2020 District VIII Candidates

Dr. Middlemist is a board-certified general pediatrician at Pediatrics 5280 in Centennial, Colo. Her practice is actively involved in quality initiatives, practice transformation and participates in a clinically integrated network of care.

Dr. Middlemist earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency training at Children's Hospital Colorado.

Her passions are advocacy, physician wellness and promoting child health and well-being. Dr. Middlemist led the legislative committee for the AAP Colorado Chapter for the last eight years, helping to promote child health issues in Colorado. She has been a member of the American Board of Pediatrics Maintenance of Certification Assessment for Pediatrics exam committee and has represented community pediatricians on the Children’s Hospital Colorado Board of Directors for the last three years.

Dr. Middlemist and her spouse, Scott, reside in Greenwood Village, Colo., and have two young adult children. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, golfing, running and travel.

Position statement

The American Academy of Pediatrics is my professional home. It has allowed me to strengthen my role as a practicing pediatrician through its policies, practice guidelines, education and advocacy for children. The AAP has also been a key component of my personal and professional development.

Over the last three years, I have had the opportunity to serve as the District VIII chairperson. This position has been an amazing journey, allowing me to meet, network and work with many individuals who share my passion for the improvement of child and family health as well as the health and well-being of their pediatric providers.

I am excited at the prospect of continuing my work for the Academy as the District VIII chairperson. Having served on the Board of Directors for three years, I am invigorated about the direction the Academy is headed. The advocacy work of the Academy is truly inspiring, taking the lead on local and federal child health issues.

As members, we should continually work to innovate and improve all aspects of the Academy. I am supportive of the Academy’s focus on diversity and inclusion as well as bias and discrimination. It has been very exciting to be a part of the implementation of our physician health and wellness project.

I believe that my progression from an engaged chapter member to chapter president and finally as a district leader gives me a unique perspective and approach when serving District VIII.

Dr. Blaschke graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed residency at Naval Hospital, Oakland, Calif., and an academic pediatric fellowship including developmental-behavioral training at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Following fellowship, he become pediatric residency program director at Naval Medical Center San Diego. After Navy retirement, he transitioned to civilian academics and continues to see patients, teach and advocate in Portland, Ore. His 32-year clinical, academic and leadership career includes experience in clinics, community hospitals and academic centers spanning five states and humanitarian assistance/education in 11 countries.

Dr. Blaschke is an Oregon Pediatric Society board member and a member of AAP sections (Uniformed Services, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, International Child Health, LGBT Health and Wellness) and councils (Child Abuse and Neglect, Community Pediatrics). He has AAP committee experience (Pediatric Education).

In 2006, he received the AAP Education Award and in 2012 the Association of Pediatric Program Directors Walter W. Tunnesenn Jr. MD Award for the Advancement of Pediatric Resident Education. In 2019, he was recognized as a Keep Oregon Well: Mental Health Hero by Oregon’s largest community benefit provider for children’s mental health, Trillium Family Services.

He is a passionate advocate for vulnerable children, including the underserved, LGBTQ and children and youths with special health care needs communities.

Dr. Patterson trained at the University of Arizona, graduating medical school in 1995 and completing pediatric residency in 1998. He relocated to Idaho after residency to his wife’s hometown where they raised three amazing young men.

During his 18 years in private practice, he became active in the WWAMI program as clinical associate professor of pediatrics. In May 2016, Dr. Patterson moved from private practice to core pediatric faculty for Family Medicine Residency of Idaho to teach full time.

He served as treasurer, vice president, president and Community Access to Child Health facilitator for the AAP Idaho Chapter and served District VIII most recently as Chapter Forum Management Committee representative. He also is a member of the Council on Community Pediatrics.

For the last decade, he has had an interest in quality improvement and served as medical director for quality improvement for St. Luke’s Children’s, 2016-’20. His advocacy efforts focus on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience work, stepping out as the pediatric champion for ACEs in Idaho.

Dr. Patterson has spent much of his career serving various roles in the AAP and looks forward to many more years of service.