In July We Say Hello
In July, we say hello to new members and collaborations,
Discuss gun violence, Roe v. Wade, and keep exploring
How to address barriers faced by our diverse patients
Whom we've decidedly committed to keep supporting.
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President's Column
Nelson Branco, MD, FAAP
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This summer has been off to a busy and exciting start for my family. With three graduations, many end-of-year projects and performances, travel for work and a long-delayed family vacation, we are looking forward to a more relaxing summer schedule in the next couple of months. The end of the school year, the beginning of summer and the start of internships - it is a time of transitions. I hope that you all get to enjoy some time to relax this summer, even if we all have to worry about the next COVID variant and how to get all those under-5 vaccinated! |
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On the topic of transitions, there is one more person who is leaving our board and our chapter that I would like to thank and acknowledge. Dr. Tashya Whitehead will be stepping down as South Valley Member-at-Large as well as the Early Career Physician Representative. We are grateful to Dr. Whitehead for all of her work and we wish her well in the next chapter.
I recently met with some staff from the CMA and SF-Marin Medical Society and was reminded that the best way for the AAP and our chapter to fulfill our mission of advocating for children and those who care for them is to partner with our colleagues in other organizations who have complementary goals and missions. As you all know, we are part of AAP-CA for statewide advocacy, and we work closely with the CMA to advocate for pediatricians and those who care for kids. One of our colleagues, Dr. Heyman Oo, is the president-elect of the San Francisco-Marin Medical Society, and I look forward to working with her to support our members here in Marin and San Francisco. I would welcome a connection with any of our colleagues who are working with other county medical societies - we can all benefit from these collaborations.
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I also recently had lunch with my friend and colleague Dr. Jack Resneck, who was just inaugurated as the president of the AMA. Some of you may have the same history with the AMA as I did. I was a member in medical school but gave up my membership because I felt that the AMA’s mission and actions didn’t align with my values. After a conversation with Jack a few years ago, I realized that he and other leaders within the AMA were consciously trying to change the organization and find ways to support physicians while advancing equity, fighting against laws and policies that affected our ability to care for patients and advocate for them, and focus on physician wellness and workforce development. I re-joined the AMA and I look forward to the collaboration between the AMA and the AAP in areas where we have shared goals. I’d like to share a few paragraphs from Dr. Resneck’s inauguration speech as an example of what he envisions for his organization. If you’re interested, click here to watch a video of his speech.
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Vice President's Column
Nicole Webb, MD, FAAP
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As I sit down to write this month’s column, I find myself struggling a bit with what to say. First and foremost, I hope you are all well and taking care of yourselves during what continues to be an incredibly difficult time of legislative and judicial infringement on rights, particularly with respect to health and healthcare.
The intended focus of this month was going to be a summary of our resources, both at the chapter and at the national level, for addressing pediatric gun violence. And I will get to that. But I also want to acknowledge that I’m writing this on the day that the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending 49 years of federally guaranteed right to reproductive choice in this country.
As we all know, this is not something that just affects adult women of menstrual age; it affects anyone of any gender identity who is of menstrual age. And this includes many of our adolescent patients. We are fortunate that in California reproductive choice remains protected. However, there is tremendous inequity in our state with respect to the accessibility of the resources to support, and consequently significant disparities in teen pregnancy, STIs, congenital infections, maternal and child mortality, and many other outcomes. So as we all know, there is much work still to be done to ensure reproductive justice in our state and in the area encompassed by our chapter.
You can read national AAP’s statement on the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization here. You can also read the AAP’s statement affirming its commitment to adolescents’ right to comprehensive, confidential reproductive health care here. The AAP also published 2 updated policy statements, Options Counseling for the Pregnant Adolescent Patient, and The Adolescent’s Right to Confidential Care When Considering Abortion. It’s also important to recognize that both of these policy statements reflect longstanding AAP policy and not a reaction to the ruling. Both were in the process of being finalized before the ruling became public and represent updating and reaffirmation of our commitment to comprehensive, equitable, safe reproductive care for adolescents.
As was the original intent of this column, we do want to share resources for addressing pediatric gun violence, which remains the number one cause of death of US children. Just the day before the decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruled in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen that requiring those seeking a permit to carry a concealed firearm in public to provide “proper cause” was unconstitutional. While this is understandably overwhelming, particularly in light of California having a similar statute that is now threatened, it is crucial for us to remember that our role is to focus our messaging on safety and common ground.
