Congratulations to “Local Hero” Dr. Peter Asante!

Congratulations to Yakima pediatrician Dr. Peter Asante for winning the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Community Pediatrics “Local Hero” award, just one of five pediatricians in the U.S. to earn this national recognition! The Local Hero Award recognizes pediatricians who lead community action and advocacy for children in local communities. This award is presented to individuals who epitomize the “community pediatrician.”

Dr. Asante is a general pediatrician at Community Health of Central Washington’s Yakima Pediatrics, where he also serves as Medical Director of the Teen Health Clinic, and a hospitalist and chair of pediatrics at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Davis Health Clinic at Davis High School, the first school-based health clinic in the Yakima Valley. Dr. Asante advocates for expanding access to comprehensive healthcare for under-resourced youth through his work as a Board Trustee with the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and currently serves as co-chair of their Equitable Care Committee. He also is currently the Vice President of the Washington School-Based Health Alliance.

Dr. Asante was nominated for the Local Hero award by his colleague at Yakima Pediatrics, Dr. Roy Simms, who wrote: “In my 40 years of practice here in Yakima, I can think of no other physician who has impacted the health of children in our community more than Peter. He is determined to reduce the disparities in health care for children. Peter was blessed with great talent and intellect. He sought the best possible preparation for his work. His ideas come from an understanding of inequity and he sees his ideas to completion.”

WCAAP congratulates Dr. Asante, and we thank him for his service to the kids and families in his community, and his contributions on the WCAAP board of trustees to improve health for kids across the state. We are so lucky he calls Washington State home!