Rave’s Reflections | August 2026

Lelach Rave, MD, FAAP

As I write this, WCAAP members are evacuated from their homes in Spokane, and many others in their community have also been displaced. Some pediatric clinics are within evacuation zones. Families who receive care at those clinics have been cut off from their usual medical homes. The uncertainty and trauma of these wildfires are affecting children and families today, and the impact will not end when the fires are extinguished. It will continue to shape lives and the community for months to come.

Across much of the rest of the state, smoke is affecting air quality. Medically fragile children are among those most impacted, but many families are facing the same difficult question: Is it safe to let my child do something as simple as go outside and play?

If you are able, I encourage you to support relief efforts. Organizations throughout the region are providing groceries, clothing, shelter, and other essentials to families who have lost homes or been displaced, while also supporting the firefighters and first responders working tirelessly to protect their communities. The City of Spokane donation portal has been established to assist those impacted by the wildfires, and the Red Cross of Inland Northwest wildfire relief fund is also accepting contributions. Most of all, I hope our Spokane colleagues know that they are not facing this challenge alone.

In times of crisis, community reveals itself. I have seen that in Spokane as neighbors, emergency workers, and community organizations rally around families in need. A few weeks earlier, I saw an example of community on a very different stage when pediatricians from across the country gathered outside Chicago for the AAP National Leadership Conference.

One of the most meaningful parts of the conference wasn’t a keynote address or a policy debate. It was sitting in small breakout groups where pediatricians spoke candidly about burnout, moral injury, and the challenges of practicing medicine today. There was no need to explain why a difficult patient encounter stays with you, or why the weight of caring can sometimes feel overwhelming. Everyone in the room already understood. Physicians listened to one another, shared their experiences, and offered support. It was a reminder that community is not only something we build for others. It is the place we turn when we need support ourselves.

The settings could not have been more different, but the lesson was the same: community is both a refuge and a responsibility. One of my favorite aspects of the National Leadership Conference was realizing how many Washington pediatricians are helping shape the future of our profession.

On the floor of the meeting, Dr. Yolanda Evans was amending resolutions related to communications and media. Dr. Kristina Toncray was advancing quality improvement efforts. Dr. Rachel Umoren was bringing a global perspective to child health. Dr. Mary Beth Bennett was helping elevate the voices of early-career physicians, while Dr. Elizabeth Meade was providing leadership for District VIII. And, of course, WCAAP Vice President Dr. Frank Bell was there representing our chapter.
What struck me was not their titles. It was the reminder that these are Washington pediatricians. Colleagues. People who started where most of us start – caring for children in clinics, hospitals, and communities – and who chose to become involved in something larger than themselves.

I sometimes think that AAP sections and councils are the most valuable part of membership that many pediatricians never use. These groups are where pediatricians find their people – the colleagues who share their interests in adolescent medicine, communications, advocacy, and dozens of other areas. They are where friendships form, leadership skills grow, national policy takes shape, and, sometimes, where physicians find the support they need to keep doing this work. Looking around the Leadership Conference, I was reminded that many of our most respected pediatric leaders began simply by joining a section meeting or volunteering for a committee.

If you have ever wished your membership felt more personal, more meaningful, or more connected to your interests, I encourage you to explore a section, council, or committee that speaks to you. The next national leader may already be reading this newsletter.

I was also particularly proud that Washington was recognized as a finalist for the Outstanding Chapter Award in the Large Chapter category and received the Phoenix Award, honoring a chapter that has been revitalized after overcoming significant challenges. That recognition belongs to all of us. It reflects the work of dedicated staff, committed Board members, generous volunteers, engaged members, and trusted partners. It reflects countless hours spent advocating, educating, collaborating, and showing up for children and families.

As I think about Spokane, that feels like the right note to end on. Awards matter, and accomplishments matter, but they are ultimately the product of something deeper. The same spirit that inspires pediatricians to volunteer for a committee, mentor a colleague, support a fellow physician, or advocate for children is the spirit that helps communities recover from disaster. Community is both a refuge and a responsibility. It sustains us when the work is hard, and it calls us to show up when others need us.

Thank you for being part of this community and for all you do on behalf of Washington’s children and families.