2025 October Edition

At the conference, we were reminded of our responsibility to ensure accurate, evidence-based messages reach those who need them most. For example, the AAP’s recent FACT-Checked article (see below) on vaccines reassures families that receiving multiple vaccines does not overwhelm a child’s immune system, a critical point in combating ongoing vaccine misinformation.

As we move forward, we must continue to elevate our voices, both in the clinic and beyond. Misinformation is loud, but our collective expertise is louder. Let’s use every opportunity to share facts, advocate for public health, and reaffirm our role as trusted leaders in pediatric care.

This month’s newsletter is full of exciting highlights! Don’t miss our Member Spotlight featuring Dr. Annabelle de St. Maurice, and be sure to read this month’s Filling Your Cup article on the powerful practice of “holding space.” We’re also proud to showcase the winners of this year’s Symposium Abstract and Research Awards—their outstanding submissions are included below. Plus, check out a thoughtful new Resident Corner article by Dr. Korrina Siddiqui. Finally, we invite all members to join us at several upcoming events, including a Sanofi-sponsored lecture on diabetes, another engaging Town Hall with Dr. Ken Saul, and information to register for the 46th Annual AAP-CA Las Vegas Seminars.  

I’d also 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. And as always, we encourage you to share your thoughts, questions, or ideas through our Member Input Form, which helps guide discussion at future board meetings.

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

Misleading claims that the cumulative number of vaccines on the childhood immunization schedule can overwhelm a child's immune system or cause other issues are inaccurate and dangerous.

Individuals making this claim often say children receive 80 or more vaccines throughout childhood, which is not true and sows fear among parents. The pacing and combination of vaccines is based on the times when vaccines will work best with children’s immune systems and when they are most vulnerable to the diseases that vaccines protect them from.  Learn More Here!

California Releases its Own Vaccine Recommendations

In anticipation of restrictive federal immunization rules, California Department of Public Health officials issued their own vaccination guidelines on September 17th. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state health officials released the recommendations as part of the state’s newly formed health alliance with Oregon, Washington and Hawaii, with leading medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Read more.

California implemented SB 793 in 2022. This article examines the potential benefits of further localized regulatory flavor ban efforts.

Read More.

Despite California's smoke-free public space policies, many residents remain exposed to

secondhand smoke—particularly those living in multi-unit housing (MUH). Read More.

Have you listened to the newest episode of the California Pediatrics Podcast? Streaming on Amazon Music/Audible, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify and YouTube.

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. Please Follow!

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, or visit our page for direct links.


Available on audio and video, streaming on all platforms.

Episode 5 - From Child Passenger Safety to Drowning Prevention

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE CALIFORNIA PEDIATRICS PODCAST!

Help the AAP-CA2 shape the future of the California Pediatrics Podcast by taking a brief evaluation created by the Chapter. You'll be able to share your thoughts on the episodes produced so far, along with technical aspects of the program.

Name: Annabelle de St. Maurice, MD, FAAP

Practice Location: LA County and UCLA

Number of Years in Practice: 14 years

I was born in Paris, France and grew up speaking both French and English in a small town in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Although I went away to the Midwest for college and Rochester, NY for medical school, I returned to Pennsylvania for residency at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. 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!

Filling Your Cup

"Creating and Holding Space"

By Nirupama Madduri, M.D

When I moved to Los Angeles and purchased my home around eleven years ago, I needed to add a bathroom and closet to the primary bedroom. I worked with an architect and contractor chosen by my realtor at the time. The plans needed to be revised a few times, and I still did not actually have a final say in many of the details. Read More.

October Update




This issue from the Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program highlights key updates from California Assembly Bill 144, key takeaways from the September 18–19, 2025 ACIP meeting, and CDPH’s vaccine recommendations for the 2025–2026 respiratory virus season.

As respiratory virus season approaches, we encourage you to prioritize ordering, recommending, and administering respiratory vaccines, including Flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Stay informed by subscribing to LACDPH’s Resp Watch for weekly surveillance updates and trends throughout the season.

