Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood: Slowly Unraveling the Mystery

Registration


The cost for this online course is $20. The estimated time to complete this on-demand course is 60 minutes. Learners will be asked to complete an activity post-assessment with a passing score of 75%.

Before enrolling in this educational activity, you must log in or create an account.

Once you register for the course, you will have 30 days from the date of enrollment to complete the course. The date your access expires will be indicated in the Course Summary box on this webpage.
 

Target Audience

Healthcare professionals.

Educational Need

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is a rare and underrecognized cause of death in children over 12 months of age that remains unexplained even after a thorough investigation, including a complete autopsy, death scene analysis, and clinical history review. Despite its devastating impact, many healthcare students and professionals are unfamiliar with SUDC, its diagnostic criteria, and its implications for families and the medical community.

According to the SUDC Foundation, approximately 500 children in the U.S. were affected by sudden unexplained death in 2023. Given that SUDC often occurs in seemingly healthy children and currently lacks known causes, predictive markers, or preventative strategies, it is critical for clinicians to develop awareness of this condition. Understanding how SUDC is identified, the role of the medical examiner or coroner, and the importance of comprehensive post-mortem evaluations can better prepare future clinicians to engage in compassionate communication with families and support ongoing efforts in research and advocacy.

Learning Objectives

  1. Define Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC).
  2. Discuss the epidemiology of SUDC.
  3. Differentiate SUDC from Sudden Unexpected Infant Death.
  4. Describe the role of medical professionals in providing support and medical care to families after the sudden and unexpected death of a child.
  5. Review the resources available for professionals and families through the SUDC Foundation.

Speaker

Erin Bowen, MD, FAAP
Vice President, Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Foundation

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Recording date: November 6, 2025
Date of original release: November 6, 2025
Most recent review/update: November 6, 2025
Termination date: November 5, 2028

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
  • 1.00 AOA Category 2­B
  • 1.00 CE Contact Hour(s)
Course opens: 
11/06/2025
Course expires: 
11/05/2028
Cost:
$20.00

Accreditation Statements

  • MD: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Iowa Medical Society (IMS). Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences (DMU) is accredited by the IMS to provide continuing medical education for physicians. DMU designates this enduring materials activity for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • DO: Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences (DMU) is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians. DMU designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 AOA Category 2-B credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.
  • Other healthcare providers: This activity is designated for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

Educational Grants

No ineligible company provided financial support for this continuing education activity. 

Disclosures

The speaker(s) will disclose if any pharmaceuticals, medical procedures, or devices discussed are investigational or unapproved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The activity director is responsible for determining educational content and selecting speakers. 

Relevant to the content of this educational activity, the following individual(s) have no conflict(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Erin Bowen, MD, FAAP - Speaker

Disclaimer

The information provided in this activity is for continuing education purposes only. It is not a substitute for a healthcare provider's independent medical judgment regarding diagnostic and treatment options for a specific patient's medical condition. 

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
  • 1.00 AOA Category 2­B
  • 1.00 CE Contact Hour(s)

Price

Cost:
$20.00
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