I'm returning to our chapter ready to strengthen our efforts and to continue advocating for Chapter 2 members and the important issues facing the children of California.

I want to wish a warm congratulations to Dr. Eric Ball from Chapter 4 - our newly elected District IX chair. Grant and I have been working with Eric for the last couple years through our chapter leadership roles and have developed a strong working relationship. I feel confident that we will be able to continue to strengthen our collaboration with the other 3 chapters in District IX in advocating for California's children and pediatricians.



Exciting news! There are two new FREE state-sponsored behavioral programs (Brightlife and Soluna) available for YOUR patients. We will be hosting a webinar (See below) on Nov 19th for you to learn more and get your questions answered - Register now. We are continuing to work on developing our in-person mental health conference and are hoping to have a "save the date" for you all by the next newsletter. In addition, we are working on developing a mental health resources space on our Chapter website. We will start uploading documents and links to helpful sites in the upcoming months.

Dr. Niru Madduri, Chair of the Newsletter Editorial Board, has started a new section called "Filling Your Cup" - a space for sharing and encouraging mindful contemplation.

In the member spotlight we have Brian Santacrose, MD, pediatrician and AAP-CA2 Area Representative in Santa Barbara.

In the Trainees’ Corner, we have "Beyond the Social Work Consult" by Alexandra Gabrielle Kelley, MD of UCLA, as well as the research presented at the 2024 Symposium by Annie Tagvoryan of UCR on "Exploring Psychosocial Dysfunction in Children of Caregivers with Chronic Disease". 

Dr. Ken Saul's Town Hall is tomorrow in Woodland Hills. Be sure to RSVP if you plan on attending.

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.

Melissa Ruiz, MD, MPH, FAAP

By Niru Madduri, MD, FAAP

Chair, Newsletter Editorial Board

As pediatricians, we carry the burdens not only of our patients, their families, our coworkers, but also those of our family members and, also friends. This is a new column for us to share the little ways we take time for ourselves when responsibilities never end. Continue reading ...

Pediatric Endocrinology Physician Opportunity With Ventura County Health Care Agency

Ventura County Health Care Agency is seeking a Pediatric Endocrinologist at the Pediatric Diagnostic Center (PDC), a combination primary care/specialty clinic that utilizes a team approach.

If you are interested in seeing complex (and some non-complex) patients in a collaborative environment that very much has the feel of an academic position without the academic stresses, contact the Center’s Administrator, Sean Lovitt to learn more (sean.lovitt@ventura.org, (805)-652-6160, or (520)-329-0903).

Click Here For the Full Listing!

Genesis Medicus - Teaching Faculty for LA & Surrounding Communities!

Genesis Medicus – Clinical Campus (“GM-CC”), has been engaged by a non-profit to facilitate MS3 and MS4 students with their clinical rotations in Los Angeles. As a result, Genesis Medicus is now seeking pediatricians that enjoy teaching and can accommodate rotation placements ranging from 3 to 6 weeks for community or hospital based Pediatric Primary Care or Specialty Practices. Make up to $1,500 for a 6-week rotation per student. Click here for the full description.

To find out more about the preceptor opportunities please email (ccintron@genesismedicus.com) or click on the link below for the full job listing.

Name: Brian Santacrose, M.D.

Practice location: Santa Barbara

Number of years in practice:  9

I am from upstate New York (Albany). I majored in Human Development at Cornell University, went to Medical School at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. And then I realized you dont have to deal with 6 months of winter every year .. Read more

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!

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.

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.

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

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5

Children are counting on us; vote like their future depends on it.

Candidates elected to positions up and down the ballot will shape policies that directly impact the health of young people, families and communities. Pediatricians can use their voices to elevate the importance of voting for elected leaders who put children first. 

The AAP is partnering with Vot-ER , a nonpartisan, health professional-driven organization working to integrate civic engagement into healthcare. Join the AAP’s nonpartisan Get Out the Vote campaign and share with patients and families the importance of voting.

View key “Vote Kids” messages, social media samples and Graphics by visiting AAP’s Spread the Vote page. You may access additional resources on the Get Out the Vote Tools page.

At the 34th Annual Advances in Pediatrics Symposium, attendees were able to listen to an exclusive live podcast recording of Peds RAP that featured a discussion on the benefits of joining your local AAP chapter. You won't want to miss this informative episode!

October Social Pedia Newsletter

What's happening this month?

October is SIDS Awareness Month, along with featuring Teen Driver Safety Week. There are also updates on social media and tips for Halloween safety.

Access all resources in This Month's Issue.

