As a pediatrician, I especially love sharing ideas with colleagues to improve child health. Hosting the Pediatrics on Call podcast is one place I find this joy, but I find it equally transforming our hospital’s approach to newborn opioid exposure, launching social determinants screening across a multi-site practice, and helping AAP Councils share insights to promote EDI measures. Whether hearing from peers or patients and families, I always learn.
So, together, let’s talk, let’s listen, and let’s advocate.
Let’s educate the public about the value of pediatric care and the science behind it while raising our voices against dangerous misinformation and disinformation.
Let’s insist on fair pay for our work investing in the future of a generation. Parity with our colleagues in adult medicine should be the starting point.
Let’s transform our systems of care to reward value over interventions and understanding over charting.
Let’s motivate policymakers to ask of every decision, “How is this going to affect children?” We have answers.
Let’s invite everyone to the table, especially those who disagree with us, to hear differing perspectives and seek common ground.
Let’s address the mental health crisis, not just for our patients, but for our own wellbeing.
Let’s recruit and promote a workforce that reflects our patients’ diversity to improve health and save lives.
Most importantly, let’s support each other, so we can keep the joy we take in caring for children front and center every day.
With you, I am ready to listen, to learn, and to lead.