For those of you who joined us for our chat, “Gun Violence and Kids: What Every Pediatrician Needs to Know” on 6/15, we focused on exactly that. We were honored to be joined by Samantha Dwyer, who leads the Be SMART program for San Francisco, Alex Navarro, who is the California City Gun Violence Lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Rudy Corpuz, the founder and Executive Director of United Playaz, which is a community youth violence prevention program in San Francisco, and Dr. Shannon Castle, a pediatric trauma Surgeon and proud AAP member. For anyone interested in accessing the recording or the resources we shared, you can do so here.
Below are a few specific examples of how you can have an impact in your practice and in our communities . . .
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You can find the video, slides, and resources for our Chapter Chat, "Gun Violence and Kids: What Every Pediatrician Needs to Know," in our Past Events Page.
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New Job Posting Board Available to All Members! |
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Our new job posting board is up and running! We have been receiving a lot of requests to produce a job board to help our members’ clinics reach quality candidates for their open positions.
See our two first job postings below!
You can find the Job Postings and the form to submit your posting at www.aapca1.org/jobs or from the tab Members Corner → Available Jobs:
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Welcome to Our New Members-at-Large! |
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Maya Raman, MD, FAAP - San Francisco Member-at-Large
Hello AAP Chapter 1! My name is Maya Raman and I am your new San Francisco Member-at-Large. I'm a native of the Bay Area and was born and raised in San Jose, though I now call San Francisco home and have been living here for the past 4 years. After going to college in LA and medical school in Chicago, I came back to the Bay Area for residency at Children's Hospital Oakland. During residency, I worked on a CATCH grant focused on a video-based introduction to ABA therapy for families of children with autism, and through the project, I got to know AAP members and became interested in having a more active role in the Chapter. Since graduating from residency last year, I am now a hospitalist with UCSF. On the non-medical side, I love to play tennis, read fiction, and am working on my baking.
I hope to represent the SF area to the Chapter 1 board and welcome your ideas - please feel free to contact me via email with anything! I hope that this summer we will be able to hold some sort of social event - maybe a picnic if the weather holds up - so that the SF Chapter 1 community can get to know one another and work together to improve children's health and well being.
You can contact Dr. Maya Raman here.
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Renee Wachtel, MD, FAAP - Alameda Member-at-Large
Dr. Renee C. Wachtel is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF. She has worked with the pediatric community to recognize the important role of pediatric providers in the screening of children in their practices for developmental delays and behavioral issues that impact the child and their family. She has worked with many vulnerable and at-risk populations and has many years of experience with community support for children and their families. You can read her article “Advocating for Down syndrome as a Genetic Condition, Not a Birth Defect” below in this July newsletter.
You can contact Dr. Renee Wachtel here.
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Attitudes, Access, and Barriers towards Developmental Screening in Communities of Color
Neel Patel, MD, FAAP
San Mateo Member-at-Large
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Save the date for our Chapter Chat, “Attitudes, Access, and Barriers Towards Developmental Screening in Communities of Color,” facilitated by Neel Patel, MD, FAAP - San Mateo Member-at-Large. The chat is happening, Tuesday, July 19, 7PM-8:30PM.
As pediatricians, we are passionate about child development and want to support our diverse set of patients in any way possible. Please join us for a thought-provoking and informative discussion on how beliefs and biases influence attitudes, access, and barriers to developmental screening. The discussion will run deep, and we will further enhance your understanding on this important topic! Presentation by Michelle Blakely from First 5 San Mateo followed by Question/Answer and fireside chat with Dr. Baraka Floyd from Stanford Children’s Maternal Child & Health Research Institute, Dr. Mikah Owen from UC Davis/AAP Chapter 1 Equity Diversity and Inclusion Champion, and Patient Family Advisor Jackie Ramirez who is also a parent of an ex-premature infant.
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Advocating for Down Syndrome as a Genetic Condition, Not a Birth Defect
Renee C. Wachtel, MD, FAAP
Committee on Development and Behavior Chair and
Alameda Member-at-Large
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At its March 31 meeting, the AAPCA1 Committee on Development and Behavior approved a resolution to be submitted to the AAP 2022 Annual Leadership Forum. The purpose of this resolution was to propose:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer use the terminology of “birth defect” in regard to Down syndrome, and instead refer to Down syndrome as a genetic condition.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates that other national and international bodies retire the term “birth defect” with respect to Down syndrome.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics convene a group of experts from appropriate committees to suggest the replacement of the term “birth defect” with an alternative language.
