In December We Decorate
In December We Decorate
the national AAP leaders who advocate,
Request your feedback on the COVID-19 vaccine kids roll out
and bring to you Puzzles 2021 snapshots and shoutouts!
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President's Column
Nelson Branco, MD, FAAP
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As I write this, I am packing for the AAP-CA 42nd Annual Las Vegas Seminars. I’m looking forward to seeing colleagues (in person!), learning, networking and honoring Kris Calvin for her many years of service to the pediatricians and children of California. I know it will be a busy and fun weekend, hopefully some of you were there and said hello to me and/or Isra.
This month, I’d like to continue what I started in my October column. As I wrote in that column - many of our chapter members are involved in AAP National councils, sections and committees. If you’re still wondering what the difference is between the three - check the AAP Community website. While our chapter is focused on the needs of our local communities, children and members, we partner and connect with our colleagues across the state and nationally through our participation in District IX, AAP California and AAP National.
In October, I highlighted our chapter members who are involved in council leadership at the National AAP level. This time, I’ll do committees. To quote the AAP website: “National committees develop AAP policies and programs and work to achieve Academy goals and objectives.” Being a member of an AAP committee is a privilege and a lot of work. Please join me in acknowledging these colleagues who have the knowledge and experience necessary to do this work and are willing to share it. We’re all grateful to them for sharing their time and expertise.
As I run through Councils, Sections and Committees, I will no doubt unintentionally overlook some of our colleagues (or repeat errors from the AAP website). Please feel free to point out any omissions, and I would encourage any of your who are participating in AAP National activities to let the rest of us know about it by writing a newsletter article, doing a Chapter Chat or including information in one of our chapter email updates. We are always looking to provide resources, share news and make more connections between our chapter members. We’re also happy to nominate chapter members to National AAP roles - please check out the list below for vacancy announcements, and let us know if you’re interested. The deadline is February 18.
Committee on Adolescence (COA): 2 positions
Committee on Child Health Financing (COCHF): 3 positions
Committee on Coding and Nomenclature (COCN): 2 positions
Committee on Continuing Medical Education (COCME): 2 positions
Committee on Development (CODe): 2 positions
Committee on Drugs (COD): 1 position
Committee on Fetus and Newborn (COFN): 1 position
Council on Immigrant Child and Family Health (COICFH): 2 positions
Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID): 2 positions
Committee on Medical Liability and Risk Management (COMLRM): 1 position
Committee on Native American Child Health (CONACH): 1 position
Committee on Nutrition (CON): 1 position
Committee on Pediatric AIDS (COPA): 1 position
Committee on Pediatrics Emergency Medicine (COPEM): 3 positions
Committee on Pediatric Research (COPR): 1 position
Committee on Pediatric Workforce (COPW): 1 position
Committee on Practice & Ambulatory Medicine (COPAM): 1 position
Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child & Family Health (COPACHF): 1 position
Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention (COSUP): 1 position
Payer Advocacy Advisory Committee (PAAC): 2 positions
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Vice President’s Column - Not Throwing Away Our Shot: Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine to 5-11 Year-Olds
Nicole Webb, MD, FAAP
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Welcome to December, AAP CA-1! Whether it’s snowing where you are or still 65 degrees out, regardless of what holiday and cultural traditions you celebrate, the end of our calendar year likely invites reflection. And as 2021 draws to a close, there is much to reflect on. While all of us were doubtless fervently wishing to no longer be living the daily reality of a global pandemic at this time last year, in all that is the same there is also a lot that is different. This time a year ago frontline healthcare workers were just beginning to be vaccinated. Now everyone aged 5 and up is eligible to be vaccinated, something that felt like a distant dream a year ago.
But eligibility and availability don’t translate immediately to access, and to doses in arms. Just as we saw with adults, there are still significant disparities in vaccination rates across different groups and in different geographic locales. For example, while several of the Bay Area counties lead the state in vaccination rates for both adults and children, much of our chapter’s catchment, and much of the state, lag significantly behind. As of this writing, the state average in at least 1 dose administered in the 5–11-year age group is about 13.5%, far behind the 33-50% rate for many of the Bay Area counties.
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Like many of you reading this, I live and practice in an area where vaccination rates have lagged for both adults and children. I was relieved and proud to have my own girls, aged 8 and 6, receive the first dose of their vaccine as part of my organization’s efforts to educate the public on the safety of the vaccines and show that we practice what we preach. My girls even made the news! As exciting as that was, if we’ve learned anything throughout this pandemic, it’s that it’s not just the message that matters, but also the messenger. My organization has strived to have multiple messengers, representing varied perspectives, and to get out into the community and really listen to understand the challenges our kids and families face so we can meet them where they are.
Several of us from AAP CA recently had the opportunity to meet with state public health leaders and the White House Vaccinations Coordinator to discuss the vaccine rollout for 5–11-year-olds. We were fortunate to have members of our chapter able to share their experiences with the rollout for 12-17, and I was struck by how many logistical challenges they faced, from delays in processing of paperwork to delays in payor reimbursement to lack of sufficient and concise educational and consent materials for parents. It was clear that our public health and White House peers were listening—are listening—and we want to give them meaningful feedback.
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So for this December reflection, we want to hear from you, our frontline pediatric warriors, practice leaders, trusted community messengers and tireless advocates. What is going well? What is not? How can we help? We want to serve as a clearinghouse and a conduit to the state and national officials who can hear your call and meet your needs so you can vaccinate as many kids as possible, as easily as possible, for you and for them.
