The chapter is planning for the first meetings of our pediatric council with insurance provider representatives as early as this February. Council members are primary care pediatricians who face the same challenges many of you face in working with insurance providers. The purpose of the council is to promote communication and collaboration to ensure that practices have the resources they need to provide to deliver high quality pediatric care. The council has identified vaccinations as a top issue to address in 2024, but the chapter continues to welcome your feedback. If you have ideas for the council, or would be interested in participating directly, please contact us. I would like to thank our council members for their leadership in moving this initiative forward.

The chapter is also exploring ways to better support pediatricians engaged in work other than primary care. At CHLA’s Updates in Hospital Pediatrics conference, I had the opportunity to speak with hospitalists and hospital medicine fellows from across the state who are interested in expanding opportunities to collaborate with colleagues outside their own institutions. To address this need, the chapter is planning to form a committee on hospital medicine. If you are a hospitalist or other pediatrician engaged in inpatient practice and would like to connect with colleagues in the region by joining this new committee, please contact us!

Many pediatric surgeons and surgical subspecialists are also chapter members, and their participation and support are greatly appreciated! This month’s Member Spotlight features Dr. Melinda Chang, a pediatric ophthalmologist practicing at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Planning for the 2024 Advances in Pediatrics Symposium is also underway. Trainee participation has always been a vital part of the symposium. Medical students, residents, and fellows have the opportunity to present their scholarly work and receive feedback from conference attendees. The call for abstracts is featured in this month’s Trainees Corner. If you are a program director or mentor trainees, please encourage them to submit an abstract!

In this month's issue of The Quorum, Dr. Kamaal Jones provides insight into California’s anticipated budget crisis for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, and its impact on the legislative and bureaucratic process for California’s children and families.

Finally, I would like to welcome our new chapter members and encourage them to get involved by joining a chapter committee. Information about our committees and other resources are available on our website, aapca2.org. Your support makes the work of this chapter possible!

Save the dates for the following events:

• 2/7/2024 - Dr. Ken Saul's Town Hall in Woodland Hills
• 2/24/2024 - AAP-CA2 Riverside County Social (Riverside Art Museum)
• 4/27/2024 - Advances in Pediatrics Symposium held at UCLA

Best wishes,

Grant Christman, MD, MACM, FAAP

The Quorum - December 2023

A Looming Budget Crisis   

Kamaal A. Jones, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician - Policy and Legislative Affairs Analyst

Earlier this month it was announced that California is projected to be facing a whopping $68 billion deficit in the 2024-2025 budget, creating a major challenge for our government and for advocates across the state.

Towards the end of each calendar year California’s Legislative Analyst office releases projected budget information for the upcoming fiscal year. Read more

December Social Pedia Newsletter

With COVID and RSV circulating, it is even more important to encourage flu vaccination.  Find graphics, videos and other resources to share important messages about the importance of vaccination. That, and more here

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Submission Deadline: 

February 9, 2024 at 11:59PM PST

General Information:

The AAP California Chapter 2 will accept abstracts on scholarly projects by pediatric and medicine-pediatric residents and medical students enrolled in training programs in the Southern California counties of Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Abstracts can be on original research, quality improvement, clinical cases, or any other scholarly project conducted during residency training or medical school. 

Accepted abstracts will be asked to create a poster for presentation at the symposium. The author of the highest scoring abstract will be asked to do a 30-minute oral presentation. 

Notification decision will be emailed to the primary presenting author by March 1, 2024. Presenters of accepted abstracts must register for the symposium and confirm attendance via email to Chapter2@aapca2.org by March 8, 2024.

Abstracts previously presented at another meeting or published in a journal can be submitted. 

Scholarships will be awarded to the top scoring abstracts at the symposium.

Download/Print the Submission Guidelines

We'll Come To Your School or Hospital

Dear Medical Schools and Pediatric Residency Programs in AAP California Chapter 2, 

Are you interested in learning more about local advocacy efforts? Do you want to hear more about getting involved in AAP California Chapter 2? If yes, then please consider inviting our chapter leadership to your local pediatric interest group meeting, pediatric residency noon conference, or any other gathering. Our chapter leadership wants to connect with the trainees in the area so reach out to chapter2@aapca2.org to schedule an event at your medical school / residency program!

