At the same time, the renewed implementation of harsh immigration policies, including the separation of families at the border, runs counter to everything we know about what children need to grow, thrive, and feel safe. We cannot be silent in the face of policies that jeopardize child health, development, and human dignity. Whether in exam rooms or at the policy table, our role as pediatricians is more vital than ever.

So as you consider how you will advocate, take a look at the opportunities in this edition of our chapter newsletter. First 5 SLO is looking for a commissioner to represent the medical community. Please consider becoming a key contact for the legislative session - you are a boots on the ground expert (more info in the Advocacy corner).

Connect and learn at our 36th Annual Symposium on Friday May 30th! New venue and an incredible lineup of speakers. See below for more details. Registration is now open - click here to register.

And ALSO on Friday May 30th at the same venue, a FREE event - Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Train the Trainer Session. This Train-the-Trainer session will introduce you to the Pediatric Approach to Trauma, Treatment, and Resilience (PATTeR) Clinic Staff Training. This interactive training will cover core TIC principles, facilitation strategies, and practical tools to train staff effectively. See below for more details. Registration is now open. Click here to learn more and register.

A second episode of California Pediatrics is out! Check it out and share with colleagues and friends - on all podcast platforms and youtube.

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new chapter members! We invite you to get involved—whether by joining one of our chapter committees or reaching out to Tomas or me to explore where your passion and voice can make the greatest impact within Chapter 2. You can learn more about our committees and access other resources by visiting our website: https://aapca2.org.

We also encourage you to share your thoughts, questions, or ideas through our Member Input form, which helps guide discussion at our upcoming board meeting.

Your support and engagement are what make the work of this chapter possible—thank you for being part of it.

Melissa Ruiz, MD, MPH, FAAP

Registration is Open!

Set to take place at the Garland Hotel in North Hollywood, this year’s Symposium is bigger and better than ever! 

• Lectures with exceptional speakers
• Network with fellow pediatricians
• State of the art conference center/Free Wi-Fi/Great food
• Live recording of the Peds RAP Podcast
• Industry exhibitors and product demonstrations
• In-person event with Zoom option. Join us in person!

JOIN THE FIRST 5 FAMILY! (San Luis Obispo, CA) - First 5 San Luis Obispo County is seeking a Commissioner to represent the local medical community. The individual in this seat must be an active member of a medical, dental, pediatric or obstetric association or society.

WHO WE ARE:

First 5 San Luis Obispo County is all about giving children the best possible start in life. We are a public agency responsible for allocating approximately $1.4 million dollars in funding per year toward system improvements and equitable access to quality services that support the health and early development of children, aged prenatal to age 5. First 5 San Luis Obispo County has a staff of four and is governed by a nine-member Commission.

COMMISSIONER ROLE:

The Commission typically meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month in January, March, May, June, September, October and the first Wednesday of the month in December. Meeting times are 3:00-5:30pm at various locations throughout the county. Commissioners may be required to attend additional meetings, including but not limited to strategic planning, the assessment of community needs and grant proposal review. Commissioners may also choose to attend special First 5 SLO County events, such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies and conferences.

THE MEDICAL-REPRESENTATIVE COMMISSIONER:

• Is an active member of a medical, dental, pediatric, or obstetric association or society
• Has a special interest in early childhood health and development
• Would serve from June 25, 2025 to June 30, 3026 with the option to continue serving at least one additional three-year term, contingent on active participation in and attendance at Commission meetings

Any individual interested in this position should complete the online application at https://www.first5slo.org/who-we-are.php. 

Applications are due by 5pm, Friday, May 2nd, 2025.

For more information, contact Wendy Wendt at (805) 781-4058; wwendt@first5slo.org

Have you seen the second episode of California Pediatrics? Episode 2 features Dr. Ilan Shapiro as he delves into his trajectory in pediatrics and the use of social media as a public health strategy.

Streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, and iHeart Radio, California Pediatrics is a podcast by pediatricians from the four California chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics presenting current affairs, highlights on career paths, and tips for parents.

This project is funded by the AAP Healthy People 2030 grant. Produced by Chapter 2 executive director Tomas Torices. Search for California Pediatrics on your favorite podcast platform, visit our platform on Libsyn or watch it on Youtube by clicking the image below.

Are you in need of local air quality resources for wildfire relief? Checkout the below links for information for those affected.

Pasadena Public Health Department

Safety Precautions and Ash Exposure Prevention

LACDPH

Fire Safety and Health Information

Name: Tamar Nazerian Chorbadjian, DO, MPH

Practice location: Baldwin Park

Number of years in practice: 7 years

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and completed an undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Physiological Sciences with a minor in Public Policy and Social Welfare. I then went on to get my Masters in Public Health with a focus on Maternal Child Health and Nutrition from the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine.

