American Academy of Pediatrics - California Chapter 2

Melissa Ruiz, MD, MPH, FAAP

2024 July Edition


President's Message

I am so excited to be writing my first newsletter as AAP-CA2’s president! I want to express my sincere gratitude to all our outgoing chapter board members for their tireless advocacy on behalf of children and pediatricians. It's been an honor serving alongside such a dedicated group, and I look forward to continuing this important work in the years ahead.

It was at my very first AAP NCE, during a Community Pediatrics reception honoring past Chapter 2 president Dr. Steven Feig, that I met CA-2 chapter leadership and Tomas. I was completing a 7-year training extravaganza in Chicago (general surgery to pediatrics to chief resident), and I was eager to connect with my local chapter upon returning to Southern California. Tomas not only invited me to a board meeting, but also actively sought an opportunity for me to get involved. He championed my role as the SOECP Chapter representative, thus launching my path into chapter leadership.


And as I reflect back to why I even chose to attend that Community Pediatrics reception, I come back to the moment in my second year of residency (11 years ago!) when I was privileged to meet Dr. Ben Hoffman. Sitting in one of his incredible lectures during his visit to my residency program, he introduced us to the CATCH program and the AAP Council on Community Pediatrics. He emphasized to us the strength of our voice as advocates for our patients, a critical point to convey to pediatricians in training who often don’t feel like they have enough experience to be effective advocates. And after that lecture he directed me to a role in my local District as the resident CATCH facilitator - a

role that eventually led me to that reception.


So I could not have been more excited to have the current national AAP President, Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, in Santa Barbara last month! Chapter 2 was able to partner with the Cottage Health Pediatric Residency program to help host a reception on June 19th at the Cabrillo Pavilion where Dr. Hoffman met with pediatricians and other pediatric health care professionals who came from all over the chapter. I would like to thank Cottage Hospital and Dr. Jeff Frazer for inviting us to collaborate on this event.


The following morning, Dr. Hoffman gave a Grand Rounds presentation at Cottage Hospital: Because All We Have Is Each Other - Why Child Health Providers Must Be Effective Advocates For Kids, focusing on the unique and powerful position pediatricians hold as advocates for children.


In the Trainees’ Corner, we are continuing to showcase the research poster presenters of the 2024 Symposium.


And I would like to welcome our new chapter members and encourage them to get involved by joining a chapter committee or reaching out to Tomas or myself to find where your passion - your voice - might best fit in Chapter 2. Information about our committees and other resources are available on our website, https://aapca2.org. Your support and engagement makes the work of this chapter possible!


Be on the lookout for future announcements of chapter events taking place in August and September. I hope the rest of the summer is anything you need it be - full of adventure or relaxation, sun and sand or reading by a lake - and maybe with a little child health advocacy sprinkled in!


Melissa Ruiz, MD, MPH, FAAP


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Popular Pediatric Clinical Topics 2024 Conference - Advertisement

Join us for the Popular Pediatric Clinical Topics 2024 conference, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii. Brought to you by Stanford Medicine, this event is designed to provide pediatric healthcare professionals with the latest insights, advancements, and best practices.

 

Through expert-led sessions and engaging networking opportunities, participants will explore diverse and impactful pediatric clinical topics, including the latest guidelines on obesity, managing sleep in adolescents, and caring for LGBTQIA patients.

 

Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a budding professional, this conference offers a unique platform to enhance your clinical skills, stay updated on emerging trends, and elevate your practice. Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in the forefront of pediatric medicine while enjoying the beauty and serenity of Waikoloa Beach.


Register Here!

New Board of Directors - Effective July 1, 2024

2024 - 2026 AAP-CA2 Board of Directors 

Executive Board

Members At Large

Minimum Wage Increase

New health care worker minimum wage took effect June 1; IPAs and small physician practices exempt

On June 1, 2024, a new state law took effect that phases in minimum wage increases for health care workers (SB 525 – Durazo). Through California Medical Association (CMA) advocacy, SB 525 was amended to exempt medical group practices of 24 or fewer physicians and IPAs. Read more...

