Eleventh annual convening will unite patients, survivors, researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and lawmakers to strengthen advocacy and advance public health protections

NEW YORK, NY | Apr 1 — The Peggy Lillis Foundation (PLF), the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to C. diff education and advocacy, today announced its 2026 National C. diff Summit and Lobby Day, taking place Monday, April 13, 2026, in our nation’s capitol. 

Since the organization’s founding, PLF has trained and supported C. diff survivors, caregivers, and family members to become effective advocates, public speakers, and peer supporters. Over the past decade, the Foundation has hosted ten National C. diff Summits and seven Lobby Days, building a national movement focused on care, community, and empowerment. 

The 2026 Summit will bring together C. diff survivors, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, industry partners, and policymakers for a full day of programming designed to elevate patient voices and accelerate solutions to this ongoing public health threat. 

“Sixteen years after the death of my mother, Peggy, there has been progress but also setbacks. C. diff continues to cause harm, and too many patients still struggle to access timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and informed care,” said Christian John Lillis, co-founder and CEO of the Peggy Lillis Foundation. “The Summit and Lobby Day bring together the people closest to this issue to push for solutions that improve outcomes and save lives. When lived experience, science, and policy come together, we accelerate progress.”

Monday morning will feature updates from leading experts in infectious disease research, clinical care, public health, and industry innovation, including: 

• Access to Microbiota Therapies for rCDI in 2026 – Michael Woodworth, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine

• Diagnostic Stewardship of Testing for C. difficile – Jonathan Baghdadi, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland Medical Center

• Why Current C. diff Prevention Misses Half the Problem – Bobby Warren, MPS, Lab Director & Research Scientist, Duke University DiRTE Lab (Dissemination and Implementation Research in Translation and Effectiveness)

• Bringing the Threat of C. diff into Focus to Save Lives Now – Michael McIntyre, Founder and CEO, LIV Process

• Epidemiology of Pediatric C. diff – Jenna Simes, Clinical Research Coordinator, Boston Children’s Hospital

• Pediatric C. diff: Patient and Provider Panel – Stacy A. Kahn, MD, Director of the Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Program and Gastroenterologist in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Kahn will also be joined by Rose Henderson and Blanca Morales, who will share their experience as parents of children who battled recurrent C. diff.

Following a networking lunch, attendees will participate in hands-on advocacy training designed to equip volunteers with practical tools to drive change at the local and national level. 

Training sessions will include:

• Lobbying and testifying before legislators and regulatory bodies

• Providing emotional and logistical support to C. diff patients and families

• Advocating to the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies

On Tuesday, April 14, advocates will convene on Capitol Hill for Lobby Day, meeting directly with members of Congress and their staff to urge continued investment in antimicrobial and microbiome drug development, antimicrobial resistance initiatives, and policies that reduce the burden of C. diff infections.

The National C. diff Summit and Lobby Day represent the largest annual gathering of C. diff patient advocates and allies across industry, academia, and government. The event serves as a platform for collaboration, education, and coordinated action to protect patients and prevent avoidable harm.

Registration for the Summit is free and open to C. diff patients, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and all stakeholders committed to ending the harm caused by C. diff infections. To register or learn more, visit https://cdiff.org/event/summit26/. 

Lead Sponsor: Nestlé Health Science

Platinum Sponsor: Pfizer