The Member Spotlight is written to highlight our chapter membership. Chapter members can submit personal narratives about themselves with a focus on how they maintain their physician wellness in the face of everyday struggles and challenges. Authors may also choose to highlight a practice, volunteer activities, QI projects, etc. The purpose of the spotlight series is to encourage and foster unity and support within the chapter.

Please complete THIS FORM to be considered for a future Member Spotlight in the AAP-CA2 Newsletter!

Help your students get free money for college with the new CalKIDS program from the State of California.

CalKIDS is a new program from the State of California that provides up to $1,500 in free money for college and career training to eligible low-income public school students. CalKIDS can help families boost their children’s college savings and increase access to higher education. To learn more and find out who qualifies Read more

Reflecting on 2023 and Envisioning a Bright Future for 2024 & Beyond

By Delesa Barnes

Reach Out and Read Inland Empire Program Coordinator

As we approach the end of 2023, Reach Out and Read Inland Empire (RORIE) extends warm wishes to all our supporters, volunteers, partners, and the community! Read more...

December Update  

Respiratory viruses are increasing and upward trending in Los Angeles County for Flu, RSV, and COVID-19, therefore it is critical to continue to recommend all three of these vaccines. Infants under 6 months old on Medi-Cal or uninsured can get a FREE RSV immunization at some Public Health clinics.

This month’s immunization update includes information on the new CDC Childhood/Adolescent and Adult Immunization Schedules, COVID-19 vaccine fact sheets, and RSV immunization recommendations.

Click Here for the December Update

Juhishree Adhikari, MBBS, FAAP - Hemet

Maria Demma Cabral, MD, FAAP - Santa Barbara

Gasol Foundation (founded by NBA Champions Pau and Marc Gasol) is a nonprofit that works through evidence-based programming, evaluation and research, and advocacy to promote children’s wellness, with a focus on eliminating childhood obesity.

Every Gasol Foundation program incorporates physical activity, healthy eating, sleep, and emotional well-being to improve the health of our children and their overall development.



Learn more…

View our fall programming map

UCSF School of Medicine and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals Department of Pediatrics - HS Clinical or Clinical X Faculty Series

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals are recruiting for the next Director of the Pediatric Residency Program.

The selected candidate will join a major academic medical center and established residency training program. The Director of the Pediatric Residency Program supervises all pediatric residency training, leading a team of associate program directors, chief residents, and other educators responsible for the execution of all residency training activities.

The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 5. The minimum base salary range for this position is $150,300-$320,100. This position includes membership in the health sciences compensation plan which provides for eligibility for additional compensation.

For a comprehensive overview of the role and its requirements, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed job description and submit their application online at https://apptrkr.com/4876518. Applicants should provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching, statement of contributions to diversity, and contact information for three references.



UC San Francisco seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. Download/Print

New Registry Requirement to Submit Immunization and TB Data 

AB 1797, a new California bill effective January 1, 2023, requires providers to enter immunizations and TB tests they administer, as well as a patient’s race and ethnicity, into a California immunization registry (CAIR OR RIDE/Healthy Futures).

This reporting requirement includes newly recommended immunizations, such as

• Nirsevimab to prevent severe RSV disease for infants and toddlers  

Many of your questions can be answered by visiting the AB 1797 Immunization Registry FAQs page.

Not Yet Enrolled? Enroll Now!

Join us for a groundbreaking educational experience that bridges medical excellence between continents. The inaugural collaboration between faculty from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and King’s College Hospital, London, invites general pediatricians and advanced practitioners caring for children to explore the latest advancements in Pediatric Liver Disease Care.

Download Flier



Another Town Hall is coming in 2024! Don't miss the next chapter Town Hall with Dr. Ken Saul, on February 7th at the Maggiano's in Woodland Hills.

Look for more details and a flier for this event coming soon!

The chapter's next social event is coming up! February 24th, our popular AAP-CA2 social will be in Riverside county, with an event hosted at the Riverside Art Museum! This event is open to all chapter members and will feature meet and greets with committee chairs and special guest legislators, along with information about chapter projects and opportunities. Drinks and entertainment will be provided, family members welcome to attend.

Saturday, February 24, 2024

1PM - 3:30 PM

Download Flier

RSVP Here!



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Past issues of Peds@CA2 eNews: https://aapca2.org/publications/

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