Beyond the Social Work Consult 

Alexandra Gabrielle Kelley, MD

Overnight, my pager goes off. It’s the ED requesting admission for a 9-year-old with status asthmaticus. I know this patient well. She’s had several admissions before for uncontrolled asthma in the past. I walk into her room and see that she’s sleeping, the high-flow nasal cannula supporting her work of breathing. Read more...

Exploring Psychosocial Dysfunction in Children of Caregivers with Chronic Disease  

Annie Tagvoryan (UCR)

Chronic diseases are defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as conditions that last one or more years and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Caregiver mental illness has been identified as a risk factor for childhood traumatic experiences and childhood psychosocial dysfunction (CPD). However, not much has been reported on the impact of caregivers’ chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer on CPD. Our project aims to explore the impact of caregivers’ chronic disease on parenting and CPD. Read More!

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!

CATCH Applications for 2025 Opening Soon!

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to request support as they develop a CATCH project proposal from the CATCH network of Chapter CATCH Facilitators (CCFs) and District CATCH Resident Liaisons (DRLs). 
• Friday, January 10, 2025 is the deadline for applicants to initiate requests for support from Chapter CATCH Facilitators (CCFs) & CATCH District Resident Liaisons (DRLs)
• CATCH network contact rosters and the Call for Proposals are available at www.aap.org/CATCH (2025 Call for Proposals will be posted by Nov. 1)

CATCH Application Timeline

A Season of Ongoing Commitment to Early Childhood Literacy

By Delesa Barnes

Reach Out and Read Inland Empire Program Coordinator

This October, we are excited to announce that our American Academy of Pediatrics- California Chapter 2 program, Reach Out and Read Inland Empire (RORIE) will be continuing to expand the benefits of though out the region. RORIE has renewed contracts with both First 5 San Bernardino and First 5 Riverside for the next two years. This generous funding support will allow us to continue serving our current providers and extend our services to new clinics in unique ways. Read More!

October Update

Welcome to VPDC Pediatric Immunization Updates!



As we enter October, it’s crucial to prepare for the peak of respiratory virus season. This newsletter provides essential information and resources to help you protect your patients and communities effectively. By staying informed and proactive, providers can help protect their patients and communities during this respiratory virus season.

View the full update, here.

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.

November 19 @ 6:30 PM Webinar

FREE Mental Health Resources for Kids, Teens & Young Adults

Speaker: Mallissa Watts

BrightLife Kids

Manager, Community Engagement

Join us on November 19th to learn about two new state-sponsored behavioral health programs that are FREE for your patients. These programs offer live parent coaching or adolescent and young adult coaching. Presented by Brightlife Kids (Personalized support for California families. Kids ages 0–12) and Soluna (The space to destress, bounce back, and reset - free and anonymous for Californians ages 13 to 25).

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.

CDPH and LACDPH have put together guidance for schools around when symptomatic children can return to school. The intent of this guidance is to limit the potential for spreading harmful diseases to others while taking into consideration the educational, social, and other losses that might occur due to unnecessary or excessive absence. Click the image below to access it, or download the guide here!

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/

Still Recruiting! AAP PROS invites pediatric primary care practices to refer children to an NIH Long COVID observational study. Why are some children sick months after having COVID?

• We invite you to take a look at the research findings from the first manuscript out of the NIH RECOVER (Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery) pediatric cohort, “Characterizing Long COVID in Children and Adolescents,” published August 21, 2024, in The Journal of the American Medical Association. Practices in the PROS network supported this work.
• We are still recruiting practices to the national RECOVER study to improve our understanding of the long-term effects of COVID. Practices refer families with (a) children and adolescents 17-years-old and younger suspected to have had prolonged symptoms of any kind after having COVID and (b) children 3-5 years-old who have NEVER had COVID. Each practice that refers families receives $1,500 and families receive up to $100 per child. If you are a practice interested in joining this study please contact Kristin Davis, kdavis@aap.org.

Still Recruiting! AAP PROS invites pediatric primary care practices to join the NIMH HEART+ teen suicide prevention study.

• Did you know? Findings from a new study revealed a significant increase in the suicide rate among U.S. preteens between the 2001-2007 and 2008-2022 periods.
• If you are a pediatric primary care practice with NO embedded/co-located mental health services interested in joining the RCT phase of the NIMH-funded HEART+ (HElp At-Risk Teens Thrive) study, contact Ali Torres, atorres@aap.org.

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

Upcoming Events

Save The Date!

October 16 at 6:30 pm - Ken Saul Town Hall

Don't miss the next town hall! It will include a discussion on the top 10 medical & business issues of the quarter: including Vaccine Updates, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, and ID. Sponsored by Novo Nordisk.

