In this installment of “Professional Corner,” the American Heart Association (AHA) opens applications for its annual health competition. The American Medical Association (AMA) awards $1 million to physician-led community health projects. And pediatricians call for better treatment of immigrant children at the border.

AHA Launches 2026 Health Tech Competition

• The AHA is accepting applications for its 2026 Health Tech Competition from now until September 18.
• The contest is designed to identify and support health technology that can help physicians better treat cardiovascular and neurologic conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure in real healthcare settings.
• Five finalists will be announced on October 10, and present their pitches at Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago in November.
• The winner will be announced during an awards ceremony on November 9 and receives a 1-year membership in the AHA’s Innovators’ Network, mentorship from AHA leadership, and promotion through AHA channels.

AMA Awards $1 Million in Community Health Micro Grants

• The AMA awarded $1 million to 20 physician-led community initiatives through its new Community Health Impact Lab micro grant program.
• The program provides funding to physician-led initiatives that provide resources to local communities in areas such as nutritional education, maternal health, mental health support, and community care delivery.
• Recipients of the grants include the Delta Health System in Mississippi, The Queen’s Medical Center in Hawaii, the Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts, and Luke’s House — A Clinic for Healing and Hope in Louisiana.

Pediatricians Recommend New Guidelines for Children Seeking Protection at the US Border

• The American Academy of Pediatrics released a new policy statement calling for greater humanitarian oversight and pediatric-focused intake of children who arrive at the US border.
• The statement analyzed each stage of the reception process to outline current procedures and provide detailed recommendations for improving protections and child welfare protocols.
• The authors recommend a series of proposed guidelines including decisions guided by the best interest of the child, preservation of family unity, trauma informed care, humanitarian response vs a law enforcement process and access to legal representation.
• “Children and families fleeing violence, persecution, and environmental crises have a recognized right to seek humanitarian protection,” J. Raul Gutierrez, MD, the lead author of the document, said in a statement.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.