The AAPCA1 Executive Committee supported our submission of this resolution, and as of this writing, it is being considered by the AAP. If you support this resolution, please let the AAP know And if you are interested in joining our Committee, please let me know at drrwachtel@aol.com or Yolanda Ruiz at info@aapca1.org.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Down syndrome is named after a British doctor, Langdon Down, who described the physical stigmata in 1866. The genetic cause of Down syndrome was discovered to be Trisomy 21 in 1959. Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities in humans, occurring in 0.1% of children born to women aged 20 and 3% of women aged 45. There is no known cure for Down syndrome, but with proper health care, support and education, individuals with Down syndrome can complete school, work and have a life expectancy of 60 years or more. At the current time, Down syndrome is not “preventable”, and should not be grouped with other conditions that might be considered preventable.
A birth defect has been described as a physical or biochemical abnormality present at birth and may be inherited or result from environmental influence. The CDC defines a birth defect as “structural changes present at birth that can affect almost any part of the body (e.g. heart, brain, foot). They may affect how the body looks, works or both”. Yet CDC also states that “each person with Down syndrome has different talents and the ability to thrive”. The term “birth defect” has a pejorative connotation when applied to a person, as opposed to a heart or other organ “defect”.
Increasing scientific knowledge about genetic conditions has led to a greater understanding of the wide range of phenotypes for any genetic abnormality.
Therefore, Down syndrome should be considered a genetic disorder, one among many other genetic disorders, and not a birth defect per se. Individuals with Down syndrome can have a specific birth defect, such as congenital heart disease, but may not have any birth defects that limit functional abilities. Individuals with Down syndrome should not be referred to as having a birth defect only because they have Down syndrome.
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We have been expanding our efforts to connect with you across our social platforms! Our goal is to provide you with more resources and keep you informed on our events. Here are some recent campaigns which include great resources:
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Mental Health Awareness Campaign - view all images HERE.
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Gun Violence Prevention Campaign - view all images HERE.
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To stay updated on current events and campaigns connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin! Click the links below: |
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The SGA Side
Your Key to State Government Affairs
Nora Pfaff, MD, FAAP and Anna Kaplan, MD, FAAP
SGA Chapter Representatives
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AAPCA1 signed on to a letter responding to the proposed rule, Affordability of Employer Coverage for Family Members of Employees (REG-114339-21), issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We wrote in strong support of the proposed rule, which would correct the “family glitch” that was created by a 2013 misinterpretation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
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For the most up-to-date information on AAP California bill positions, letters & outcomes from the current CA Legislative year, go to https://ctweb.capitoltrack.com. For the latest organizational advocacy updates follow @AAPCADocs on Twitter. If you have questions and/or are interested in knowing more about certain legislation, reach out to our State Government Affairs Chapter Representative Nora Pfaff, MD, FAAP and Anna Kaplan, MD, FAAP at info@aapca1.org.
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Opportunities for Your Benefit |
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Recruiting Pediatricians for a Pediatric Urology Study
Calling Pediatricians, Participate in a Happy Health Bladder Focus Group and Receive a $50 Gift Card!
Description of our study:
We are interested in learning more about how pediatricians in Northern and Central California understand and approach bladder problems in young children. This information may be used to develop new programs to help families of children with bladder problems. Upon completing participation, you will be compensated with a $50 Amazon gift card!
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July 13 - Improving ADHD Care in Pediatric Settings: The Impact of Comorbidities on ADHD Assessment and Treatment with Case Examples - REGISTER HERE
July 19 - Attitudes, Access, and Barriers towards Developmental Screening in Communities of Color - SAVE THE DATE!
Postponed to August - HP 2020 Medical-Legal Partnerships - More details to come!
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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: Tashya Jayasuriya Whitehead • San Francisco MAL: Maya Raman • Santa Clara MAL: Meera Sankar • San Mateo MAL: Neel Patel • North Coastal MAL: Jeffrey Ribordy • Monterey Bay MAL: Graciela Wilcox • Alameda MAL: Renee Wachtel • Contra Costa/Solano MAL: Omoniyi Omotoso
Pediatric Insider News Editors:
• Mika Hiramatsu • Deborah Shassetz • Alyssa Velasco
Staff:
• Project Assistant: Yolanda Ruiz
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