j.timbrook@wv.gov. For a complete list of all the educational sessions offered, check out the registration website here.