Anti-vaping QI Project | $750 + MOC Credit

Participate in Quality Improvement with Anti-Vaping Champions at UCLA!

AAP-CA2, in collaboration with Anti-Vaping Champions at UCLA, is recruiting practices interested in participating in a Quality Improvement project. The focus is to incorporate vaping screening, counseling, and treatment referrals during visits for pediatric patients.

25 points of ABP MOC Part 4 credit

$750 at the end of the 4th cycle


  • Baseline Data Collection (10 random charts)
  • Three PDSA Cycles + Data Collection
  • Monthly QI/data review calls


Please contact ucla.avc@mednet.ucla.edu or complete this Interest Form.



Advocacy - Proposition 35

Proposition 35

Make permanent a tax on managed health care insurance plans. This initiative is sponsored by California’s health care industry to raise more money for Medi-Cal and block lawmakers from using the cash to avoid cuts to other programs. The measure would hold Newsom to a promise to permanently secure that tax money for health care for low-income patients.

Read this article on the CalMatters website.

Access the full initiative here.

Call for SOECP Executive Committee Assistant District Representative Positions

The SOECP is currently seeking six (6) members to join the SOECP Executive Committee. Nominations for the Assistant District Representatives (ADRs) leadership positions are now being accepted through August 31, 2024.


Please refer to the position description HERE for additional information and the AAP District Map for information on District territories.


LINK TO APPLY Deadline: August 31, 2024


The Section on Early Career Physicians (SOECP) is seeking a candidate for 6 Assistant District Representatives (ADRs). Nominations for the ADR positions will be accepted through August 31, 2024. The appointed candidates will begin their term on November 1, 2024, and can serve up to 4 1-year terms. The Section EC and nominations committee will review all nominees and select candidates for appointment.


Open Positions:


  • Assistant District Representative, District 1
  • Assistant District Representative, District 2
  • Assistant District Representative, District 5
  • Assistant District Representative, District 8
  • Assistant District Representative, District 9
  • Assistant District Representative, District 10


Term: One year, (November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2025) with the option for re-appointment for additional year(s), allowing for a maximum tenure of 4 years in the role as ADR on the Executive Committee.


Time Commitment:

  • Monthly 60-minute virtual meetings, on a weekday evening
  • Quarterly review activities, averaging 2-4 hours independent work
  • Monthly 30–60-minute virtual workgroup meetings
  • Bi-annual 4–6-hour meetings (may be in-person, dependent on availability for travel, may be divided into several shorter meetings over several weeks if presented virtually)


Qualifications: Must be a member in good standing of National AAP and the SOECP for the full duration of service. ADR Position Description: For more details, click here. (SOECP membership and AAP login required).


Learn more & apply HERE!

AAP (National) Social Pedia Newsletter

July Social Pedia Newsletter


What's happening this month?

Summertime is officially here! Help keep children and families safe during summer activities by sharing some recently updated HealthyChildren.org articles. Also includes tips on 4th of July safety, and information on Minority Mental Health Month.
Access all resources in This Month's Issue.

AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine:

Improving Antibiotic Use

Is your pediatric practice interested in improving appropriate use of antibiotics in telemedicine? 


The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is currently recruiting practices for a no-cost, 18-month program beginning in June 2024 to promote appropriate antibiotic use in telemedicine while improving patient and family satisfaction with antibiotic prescribing. Practices will learn directly from experts in infectious diseases, antibiotic prescribing, and tele-diagnosis and receive one-on-one coaching to implement sustainable improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious syndromes over telemedicine, including those common in pediatrics such as otitis media. Participants will learn how to determine when an in-patient visit is needed, how to handle uncertainty in diagnosis over telemedicine, and how to communicate effectively with parents. Participating providers will be eligible for continuing education units (CEUs), continuing medical education (CME) credits, and American Board of Pediatrics maintenance of certification (MOC) points.


