Lelach Rave, MD, FAAP
This is my first newsletter as WCAAP’s permanent Executive Director, and I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with this responsibility. This role represents a new model for Washington – and for the country. No other AAP chapter has a pediatrician serving as its Executive Director. The possibilities created by this arrangement are exciting. My goal is to represent our organization with both a deep understanding of our programs and the “boots on the ground” insight that comes from clinical experience.
As many of you know, when we speak to policymakers, our firsthand experience and expertise lend real weight to our advocacy. I believe that bringing both organizational and clinical perspectives to this role will make WCAAP even more effective and impactful in these challenging times.
As I embark on this new chapter, I am eager to hear from you and learn from you. Please reach out with ideas about WCAAP’s direction and priorities – where you’d like us to go, what you’d like us to accomplish. I’m always happy to meet for coffee, chat by phone, or connect virtually. I recently had the pleasure of meeting members in Tacoma for an early October Listening Session. If you’d like to host a conversation in your community, please let me know. My goal is to connect with as many members as possible, in whatever ways work best for you.
Last month, the Board of Trustees met for its annual retreat, joined by representatives from the state’s three children’s hospitals, a military hospital, and our committee chairs. We’re fortunate to have such a stellar, dedicated group of volunteers who give their time and energy to WCAAP’s success. Together, we reviewed our goals in three broad areas: child health, member health, and chapter health. We are also weighing in on the Rural Health Transformation Project grant. It is critical that the needs of children and families are considered as our state applies for this funding which is part of HR1 – the bill which cut Medicaid by $900 billion. You can read our letter HERE. I look forward to sharing more details of our strategic priorities in the coming months once they’re finalized. In the meantime, I welcome your ideas and suggestions – and if you’re inspired, please consider joining a committee or our Board. You, our members, are our greatest strength.
Recently, a close friend from medical school, now in upstate New York, remarked that “the AAP has become the new CDC.” When physicians want science-based recommendations, they turn to the AAP. At her hospital, AAP resources are shared weekly in meetings on countering misinformation, and are considered among the most trusted, practical tools. This is an important moment to be part of WCAAP. Our collective voice is a beacon of science in a storm of politicized misinformation – and the greater our numbers, the brighter our light.