If you made it this far, scroll to the top/bottom and click the button to give us your feedback so we can help.
However you celebrate, stay safe and have a wonderful, hopeful, mindful holiday season.
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6th Annual Pediatric Puzzles Redux
Mika Hiramatsu, MD, FAAP, CME Committee Chair
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From left, AAPCA1 CME committee: Isra Uz-Zaman, Dr Janice Kim, Dr. Yasmin Carim, Dr. John Takayama, Dr. Mika Hiramatsu, Dr. Yasuko Fukuda (with Miya), Dr. Nelson Branco. Not pictured: Drs. Dane Gehringer, Natalie Pierson, Jeff Ribordy, Javay Ross, Tashya Whitehead; Dr. Inwards-Breland's Presentation; Benicio & Rafael Branco staffing the Chapter Book Table; Dr. Janice Kim at the Networking snack table. |
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The annual Pediatric Puzzles conference, although hosting a smaller audience than previous years, treated attendees to a varied and dynamic in-person educational opportunity. Several attendees remarked that they were thrilled to be able to reconnect with colleagues face to face. Perennial attendee Dr. Subha Aahlad managed to make it despite already administering 800 pediatric COVID vaccines, and Dr. Patrick Burke traveled from Fresno because he found the list of topics compelling. Notable was a strong contingent of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland alumni and staff, including the esteemed Dr. Pat Chase and 2 residents, Drs. Natalie Pierson and Sonia Subudhi. A new feature, group exercise, led by committee member Dr. Yasuko Fukuda, energized everyone in the afternoon. A number of folks stayed after for the Nutella and Networking session hosted by CME committee member Dr. Janice Kim. Those of you who wished you could have been there can get a taste of one of our most riveting speakers, Dr. Nusheen Ameenudin, whose recorded talks on Advocacy and Equity, Inclusion and Diversity will be available shortly on our chapter website. In addition, we plan to post Q & A that our speakers did not have time to answer. Planning is now underway for our Spring meeting – stay tuned!
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The SGA Side
Your Key to State Government Affairs
Nora Pfaff, MD, FAAP and Zarah Iqbal, MD, MPH, CFAAP
SGA Chapter Representatives
Our second ACT workshop took place last week. It was focused on Legislative Lobbying and how to get involved in Advocacy at the local, state, and national level. Click the image below to watch the recording
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Our next book for the book club has been announced it is The Cape Doctor by EJ Levy! To stay in the loop for the latest updates, complete our survey linked below to join the club! For questions, email info@aapca1.org.
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Opportunities for Your Benefit |
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Advocacy Training Grant
The AAP Community Pediatrics Training Initiative will support 4 pediatric faculty-resident pairs to attend the 2022 AAP Advocacy Conference (formerly named the Legislative Conference) on March 20-22, 2022. Following the conference, grantees will be required to partner with their chapters to implement an educational project to strengthen the advocacy skills of others in their program and enhance their residency program’s advocacy training and curriculum. The grant covers conference registration and provides the chapter with $1,000 maximum to support the project in partnership with the residency program. Applications and required letters of support are due by Friday, January 14, 2022 (12:00 am ET). View the guidelines and preview the application.
Contact: Laura Conklin in Healthy Resilient Children, Youth, and Families
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AAP CATCH Grant Application Open
The CATCH Call for Proposals will be open through January 24, 2022. Funds are available for pediatrician-led community-based programs that address a wide variety of child health issues. Visit the CATCH website for more details. Browse the Community Pediatrics Funded Project list from 2017 to the present.
Application deadline: January 24 11:59 p.m. CST
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December 15: Chapter Chat on Clinical Recommendations & Models of Care for Newcomer Children - REGISTER HERE!
January 12: SODBP Peer-to-Peer Session 4: Red Flags for Baby Blues - Perinatal Depression - REGISTER HERE!
January 20: SOECP: Leadership, Equity, and Advancements in Pediatrics - LEARN MORE!
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Add our social media accounts to get the latest chapter updates!
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Your membership makes a difference for children in California, thank you!
The AAPCA1's ability to advocate on behalf of children is only as strong as the support we receive from our members. Encourage your colleagues to join today by visiting the AAPCA1 website.
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Our mission is to promote the optimal health and development of children and
adolescents of Northern California in partnership with their families and communities, and to support the pediatricians who care for them.
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Executive Committee:
President: Nelson Branco • Vice President: Nicole Webb
• Secretary: Janice Kim • Treasurer: Nivedita More • Past President: Raelene Walker
Executive Director: Isra Uz-Zaman
Board Members:
North Valley MAL: Thiyagu Ganesan • Sacramento Valley MAL: Lena van der List • Central Valley MAL: Deborah Shassetz • South Valley MAL: Vacant • San Francisco MAL: Vacant • Santa Clara MAL: Meera Sankar • San Mateo MAL: Neel Patel • North Coastal MAL: Jeffrey Ribordy • Monterey Bay MAL: Graciela Wilcox • Alameda MAL: Reshem Agarwal
• Contra Costa/Solano MAL: Omoniyi Omotoso
Pediatric Insider News Editors:
• Mika Hiramatsu • Deborah Shassetz • Alyssa Velasco
Staff:
• Project Coordinator: Megan Warner
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