We need your help! Please help us to assess current availability and access to pediatric immunization across Los Angeles County by taking this 2-minute survey. Your valuable input will help us identify barriers and inform additional support, resources, or guidance that would strengthen respiratory protection for pediatric populations this upcoming season. Read 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:

"Why Pediatrics?"
By Korrina Siddiqui, MD


When I think about “why pediatrics,” I think about “Cutie”, a 6-month-old with bilateral pulmonary vein stenosis, a diagnosis with a challenging prognosis and reason for transfer to my hospital. Read More.

As part of our 2025 Advances In Pediatrics Symposium, residents and medical students were invited to present educational abstracts and posters. Through the chapter newsletters, the AAP-CA2 will be sharing this year's submissions and materials with membership.

This year's winner's were Tiffany Chen, MD in the Resident Category, along with Dina Ghanim, BA in the Medical Student Category. See the winning abstract submissions below!

Tiffany Chen, MD

Dina Ghanim, BA

• Resident Award Winner - Increasing Firearm Screening in Resident Pediatric Well-Child Checks - By Tiffany Chen, MD: Firearms are the leading cause of death in children and teenagers in the United States. They also cause significant morbidity, from lasting physical disabilities to adverse impacts on mental health. In 2021, an estimated 30 million children lived in households with firearms, and about 4.6 million children lived in households with loaded and unlocked firearms. Read More.
  
• Medical Student Award Winner - Primary and Dental Care Utilization Among Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Federally Qualified Health Centers - By Dina Ghanim, BA: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) face barriers to consistent healthcare access, including lower rates of preventive primary and dental care. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve as a critical access point for medically underserved populations, yet little is known about their role in improving healthcare utilization for children with NDDs. Read More.

AAP-CA2 Vice President, Mitchell Goldstein, MD, FAAP, presenting certificates of recognition to the 2025 Research Awards winners

AAP-CA2 executive director Tomás Torices met with pediatric residents at Los Angeles General Medical Center (LAGMC/USC) in July during their noon meeting. These in-person events are great opportunities for chapter leadership to convey current advocacy efforts, while meeting with residents who are passionate about advocating for children and the practice of medicine. We would like to thank Adriana Cassani, Pediatric Residency Program Coordinator for coordinating the visit, and Alyssa Rosario, MD, FAAP - Associate Program Director, and Daniel Oheb, MD - AAP Resident Representative, for their leadership in pediatric advocacy.

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! 

While AAP California Chapter 2 membership is free for medical students, residents and fellowship trainees, membership with National AAP is $25/$160/$165 per year, respectively.

This month we are including the links to last month’s issues of the SOPT Trainee Tribune eNews so that you may get a glimpse of their content. If you’re not already a member, please consider joining National AAP via This Link so that you may receive these benefits regularly.

• E-News for Residents & Fellowship Trainees
• E-News for Medical Students

Chapter committees, like our mental 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

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.

ENRICH-LAC is transforming pediatric care in Los Angeles County by embedding Family Partners-caregivers with lived experience-directly into clinics.

In its pilot, FPs worked with over 1,673 families, successfully connecting 86% to early intervention and school-based services. By streamlining referrals and reducing administrative burdens, FPs free providers to focus on clinical care while helping families feel supported and confident navigating complex systems. Building on this success, ENRICH-LAC is expanding countywide, enhancing FP training, refining workflows, and scaling this innovative model to ensure every child gets timely access to crucial developmental services. 

• ENRICH-LAC Webpage
• ENRICH-LAC Brochure
• ENRICH-LAC Provider Handout

Free services for pediatric practices. Enroll and refer patients at no cost to you - at no cost to them!

Imagine a hypothetical scenario. A stressed mom brings in her daughter to see you for new severe anxiety since the birth of a new baby sister weeks ago. The patient briefly stopped eating due to fear that she might vomit and make the baby sick. She has intense tantrums and has been resistant to going to school. She has started writing letters expressing guilt and feeling lost and asking for help. Her weight is stable, and she is without self harm or suicidality. She has started weekly therapy, but her anxiety seems to be getting worse. You are considering starting an SSRI but are wondering if it might be too soon.  

You have a few minutes in between patients, should you:  

1. Avoid calling Cal-MAP because you have not had a chance to use an evidence-based rating scale for this patient’s anxiety.
2. Avoid calling Cal-MAP because you don’t have enough time to consult with the Cal-MAP psychiatrist.
3. Avoid calling Cal-MAP because you have not had a chance to register with Cal-MAP yet.
4. CALL Cal-MAP for a consultation. 

