I would also like to repeat the call for members interested in advocacy to join the committee, and to consider serving as legislative key contacts. As the state level legislative season progresses, there will be opportunities to contact state senators and assemblymembers when bills come up for consideration in committees or on the floor. We would like to develop a core group of members who are ready to call or email their legislators when these opportunities arise, and to accompany pediatric residents on their annual local legislative visits. If you would be interested becoming a key contact, please contact our executive director, Dr. Tomas Torices, at chapter2@aapca2.org.

The CME committee continues to plan for the 35th annual Advances in Pediatrics Symposium on April 27th. The program is nearly complete and will feature such engaging sessions as a keynote address by former State Senator Dr. Richard Pan and a live podcast session with PedsRap during lunch. There will also be presentations on firearm injury prevention, atopic dermatitis, crisis management, RSV, Point of Care Ultrasound, and more. Registration opens in March. For our pediatric trainees, the call for abstracts deadline will be extended to Friday, March 8. Please consider making a submission!

For our members in or near the Inland Empire, please register and attend the Riverside Social this Saturday, February 24th. Representatives from local governments will also be in attendance. Chapter social gatherings are excellent opportunities to meet with fellow pediatricians, as well as with representatives of other agencies that advocate for children.

This month’s Member Spotlight features Dr. Jeanne Delgado, a primary care pediatrician practicing in Boyle Heights. I would like to welcome Dr. Delgado as the new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Champion for our chapter! Dr. Delgado was also recently selected as EDI Champion for AAP District IX, which encompasses the entire state of California, so she will be influencing the direction of EDI efforts at the state and national levels of AAP as well. I would also like to thank our outgoing EDI Champion, Dr. Lindsay Wells, for her service to the chapter. Among her many contributions were forming and leading our EDI Committee and developing our EDI Mission Statement.

I would also 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:

• 2/24 - AAP-CA2 Riverside County Social (Riverside Art Museum)
• 4/27 - Advances in Pediatrics Symposium held at UCLA

Best wishes,

Grant Christman, MD, MACM, FAAP

Save The Date!

The latest in pediatric medicine, podcasting live from the AAP-CA2 Advances in Pediatrics Symposium on April 27, 2024

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.



New EDI Champion: Jeanne Delgado, MD, MPH, FAAP

AAP-CA2 welcomes Dr. Jeanne Delgado as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Champion for our Chapter. Dr. Delgado comes from a rich background, with immigrant parents in the military and an upbringing in various cities and countries. This experience guided her decision to be a physician for patients of all backgrounds and adjust how she cares for them based on their own experiences, values, and communities. She completed several international public health fellowships in South America, focused on delivering care to those who the healthcare system has been unable to reach. 



Dr. Delgado works at AltaMed in Boyle Heights as a primary care pediatrician and is an implementation and evaluation scientist with the AltaMed Institute for Health Equity. Dr Delgado’s responsibilities extend throughout the entire state of California, serving as the District IX EDI Champion, and sees this position as an opportunity to increasing the diversity of patients receiving high quality care.

February Social Pedia Newsletter

 February is Black History Month, Heart Month, and National Children’s Dental Health Month. View this month's issue for copy/paste posting samples that also include flu and COVID vaccine content.

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

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Submission Deadline Extended: March 8, 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. 

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

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!

Scholarships for Medical Students/Residents

The Patient Care Foundation, the scholarship arm of the Los Angeles County Medical Association has given scholarships to medical students and residents facing financial hardship. For over a decade, PCF has helped dozens of future physicians from across Los Angeles County, while honoring them, their families, colleagues and supporters each year at the LA Healthcare Awards held in the winter. Interested students and residents can access the application on the PCF web site or contact gustavo@lacmanet.org

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

Early Childhood Literacy Enhanced by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative

By Delesa Barnes

Reach Out and Read Inland Empire Program Coordinator

As February unfolds, we find ourselves in the heart of winter and the midst of celebrating Black History Month. At Reach Out and Read Inland Empire (RORIE) this month provides an opportune time for reflection, education, and action on our initiative of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Read more

February Update  

Confirmed Measles Case in Los Angeles County

On February 1st, 2024, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a press release confirming the first measles case since February 2020 in Los Angeles County. 

This measles case reflects the real threat of measles importation to Los Angeles County due to the ongoing global and domestic outbreaks. Your role in early detection, reporting, and management of measles cases is crucial in preventing the spread of this highly contagious disease. 

RSV Immunization for Infants:

If your practice sees infants and has not yet ordered Nirsevimab (BeyfortusTM), order now to protect as many patients as possible. Read CDC's Updated Guidance for Healthcare Providers on Increased Supply of Nirsevimab to Protect Young Children for Severe RSV during the 2023-2024 Respiratory Virus Season.  

RSV Vaccine Administration Errors in Young Children and Pregnant People (CDC COCA)

On January 22, 2024, CDC released a Clinician Outreach and Community Activity (COCA) to highlight reports in administration errors. 

Pre-Teen Vaccine Week: March 4-8, 2024

Preteen Vaccine Week (PVW) is an annual California observance to be held March 4–8 in 2024. The goals of PVW are to distribute information and materials through multiple avenues such as schools, providers, and the media to promote the preteen doctor visit and to raise awareness about routinely recommended immunizations for preteens: Tdap, HPV, meningococcal, and flu vaccines.

View the full advisory, plus upcoming events, here

• Edward Diaz, MD, FAAP - Alhambra
• Sharib Gaffar, MD, FAAP - Porter Ranch
• Ranjani Panithi, MD, FAAP - Bakersfield
• Nhan-Ai Truong, MD, FAAP - Monrovia

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 programming map

The chapter's next social event is this Saturday, February 24th, Our popular AAP-CA2 social will be in Riverside county, 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!

The keynote lecture will follow a panel with Dr. Pan as moderator and committee representatives discussing legislation affecting children.

The latest in pediatric medicine, podcasting live from the AAP-CA2 Advances in Pediatrics Symposium on April 27, 2024

Sanofi Product Theatre: TZIELD^TM: Potential to Delay Stage 3 T1D

And more!

Save the date for this year's Advances in Pediatrics Symposium, April 27th at Carnesale Commons in the UCLA Campus. Registration opens in March.

Inflammatory Brain Disorders Conference 2024

June 22 - 23, 2024

The Inflammatory Brain Disorders Conference features nationally and internationally renowned experts skilled in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches who will present a diverse range of emerging clinical and research challenges, insights, and advances in the field of inflammatory brain disorders. Presentations are carefully selected to familiarize attendees with rapidly developing research and to educate clinicians on the latest understanding of treatment options. Both generalists as well as specialists in pediatric and adult medicine will find the conference valuable to their practices. The intended audience is pediatricians, family physicians, psychiatrists, rheumatologists, immunologists, neurologists, and infectious disease physicians. Though the conference is designed for physicians, all are welcome to attend. The link to register and request admission fee be waived can be found on their official website. 

Download The Event Flier

Chapter Chat Resolution Writing for the Annual Leadership Conference

This webinar took place on February 21. Presented by John I. Takayama, MD, FAAP - District IX Representative, AAP Chapter Forum Management Committee

View the RECORDING

Access the SLIDES

Please visit our website: aapca2.org

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

Thank you to the 1,372 who follow us on X! @AAPCA2 and Instagram