Continue reading.

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!

Filling Your Cup

By Paula Whiteman, MD, FACEP, FAAP

Cultivating sympathetic joy, practicing the concept of Muditā

There are words in other languages related to mindfulness concepts that do not exist in English. Muditā is one such word. Muditā is a Buddhist concept that refers to sympathetic joy. Continue reading

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is partnering with the Public Policy Lab (PPL) to recruit pediatric clinics for a contextual observational study. This observation is part of a larger cooperative agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and RTI International. The overall project aims to deepen our understanding of how childhood vaccine safety information is communicated in healthcare environments, particularly in interactions between families and healthcare professionals..

We are seeking pediatric clinics to participate in an observational study that would occur between late May and the end of June 2025. Your clinic will receive a stipend of $15,000 – $20,000.

If you are interested, please complete the following eligibility screener by April 18, 2025: RTI/CDC - Pediatric Practice Recruitment Screener

If you have any questions, please reach out to Alexis Katzenbach (akatzenbach@aap.org) or Helen Li (hli@publicpolicylab.org)

April Update

In this month's update, information on measles resources, MMR vaccinations, and details on travel recommendations. Additionally, there are resources for immunization and vaccination. View the full update here.

California Kids Need You

The AAP-CA2 office of State Government Affairs is seeking pediatricians in Kern County and San Bernardino County, two key California Congressional districts where votes will be critical toward protecting Medicaid and CHIP from federal budget cuts.

The two Congressional districts are Rep. David Valadao (CA-22), and Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23) – these representatives will be key voices in the federal debate and now is the time to ensure they understand the impact these decisions will have on child health and pediatric practice in California. We are hoping to identify pediatrician constituents who can build rapport with their offices. If you would like to be involved, please click to learn more.

AAP-CA2 Legislative Contacts Form

As part of our AAP-CA2 Advocacy Committee, we're calling for members interested in advocacy to consider serving as legislative key contacts for the chapter with their local elected officials!

As the state level legislative season progresses, there will be opportunities to contact state senators and assembly members when bills come up for consideration in committees or on the floor. We need to develop a core group of members who are ready to call or email their legislators when opportunities arise, and accompany pediatric residents on their annual local legislative visits. 

If you would be interested becoming a key contact, please fill out the form below with the requested information! Thanks again for your support of the chapter's advocacy efforts. 

Legislative Contacts Form

The latest in pediatric medicine.

High yield. High entertainment.

AAP-CA2 members may now Subscribe to PedsRAP with a 15% Discount.

Be sure to use the link by clicking the button below in order to have the discount applied at checkout:

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! 

AAP-CA2 Visits UC Riverside

April 3 - UC Riverside School of Medicine - Pediatric Interest Group

AAP-CA2 executive director Tomás Torices met with several medical students interested in pediatrics at the University of California Riverside on April 3rd. Ingrid Channa, medical student class of 2027 and co-director of the Pediatric Interest Group, organized the visit. Presentations to medical schools and pediatric residency programs provide an overview of the organization, ways to get involved with the AAP at the local level, and opportunities for advocacy. It's exciting to see so much enthusiasm for pediatrics so early in their medical career.

Do you have any concerns, questions or ideas that we can discuss and address during upcoming board meetings? This form is anonymous and confidential, with the option of entering your personal information and/or receive a call from a board member, staff, or any other chapter representative.

If you have any concerns, questions, or ideas that you would like to share, please complete This Form.

Cal-MAP’s team of mental health specialists supports primary care providers (PCPs) treating youth with mental health needs through education, consultation, and resource navigation. This includes advice on screening, diagnosis, and treatment from a child psychiatrist and guidance on resources and referrals from a social worker.

Register for the Cal-MAP consultation program here: https://cal-map.org

Cal-MAP Resources:

PCP Resources

Family Resources

800-253-2103

Email: info@cal-map.org

NAMI Westside Los Angeles is an affiliate of National Alliance of Mental Illness, a grassroots mental health advocacy organization dedicated to supporting individuals with mental health conditions, as well as their families and loved ones. To find out about NAMI's support groups and courses, which are free of charge to participants, please go https://www.nami.org/findsupport/ to identify the NAMI affiliate that is most local to you. NAMI Westside Los Angeles has also been developing a Children's Mental Health Toolbox, which includes materials that can be used in the home, the classroom, the counseling office, and other settings for youth recreation and education. This resource can be found here- https://namiwla.org/childrens-mental-health-toolbox/.

To learn more about the Children's Mental Health Toolbox, or how it might be used for your specific context, please feel free to reach out to ohakak@namila.org.

