Abusive Head Trauma 101: Foundational Context for Medical, Investigative, and Legal Practice

This session is designed to establish a common foundational framework for understanding abusive head trauma before engaging in case law–specific analysis. Presenters will walk through the core concepts and terminology associated with AHT, offering high-level insight into the medical and forensic issues most commonly encountered in these cases. The discussion would place medical findings within the broader investigative and prosecutorial context, focusing on how such findings are identified, assessed, communicated, and—critically—challenged in legal proceedings.

By grounding participants in how AHT cases are developed across disciplines, this session aims to reduce the risk of misinterpretation or overstatement when medical evidence is later evaluated for admissibility, reliability, or courtroom presentation. The intended outcome is that participants leave with a clear, shared understanding of how AHT is identified and addressed in professional practice, creating a solid foundation for the more nuanced legal analysis to follow in Part Two.