2025 District II Candidates

National Nominating Committee Candidate

Professional titles

Attending neonatologist and assistant professor of pediatrics at State University of New York (SUNY) Stony Brook

Medical school and post-graduate education

M.D., Stanford University, California

Residency program and fellowship

Internship and residency, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at Columbia University Medical Center, New York

Fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Involvement in AAP and other organizations

AAP District II, Chapter II:

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee chair
• Pediatric advocacy leader for The New York Community Trust grant initiative “Policy Solutions to Increase Enrollment in WIC”
• Former AAP Section on Early Career Physicians representative
• Former AAP Membership Committee member

AAP national:

• Early Career Leadership Alliance faculty
• Young Physicians Leadership Alliance alumni
• Former member of the Hardship Scholarship Committee

New York state position: SUNY Hispanic Leadership Institute fellow

What motivates you to seek this position?

As a neonatologist and mother of young children, I strongly support the AAP’s mission to confront intolerance and celebrate the diversity of children and families. I’m running for the National Nominating Committee to help build leadership teams that reflect the communities we serve. I will advocate for inclusive, transparent nomination practices that elevate diverse leaders committed to advancing health equity, addressing social determinants of health and upholding science. In this pivotal moment, we must champion leaders who will drive meaningful change, prioritize policies that improve outcomes for all children and remain steadfast in their commitment to always put kids first.

National Nominating Committee Candidate

Professional titles

Professor of pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, stem cell liaison, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, New York Medical College

Medical school and post-graduate education

M.D., Cornell University School of Medicine, New York City

Residency program and fellowship

Residency, Duke University Children’s Hospital, North Carolina

Fellowship, New York University School of Medicine

Involvement in AAP and other organizations

• AAP New York Chapter 2 secretary (2013-’15), treasurer (2015-’17), vice president (2017-’19, with two Awards for Chapter Excellence) and president (2019-’21, with
• Award of Chapter Excellence and Outstanding Chapter Award).
  AAP New York State Policy and Advocacy Committee chair (2024-present), member (2012-’23)
• AAP Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine District II Executive Committee representative (2020-present); advocacy co-chair (2020-present, Outstanding Section Advocacy Award in 2022, 2023 and 2024)
• AAP Chapter Forum Management Committee (2021-’25)
• Pediatric Policy Council chair (2021-’24), member (2015-’21)
• Society for Pediatric Research Advocacy Committee chair (2015-’20)

What motivates you to seek this position?

I am deeply committed to advocating for children’s needs and selecting national AAP presidential candidates capable of effectively carrying that message to legislators, policymakers, pediatricians and the public. As chair of the national Pediatric Policy Council and advocate with more than 20 years of experience, I’ve worked closely with 10 AAP presidents on policy in Washington, D.C., giving me firsthand experience on the qualities needed in “America’s Pediatrician.” My goal is also to broaden representation among national candidates, considering a wide variety of practice types and backgrounds. Finally, I will promote National Nominating Committee resources into nurturing future AAP leaders at all career levels.