Also, please checkout this "Life Rocks" book created by NAMI which is about coping strategies and a great resource for patients of all ages. Click here to check it out. And, make sure to download this free activity packet for children affected by the recent California wildfires.

Offer Teen Patients a Smartphone App to Help Them with Intense Emotions & Thoughts of Suicide - New Study Information

The HEART+ study will explore the feasibility and acceptability of a brief digital intervention, called iCHART, for patients 12-17 years who screen positive for suicide risk. This study will involve 4 practices that do not have integrated mental health services. What we learn from HEART+ will inform a larger study in the future!

The Goal of iCHART is to:

1. Identify patients at risk of suicide so they develop a digitized, personalized safety plan
2. Give patients a smartphone app, called BRITE. BRITE contains their safety plan with features to help teens build and use coping skills when they have intense emotions and thoughts of suicide.

Clinician Benefits:

• Learn how to assess and counsel teens using the technical aspects of iCHART.
• Create greater safety planning efficiencies to minimize workflow disruptions.
• Track and submit weekly study-developed forms to improve suicide prevention care.
• Receive a $1,500 practice honorarium ($500 after the Training phase and $1,000 at the end of the study).

To join the study or ask questions, please contact Ali Torres, atorres@aap.org or call (630)-626-6188. Download an official flyer here.

Upcoming Events

Save The Dates!

Implementing Quality Improvement Procedures to Improve Vaping Screening:

A Training for Health Care Providers

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 @ 6 PM

Hosted by the Anti-Vaping Champions at UCLA and the AAP-CA2, this vaping focused webinar will give attendees a look at the current landscape of youth vaping and associated health risks, along with a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework, tools to build effective screening workflows in clinical settings, and more. You won't want to miss this event! Download the event flyer below or click on the button to register today!

Download Event Flyer

From Extreme Heat to Fire: Disparate Effects Through

the Arc of Human Health

Save The Date: 5/9/ - 5/10

This virtual summit will share the state of research, education, and advocacy at the intersections of environmental health and its effects on children, families, and communities throughout the arc of life. This meeting is hosted by AAP National and AAP DVIII Chapters.

Download Flyer

Download Event Agenda

36th Annual AAP-CA2 Advances In Pediatrics Symposium

Registration Is Open!

Registration for this year's Advances In Pediatrics Symposium is now open! Don't miss our incredible lineup of speakers and events taking place during this incredible event. You can register by clicking on the button below.

• Official Event Webpage
• Event Agenda

This Year's Speaker Lineup

Building Trauma-Informed Clinical Teams

A Train-the-Trainer Session At The AAP-CA2 Symposium 



Friday, May 30, 2025

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, PST

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Reserve Your Spot By 5/23/25

Come learn about the Pediatric Approach to Trauma, Treatment, and Resilience (PATTeR) Clinic Staff Training and how you can bring this training back to your clinical community. 

This Train-the-Trainer session will introduce you to the Pediatric Approach to Trauma, Treatment, and Resilience (PATTeR) Clinic Staff Training. This interactive training will cover core TIC principles, facilitation strategies, and practical tools to train staff effectively. The program emphasizes building trauma-informed clinical teams, supporting team well-being, and fostering relational health. Participants will gain the confidence to lead the PATTeR training, adapt content to their setting, and champion TIC practices within their organizations. Best of all, this event will be taking place at the same venue and on the same day as the 36th Annual Advances In Pediatrics Symposium!

For more information, visit the AAP website: https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/national-center-for-relational-health-and-trauma-informed-care/

Both the event page and registration are now open. Click the button below to access the event page and register today. Please note, registration is free.

EVENT SPEAKERS

Miller Pediatric Grand Rounds

Fridays at 8 AM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92452244153

Meeting ID: 924 5224 4153

One tap mobile

+16699006833,,92452244153# US (San Jose)

+13462487799,,92452244153# US (Houston)

CHLA Pediatric Grand Rounds

Fridays at 8 AM

• April 18 @ 8AM – Neonatal Myocardial Infarction: A Diagnostic Chameleon and a Proposed Algorithm for Coronary Thrombosis Management – Howaida El-Said, MD, PhD, University of California San Diego
• May 2 @ 8AM  – Medical Neglect: Navigating Ethical and Clinical Challenges in Decision-Making – Carol D. Berkowitz, MD, FAAP, FACEP, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
• May 16 @ 8AM - Challenges for the Diagnosis and Management of Retinoblastoma in Low and Middle Income Countries - Guillermo L. Chantada, MD, PhD, President International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain

• 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!

Chapter committees, like the immigrant health committee, 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.

Click Here to Sign-up For Chapter Committees

Please visit our website: aapca2.org

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

Thank you to the 1,370 who follow us on X! @AAPCA2 and Instagram