In this month’s edition of The Quorum, Dr. Kamaal Jones highlights how chapter members can use the California Children’s Report Card from Children Now to identify advocacy priorities. I am sad to report that Dr. Jones will be moving on from his role as chapter Policy and Legislative Affairs Analyst. I would like to thank him for his efforts on behalf of our chapter and the children and families of California, and to wish him the very best in his next endeavor.

The chapter Advocacy Committee which has been led by Dr. Jones will continue to meet and discuss important health policy issues. If you are interested in advocacy, I would encourage you to attend a meeting of the committee and contribute your thoughts as the chapter identifies its advocacy priorities for the coming year.

In order to build stronger relationships with our state senators and assemblymembers, the chapter is also working to identify members who would serve as legislative key contacts for each of the districts in our region. Key contacts might be asked to call or email legislators to advocate for bills the chapter has endorsed, or even to participate in meetings at their regional offices. If you would be interested becoming a key contact, please contact Tomas Torices at [email protected].

We are excited to announce that former State Senator Dr. Richard Pan will be the keynote speaker at the 35th annual Advances in Pediatrics Symposium on April 27th. The CME committee has put together a fabulous program for this year, including a live podcast session with PedsRap during lunch. See the Coming Events section of the newsletter for more information.

The symposium also features a poster session which serves as a forum for pediatric trainees to network and share their scholarly work. If you are a student, resident, or fellow, the deadline to submit abstracts has been extended to February 23rd. Mentors, please share this call for abstracts with your trainees!

For our members in or near the Inland Empire, please register and attend the Riverside Social on 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.

And speaking of the Inland Empire, our Reach Out and Read program (RORIE) is thriving, shaping the developmental trajectory of kids from birth to age 5 by providing free books at every well child visit. Please see the RORIE report below and contact Delesa Barnes to be part of this impactful program.

This month’s Member Spotlight features Dr. Cesar Chavarria, a pediatric pulmonologist practicing in Tarzana. 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:

• 1/24 - Climate Webinar
• 2/7 - Dr. Ken Saul's Town Hall in Woodland Hills
• 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 Quorum - January 2024

Preparing for 2024   

Kamaal A. Jones, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician - Policy and Legislative Affairs Analyst

2024 is slated to be one of the most consequential years in recent memory for the children of California and around the globe. From child poverty to the mental health impacts of social media, there are a host of critical issues at stake that will require our voices. As we gear up for an important year of advocacy. In this issue, view the challenges that children are facing throughout the state, how things have been progressing, and what we can do to help further the cause. Read more

Are you still affected by the limited availability of nirsevimab?

A Chapter 2 pediatrician has extra doses and will pass them along at cost. Please contact the chapter if you are interested.

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 [email protected] or complete this Interest Form.



January Social Pedia Newsletter

 As Congress returns to Washington, DC to debate the upcoming federal budget, the AAP is strongly advocating for continued federal investment in research on firearm violence prevention. To that end, the AAP is releasing new videos from pediatricians discussing their experiences around firearm violence – both personal and professional – to push lawmakers to action. That, and more, here

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Submission Deadline: Extended!

February 23, 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 15, 2024. Presenters of accepted abstracts must register for the symposium and confirm attendance via email to [email protected] by March 22, 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]

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

Community Resolutions for 2024

By Delesa Barnes

Reach Out and Read Inland Empire Program Coordinator

Happy New Year from the Reach Out and Read Inland Empire (RORIE) team! In 2024, we're actively engaging our community to create a world where every child is read to daily. Your support is crucial! The capacity of your involvement ... Read more

January Update  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory that given low vaccine coverage for all recommended respiratory vaccines, it is critical for healthcare providers to recommend and administer COVID-19, Flu, and RSV vaccines to prevent severe illness and hospitalization. View the full advisory, plus upcoming events, here

• Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, FAAP - Los Angeles
• Diana Chen, MD, FAAP - Sacramento
• Suzanne Espalin, MD, FAAP - Bakersfield
• Melissa Krebs, MD, FAAP - Ventura
• Hannah Kwak, MD, FAAP - Los Angeles
• Marina Salama, MD, FAAP - Encino
• Alan Wei, MD, FAAP - Loma Linda
• Susan Zargarian, MD, FAAP - Glendale

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

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

What Lackluster Progress at COP28 Means for California

Webinar: January 24, 2024 10:00 am PST - 11:30 am PST

The final agreement reached at COP28, the annual United Nations climate conference that concluded in December, recognized the need to transition away from fossil fuels. But it contained almost no details about how nations can wean themselves off of oil, gas, and coal. In this webinar, we will hear from California legislators, The Climate Center’s own COP28 team, and others who attended COP28. Lawmakers will discuss what more California can do to lead the world to a climate-safe future.

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



Join the AAP-CA2 on February 7th for an informative Town Hall with Dr. Ken Saul. This in-person event will take place at 6:30PM, and feature speaker Dr. Tina Abraham, DO, discussing "Multiple Roles For Dupixent In Pediatric Practice."

The Town Hall will include a discussion on the top issues effecting practicing pediatricians today, including hot topics in obesity, mental illness, along with an update on COVID. The evening will conclude with a discussion on health care access issues. The event will be held at Maggiano's - 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Woodland Hills. 

To RSVP, please contact Dr. Ken Saul at [email protected], or call him at (805)-494-1948. You can find more information on the event in the flier linked below. We look forward to seeing you there!

Download Flier

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!

35th Annual Advances In Pediatrics Symposium

A date has been set for the Pediatric Symposium, hosted at UCLA. This year's event will be on April 27th, so make sure to mark your calendars. Please keep an eye out for upcoming details on this year's special guest speakers!

And more!

SAVE THE DATE

Please visit our website: aapca2.org

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

Thank you to the 1,356 who follow us on X! @AAPCA2 and Instagram