Learn more and sign up for an informational webinar on the program website:

safetyprogram4telemedicine.org


Download Flier Here

TRAINEES CORNER

Symposium Research Poster Presenters

Risk of Autism In Children Born From Assisted Reproductive Technology

Kelly Muller, BS (UCR School Of Medicine)

As the incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) continue to rise in tandem, their relationship to one another as well as the general risks of ART are increasingly being explored. Read More!

Pericardial Decompression Syndrome In A Pediatric Patient

Monette Veral, MD (UCLA)

PDS is an acute hemodynamic sequela of pericardiocentesis or surgical pericardiostomy that carries significant risk of morbidity and mortality. The mechanism of PDS is not well understood, and there are multiple proposed hypotheses. Read More!

Kelly Muller, BS (UCR)

Monette Veral, MD (UCLA)


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!

Member Spotlight

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!

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Outpatient Pediatrician in Rancho Cucamonga - Advertisement

Cucamonga Pediatrics is a busy private practice serving low-income and under-served residents in the Inland Empire for 20 years. We aim to build an enjoyable workplace by valuing teamwork and work-life balance. We are looking for a candidate who has a passion to care for our patients and will treat all team members with respect and kindness. To help achieve work-life balance, this position may be part-time immediately or in the future.


If you enjoy community-based pediatrics and are seeking a long-term flexible position, please apply by sending a cover letter and CV to: admin@cucamongapediatrics.com.


  • Full time salary: $225,000-260,000 (equivalent to ~$120-140 per hour)
  • 22-28 patients a day; Light mommy calls
  • 3 to 4.5 days a week
  • 3 weeks of PTO annually plus holidays
  • Retirement IRA, Medical and dental insurance
  • AAP membership, CME stipend www.cucamongapediatrics.com
  • Malpractice insurance, Medical license, DEA, board certification stipends

Reach Out & Read Inland Empire

A Heartfelt Thank You to First 5 San Bernardino and Riverside Counties

By Delesa Barnes

Reach Out and Read Inland Empire Program Coordinator


At Reach Out and Read Inland Empire, our mission to foster early childhood literacy is driven by the incredible support of our partners. As the new fiscal year begins, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to First 5 San Bernardino and First 5 Riverside Counties for theirgenerous financial support and unwavering collaboration over the years. Read more.

LAC DPH | Vaccine Preventable Diseases Control Program


July Update  

This month’s immunization newsletter includes immunization updates from ACIP, back to school vaccination resources for providers, and more! ACIP updates include a recommendation for everyone 6 months and older to receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccine and for all newborn infants to receive Nirsevimab shortly after birth if the mother did not receive the maternal RSV vaccine during pregnancy to protect them from severe RSV infection.


View the full update, plus upcoming events, here.

Welcome New Chapter Members

Welcome NEW members who joined the chapter in June.

Thank you for your support!

