Advocating for Advocacy: Addressing Challenges and Building Community Partnerships

Tuesday, April 6 - Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Join us for a two-day virtual symposium for pediatricians and other child health experts to collaborate and learn how to best advocate for children in your community. This event will feature a wide variety of pediatric health experts and community partners speaking about health disparities and challenges faced by children and families in the Central Valley. They will share successful strategies for advocating for our kids, and provide guidance for meaningful community partnership.

This virtual event will focus specifically on the following topics:

• The role of advocacy in enhancing the health of children and the responsibility of pediatricians to engage in advocacy activities
• Identifying and developing partnerships with community-based organizations especially when time is limited and geographic catchment areas are large
• Understanding of the legislative process and the opportunities with respect to child health

Click here to view the conference agenda

Questions about registering? Click here for a Registration Quick Reference Guide.

Guest Presenter: Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP

As a nationally recognized expert in advocacy and a well-renowned leader in community health, Dr. Benjamin Hoffman will share his experience and provide guidance on how healthcare providers can become more effective child health advocates.

Additional Speakers and Panels

• Nelson Branco, MD, FAAP, American Academy of Pediatrics CA Chapter 1 Vice President
• Natalie Caples, co-CEO, Central California Food Bank
• Jennifer Crocker, MD, Medical Director of Valley Children's Rehabilitation Center
• Tim Curley, Valley Children’s Director of Community and Government Relations 
• Fresno Unified School District
• Wilma Tom Hashimoto, Executive Director, CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties
• Genoveva Islas, MPH, Founder & CEO of Cultiva La Salud
• Simran Kaur, MPH, Director of the Valley Children’s Guilds Center for Community Health
• Janice Kim, MD, MPH, FAAP, Community Pediatrician, Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, District IX (California) CATCH Facilitator, American Academy of Pediatrics
• Aparna Kota, MD
• Alma McKenry M.Ed., BSN, RN, Director of Health Services, Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
• Kathy Murphy, MD
• Kristina Pasma, BSN, MICN, Trauma Nurse Liaison at Valley Children's Hospital, Coalition Coordinator of Safe Kids Central California
• Mary-Jo Quintero, PLN, Valley Children’s Water Safety Coordinator
• Carmela Sosa, MD, Medical Director, Valley Children’s Primary Care Network and the Guilds Center for Community Health
• Valley Children’s Literacy Program
• Cristina Vargas, MD
• Vini Vijayan, MD, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist and Valley Children's Pediatric Residency Program Director
• Raelene Walker, MD, FAAP, American Academy of Pediatrics CA Chapter 1 President
• Nicole Webb, MD, Pediatric Hospitalist, Chair of Valley Children's Education Committee, Member at Large, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) CA Chapter 1 Board of Directors

The Event

This event is intended for physicians and healthcare professionals in the California Central Valley, but is open to anyone interested. This is a free event.

As a virtual event, we invite attendees to participate in the entirety of the two days or join during specific sections over the two days. Upon registering, a Zoom link will be emailed. This link can be used as access to the event at any point over the two days.

Click here to view the conference agenda

Questions about registering? Click here for a Registration Quick Reference Guide.