The scenario above is a great example of when to reach out and utilize Cal-MAP!

We've provided a Q&A linked through the button below, which we hope will convince you to use Cal-MAP for a free, prompt, provider to provider consultation for your patients with mental health concerns. Here is the Cal-MAP phone number so you can write it down and keep it handy: 800-253-2103. You can also sign up for the consultation service and educational resources at Cal-MAP.org. Or, for more educational resources and webinars from Cal-MAP, head over to the program's trainings schedule page.

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 check out 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.

Upcoming Events

October 21 - "Let’s Talk About Diabetes" Dinner Lecture Series

Sanofi is presenting a lecture entitled "Let's Talk About Diabetes", featuring Swati Elchuri, MD. The event's registration link is below!

El Segundo – Tuesday, October 21 @ 6:30PM

Topic: Let’s Talk About Diabetes

Speaker: Swati Elchuri, MD

Location: Fleming’s | 2301 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 1125, El Segundo, CA 90245


Register Here

For more information, email Franchesca.Quevedo@sanofi.com.

October 21 - Center for Family Health (CFH): Helping Pediatricians Keep Kids Healthy

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Center for Family Health (CFH), is excited to present this inaugural webinar—designed specifically for AAP-CA members.

This session will provide an introduction to the various programs within the CFH, with a focus on how pediatricians can utilize these resources to support their patients and families.

Register Here

Download Event Flyer

October 29 - Town Hall With Dr. Ken Saul

Don't miss the next AAP-CA2 Town Hall with Dr. Ken Saul. Details are below.

Event Date: 10/29/25 @ 6:30PM
Location: Hilton Woodland Hills, Ballroom (6360 Canoga Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367)

Topic: Updated Options For RSV Prevention
Speaker: Laura Scalfano, MD (Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics UT Southwestern Medical Center, University of South Florida College of Medicine)

To RSVP, email Kenneth Saul, MD at docksaul@aol.com, or call 805-494-1948. Access the event flyer here.

November 14 - 16 - AAP-CA's 46th Annual Las Vegas Seminars

46th Annual Las Vegas Seminars

Date: November 14 – 16, 2025

Caesars Palace Hotel, Las Vegas

Up to 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Available
Special Discount for AAP-CA2 Members!

We invite you to attend this year’s Annual Las Vegas Seminars at the beautiful Caesars Palace Las Vegas! This meeting is the largest regional Pediatric Conference in the country, thanks to the continued support and participation of individuals like you. The usual attendance at our conference is between 500-600 practitioners representing Pediatricians, Family Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals from all parts of the United States and some foreign countries. You can access the official brochure here.

We’re excited for your return to the comradery of combining in-person interactions with friends, colleagues, and faculty with continuing medical education, and we are excited to welcome you back!

December 13 - Pediatric Health on a Burning Planet: Assessment, Action, and Advocacy

Join us for Pediatric Grand Rounds, where expert pediatricians and healthcare professionals come together to explore the latest advancements in child health! These engaging, evidence-based learning series feature top specialists sharing insights on a variety of clinical topics, from cutting-edge treatments to emerging research.

• 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!

The Immigrant Youth Task Force (IYTF) at UCLA and the American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 2 (AAP-CA2) invite you to visit The Los Angeles County Immigrant Youth Resource Toolkit, a website consolidating community resources in the greater LA area for immigrant youth and families. Our goal is to help professionals from all disciplines address the needs of their immigrant youth patients/clients with regards to health care, legal services, education, social services, and more. As our toolkit continues to evolve, we encourage you to explore and use it in your practice going forward.

AAP-CA2 invites you to advertise in our newsletter

AAP-CA2 publishes its electronic newsletter, Peds@CA2, which is emailed to its 1,500+ members on the second weekend every month. Chapter members and non-profit organizations receive a 50% discount. Please follow the link below for more information.

For advertisement rates and guidelines, please click here.

If you are interested in advertising, please email the Chapter.

Members-At-Large

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Please visit our website: aapca2.org

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

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