Shanila Akhavan, MD - Encino

Jindal Arjun, MD - Loma Linda

Paula Arribas, MD - Los Angeles

Abeeha Ashary, DO - Loma Linda 

Rose Barry, MD, FAAP - Loma Linda

David Beshai, MD - Loma Linda 

Joy-Marie Brusenback, DO - Los Angeles

Tae Leon Butler, MD - Los Angeles

Adam Castorena, DO - Loma Linda 

Ashley Chan, MD - Los Angeles

Alan Chien, MD - Los Angeles

Yasmine Choroomi, MD - Culver City

Kate Coursey, MD - Los Angeles

Hranush Danelyan, MD - Pacoima

Maxwell Davis, MD - Los Angeles

Victoria Deng, MD - Los Angeles

Tyler DePalma-Shields, MD - Los Angeles

Porshad Elie, MD - Los Angeles

Michelle Ermitano, MD - Los Angeles

Magdalena Goryszewska, MD - Redlands

Urvi Gupta, MD - Los Angeles

Serene Hadaya, MD - Los Angeles

Kylie Haigh, DO - Loma Linda 

Loren Hall, MD - Loma Linda 

Claire Henderson, MD - Los Angeles

Bailey Holmes, MD - Loma Linda

Jordan Hough, MD - Loma Linda 

Joy Huang, MD - Los Angeles

Christy Huynh, DO - Loma Linda 

Shlomi Ilan, MD - Los Angeles

Eun Hye Joo, MD - Loma Linda 

Alexandra Gabrielle Kelley, DO, FAAP - Los Angeles

Justine Kim, MD - Los Angeles

Krustina Lal, DO - Bakersfield

Sarah Lane, MD, FAAP - Los Angeles

Chelsea Maduike, MD - Los Angeles

Jennifer Makowski, MD - Loma Linda 

Nicholas Marinelli, DO - Loma Linda 

Jane Marryat, MD - Los Angeles

Malek Mazzawi, MD, FAAP - Los Angeles

Archana Myneni, MD - Redlands

Sanaa Nasir, MD - Los Angeles

Anthony Nguyen, MD - Los Angeles

Michelle Nguyen, DO - Loma Linda 

Nancy Nguyen, DO - Torrance

Kristina Phan, DO - Torrance

Joseph Repicky, MD - Santa Monica

Viviana Rios-Perez, MD - Los Angeles

Amita Sastry, MD - Playa Vista

Lindsay Schlichte, MD - Los Angeles

Nadia Siddiqi, DO - Loma Linda 

Hannah Tak, MD - Los Angeles

Sumitha Tarur, MD, FAAP - Rancho Cucamonga

Harini Rangarajan Thirumalai, MBBS - Loma Linda 

Vanessa Torres, MD - Pico Rivera

Julia Turock, MD, FAAP - Los Angeles

MaryKate Turulja, DO - Loma Linda 

Virginia Vilar Sampaio, MD - Venice

Roxanne Waggoner, MD, FAAP - Redlands

Caitlin Williams, MD, FAAP - Los Angeles

Brandon Young, MD - Los Angeles

Ami Yuen, MD - Torrance

Vivian Yu - Chino Hills

Jessica Gaffney - Santa Barbara

Tira Oskoui - Los Angeles

Sasha Singh - Tarzana

GDSP| Newborn Screening Program - Newsletter

The California Newborn Screening (NBS) Program is a public health program that screens all babies for many serious but treatable genetic disorders. Effective July 22, 2024, the California Newborn Screening (NBS) Program screening panel will include Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase (GAMT) and Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (MPS II).


Read the NBS Newsletter


Newborn screening began in California in 1966 with screening for one disorder, called phenylketonuria (PKU). The NBS Program has expanded and now includes 80 different disorders, both genetic (passed down in families) and congenital (present at birth). 

Visit the site here

Gasol Foundation | Free Programs for kids 6 - 12

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



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


The Galactic Sports program consists of basic sports skills and wellness lessons for children ages 6-12. The program takes children through 10 weekly one-hour lessons in a sport (basketball, track and field, or soccer) while also engaging them on the importance of healthy habits.



LEARN MORE: https://gasolfoundation.org/galactic-sports/

AAP | Research in Office Settings (PROS)





We are still recruiting parents/teens for HEART+ teen suicide prevention focus group conversations!

If you are a pediatric primary care practice with no embedded/co-located mental health services and able to refer 2-4 parents/teens to 1-hour virtual focus group conversations, contact Ali Torres, atorres@aap.org. We are conducting focus groups through July 2024 at a time convenient to families. Each focus group participant gets $50 and each referring practice gets $250.


Health professionals across Michigan are taking the AAP PROS-developed and -tested HPV Communication Skills Training. Over 215 health professionals (in Vaccines For Children programs, School-based/School-linked Health Centers, FQHCs) have completed the HPV Communication Skills Training since the training’s launch in Michigan mid-May 2024.