RSVP to Kenneth Saul, MD by emailing docksaul@aol.com or calling (805)-494-1948.

November 1 at 8:00 am - CHLA 5th Annual Updates in Hospital Pediatrics

A one-day event held at CHLA that will feature experts in the field of PHM presenting an instructive and interactive program aimed at increasing knowledge and skills related to the practice of inpatient pediatrics. Presenters will provide a well-rounded, accessible program that includes lectures, case-based learning and live Q&A. A networking reception will follow the talks on November 1th at 5pm. AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ : 5.50 Credits.

Register Here!

For more information, email mtrost@chla.usc.edu.

November 2 at 8:30 am - LACMA Business Of Medicine Conference + Career Fair

You’re invited to join us as physicians and physicians in training from Los Angeles and across the state gather on Saturday, November 2 at the Westin Pasadena for the inaugural Business Of Medicine Conference & Career Fair, presented by the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA), and co-sponsored by the AAP-CA2.

The 2024 Business of Medicine Conference will deliver keys to mastering the business side of medicine and provide impactful tools for maneuvering through the complexities of running a small or solo practice.

Attendees gain invaluable real-world insights and access tools crafted to slash expenses and increase efficiencies, while elevating the quality of patient care. Solution providers will be on hand to answer questions and directly engage with physicians. It is an amazing opportunity for pediatricians and residents alike!

Location: 191 N. Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Items Covered During The Conference Will Include:

• Practice Operations
• Financial Wellness
• Legal & Compliance Issues
• Modernizing Your Practice
• Advocacy & Legislative Updates
• Insights for Early Career Physicians
• And More!

This event will also feature a career fair with vendors and sponsors, making it a unique networking opportunity for physicians in all aspects of the pediatric field. The event is FREE for LACMA Members. If you’re not a LACMA member, you can become one by clicking here to register.

The cost to attend for non-members is $250. Click the button below to register today, or for more information, visit the official event website!

November 19 - 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Webinar

FREE Mental Health Resources for Kids, Teens & Young Adults

Join us on November 19th to learn about two new state-sponsored behavioral health programs that are FREE for your patients. These programs offer live parent coaching or adolescent and young adult coaching. Presented by BrightLife Kids (Personalized support for California families. Kids ages 0–12) and Soluna (The space to destress, bounce back, and reset - free and anonymous for Californians ages 13 to 25).

Speaker: Mallissa Watts

BrightLife Kids

Manager, Community Engagement

In January 2024, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) launched two behavioral health virtual services platforms for children, youth, and families. Launching as a part of the state’s CalHOPE program, with funding from the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, a $4.6 billion investment in youth behavioral health, the web- and app-based platforms offer all California residents, regardless of insurance coverage, free one on one support with a live coach, a library of multimedia resources, wellness exercises, and peer communities moderated by trained behavioral health professionals. Designed with input from more than 1,000 unique and diverse stakeholders, DHCS released two platforms - BrightLife Kids for parents and caregivers, young children, and adolescents, ages 0-12, and Soluna for teens and young adults, ages 13-25.

January 9, 2025 - In Person at the California Endowment

Infection Prevention in Schools

Please join AAP-CA2 Infection Prevention Ambassador, Ken Zangwill, MD, FAAP and LAUSD Medical Director Smita Malhotra, MD, FAAP as they discuss the latest in infection prevention in schools. This is an in-person event with Zoom options. Save the Date. Registration opens soon.

Thursday, January 9, 2025

2:00 - 4:00 PM

The California Endowment

1000 North Alameda Street 

Los Angeles, CA 90012

January 27, 2025

Save the Date for the Los Angeles County Social at Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City. Join us to meet fellow members, allied health professionals, school and city officials, and legislators.

Monday, January 27, 2025

6:30 - 8:30 PM

Village Well Books & Coffee

9900 Culver Blvd

Culver City, California

February 14 - 16 - Council on Communications and Media In-Person Media Training

The Council on Communications and Media (COCM) is proud to invite you to its in-person media training program in 2025. The program February 14 – 16, 2025 “Harnessing the Power of Media in Health Care” will offer a deep dive into on-camera interviewing, crisis communication, writing, putting together effective talking points, evaluating and pitching media, dealing with burnout and tough interview questions and much more. The training program will be at the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana.

In addition to the trainings, there will be tremendous opportunities for networking and meeting like-minded pediatricians and health care workers interested in the power of communications. Registration will start soon. For information, email COCM@aap.org.

Thank you and see you in New Orleans!

Thomas C. McPheron

Manager, PR and Communications

Make sure you mark your calendars for next year’s

36th Annual Advances in Pediatrics Symposium!

May 17, 2025

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