We are engaging in ongoing PROS Strategic Planning. We are working throughout 2024 to update PROS so that it remains contemporary—what do studies look like now and what will they look like in the next 10 years given clinical priorities and primary care practice structures today and tomorrow?


Questions? Contact Everly Macario, ScD, Director of Primary Care Research, AAP, emacario@aap.org.

Recent Events

Ken Saul's Town Hall - June 18th

Pediatricians gathered at Maggiano's in Woodland Hills on June 18 for another Town Hall hosted by AAP-CA2 Ventura County Representative Ken Saul, MD, FAAP. Guest speaker Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP presented on Expanded AAP Guidance in New Infant Formula Offerings!


AAP President Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP - June 19th Reception

In a collaborative effort between AAP-CA2 and Cottage Children's Medical Center, both organizations hosted an evening reception with American Academy of Pediatrics President, Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP. The event was held at Cabrillo Pavilion. This event was followed by a Grand Rounds presentation at Cottage Hospital the morning after, where Dr. Hoffman spoke on the social determinants of health and why child health providers must be effective advocates for kids.

Upcoming Events

Save The Date!

More upcoming events will be sent in a separate email!

Make sure you mark your calendars for next year’s

36th Annual Advances in Pediatrics Symposium!

May 17, 2025

Watch on our YouTube Channel
Fridays - Miller Children's Grand Rounds
Pediatric Grand Rounds
Fridays at 8 AM

Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 924 5224 4153
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,92452244153# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,92452244153# US (Houston)
RESOURCES Help Me Grow LA
  • Help Me Grow LA website: www.HelpMeGrowLA.org 
  • Help Me Grow LA Call Center phone number: (833) 903-3972 
  
You can help improve the system by partnering with Help Me Grow LA to make sure all young children in your care are supported and provided resources to benefit their development. 
  
Contact Help Me Grow LA leadership via email: HelpMeGrowLA@ph.lacounty.gov. We look forward to working with you!

Membership Options | Large Groups
Enterprise Membership - Did you know?
Signing up your entire practice (clinical and non-clinical staff) qualifies for a 20% discount on Chapter membership dues. Contact us for details.
Resources
Los Angeles County Immigrant Youth Resource Toolkit

The Immigrant Youth Task Force (IYTF) at UCLA and the American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 2 (AAP-CA2) invite you to visit The Los Angeles County Immigrant Youth Resource Toolkit, a website consolidating community resources in the greater LA area for immigrant youth and families. Our goal is to help professionals from all disciplines address the needs of their immigrant youth patients/clients with regards to health care, legal services, education, social services, and more. As our toolkit continues to evolve, we encourage you to explore and use it in your practice going forward.
Chapter Committees and Sections
Chapter committees are great opportunities to get involved in areas that interest you the most. Furthermore, if you are a Fellow member (FAAP), local involvement could position you for leadership opportunities at National AAP. To learn more about our various Committees and Sections, and to sign up, please visit aapca2.org/committees.

Advertise in Our Newsletter
AAP-CA2 invites you to advertise in our newsletter
AAP-CA2 publishes its electronic newsletter, Peds@CA2, which is emailed to its 1,500+ members on the second weekend every month. Chapter members and non-profit organizations receive a 50% discount. Please follow the link below for more information.

For advertisement rates and guidelines, please click here.
If you are interested in advertising, please email the Chapter.
Article Submissions
Article submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The newsletter is published the second Sunday of each month.
Please view all Newsletter issues online at https://aapca2.org/publications/
 
You may direct questions and article submissions to the "American Academy of Pediatrics - CA Chapter 2" <chapter2@aapca2.org>.

The AAP-CA2 Newsletter Editorial Review Board
Established in July 2020 to highlight educational content and resources of value to chapter members, and to showcase our chapter membership.

AAP-CA2 Board of Directors 2024-2026

Members-At-Large
Area Representatives

Please visit our website: aapca2.org


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


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