Saturday, May 9th 2026
8AM-4PM
Green River Community College
Auburn, WA
Thank you for attending WCAAP’s Second Pediatric Health Equity Summit. We are grateful for your presence, participation, and commitment to advancing health equity for children, youth, and families in our communities.
This summit brought together healthcare professionals, advocates, community organizations, educators, and partners who share a common goal of creating a more equitable and just healthcare system for all children. Your engagement helped foster meaningful conversations, thoughtful reflection, and the exchange of ideas and experiences that are essential to moving this work forward.
We hope the sessions, discussions, and connections made throughout the summit provided valuable insight, inspiration, and renewed energy for the important work ahead. Addressing inequities in pediatric health requires collaboration across disciplines and communities, and we deeply appreciate the knowledge, perspective, and dedication each participant contributed.
At WCAAP, we remain committed to supporting efforts that promote equity, inclusion, and improved health outcomes for all children and families. We are honored to have shared this space with you and look forward to continuing to learn, collaborate, and advocate together.
Thank you again for being part of the Second Pediatric Health Equity Summit and for your ongoing commitment to improving the health and well-being of children and families.
KEYNOTE AND PLENARY SPEAKERS
Keynote:
We Are the Medicine: Politics, People, and Purpose
Dr. Shaquita Bell is the Associate Vice President and Chief Medical Director of the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) at Seattle Children’s Hospital. A board-certified pediatrician, Sinegal Endowed Chair, and Professor of Clinical Practice at the University of Washington, Dr. Bell has dedicated her career to advancing health equity, clinical excellence, and the well-being of underserved populations. She was awarded the Association of American Indian Physician’s 2022 Physician of the Year Award and the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics Native American Child Health Advocacy Award.
Plenary:
We Are Healthy Together: Caring for Migrant Populations in Community
Reverend Jan Bolerjack (she/her) is the pastor of Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila, WA, which has become a central support site for asylum‑seekers since late 2022. Under her leadership, the church has assisted more than 3,000 migrants, providing legal aid, translation services, and essential resources including food, clothing, and shelter. Pastor Jan has been a key advocate for migrant needs, coordinating organizations across housing, health, legal, and education sectors, and engaging city, county, and state officials to expand services and secure state funding for asylum‑seeker support in 2024.
With professional experience in education, nursing, and ministry, and an MDiv from the Vancouver School of Theology, Pastor Jan brings a holistic, justice‑focused approach to community care. Her leadership has been instrumental in building a safe, welcoming environment for migrants and strengthening systems that support some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.
Equity in AI: Advocating for productivity and efficiency with boundaries (panel discussion)
Dr. Clara Lin is a primary care physician trained in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and serves as Seattle Children’s Chief Medical Information Officer and Vice President of Digital Health and Informatics. A Clinical Associate Professor in the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics, she is also board certified in Clinical Informatics. Dr. Lin focuses on improving clinical workflows, quality, and clinician wellbeing through health IT, and she leads Seattle Children’s AI strategy as chair of the Artificial Intelligence Review Board and director of the organization’s AI and innovation portfolio.
Julija Gelazis is the Senior Director of Patient and Family Experience at Seattle Children’s. She has spent most of her career working within the intersection of brand, customer experience and workforce experience, both as a management consultant and as a healthcare leader. In addition to her 15 years in healthcare, she has worked in the high tech and food industries, and she holds an MBA from the University of Washington.
Dr. Jennifer Kett is Head of the Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Medical Director for Pediatric Bioethics, Palliative Care, and the Journey Grief Support Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She is a Principal Investigator in the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care at Seattle Children’s Research Institute where her scholarship focuses on decision-making with the families of critically and chronically ill children.
Breakout Sessions: Three Tracks
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CARE
Supporting Spiritual Well‑Being in Pediatrics
For many patients, faith or spiritual practices are an important part of their family and individual identity. In this session, Drs Tanisha Morton and Cat Delostrinos will address how spirituality and faith present at different developmental stages, and how intentional, thoughtful conversations with patients helps build strong, healthy relationships.
Speakers:
Dr. Cat Delostrinos is a general pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente Washington in Federal Way and Kent. She has served on the WCAAP Equity Care Committee since its inception in 2020, and is dedicated to advancing equitable, patient-centered, and culturally responsive care for children across Washington State. She is also involved in the Washington Permanente Medical Group Health Care Careers Pathways mentoring program and the Kaiser Permanente Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Workgroup, and volunteers with St. Philomena Catholic School, where her son is a 3rd grader, and the PREPARES program through Catholic Community Services of Washington.
Dr. Tanisha Morton is a practicing pediatrician in Spokane, Washington with Kaiser Permanente. Born and raised on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, she is committed to culturally responsive, family‑centered care for children and adolescents. Dr. Morton served more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, where she developed strong leadership and mission‑driven service skills. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Morton serves in leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente as a District Medical Director and Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EID) Advisor. Through this work, she advances health equity, supports clinician leadership, and contributes to system‑level strategies that promote high‑quality, inclusive care.
Food is Love- Cultures, Kitchens, and Care: Turning Food Traditions Into Health Equity Strategies
Food is more than nourishment—it is culture, connection, and care. This session explores how pediatric providers can apply food as medicine principles through culturally responsive, family centered approaches that honor food traditions while promoting child health. Participants will leave with practical strategies to integrate nutrition, equity, and community partnerships into everyday pediatric practice.
Speakers:
Gabrielle Frank, MS, RD, IBCLC, is a public health dietitian and Nutrition Services Manager at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. She oversees nutrition services across multiple primary care sites, including medical nutrition therapy, teaching kitchen programs, fruit and vegetable incentives, clinic‑based food pantries, and expansion of WIC services. Her background includes leading food access initiatives, teaching family‑focused cooking classes, and serving on boards dedicated to hunger relief and equity. Gabrielle earned her degree from Bastyr University and is board certified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and crafting with her two young daughters.
LIVED EXPERIENCE PANELS
Voices of Youth – Sparking Change: Elevating Youth Perspectives to Promote Equitable Adolescent and Pediatric Practice
Young people are key partners in advancing child and adolescent health equity. This session centers youth voices as they share lived experiences and insights on mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and the transition to adult care.
A panel co‑facilitated by an adolescent medicine physician‑researcher and a college student will feature four teens from across Washington and two youth‑serving professionals. After guided questions, the audience will be invited to engage directly with the panel. The session concludes with a resource guide and time for networking and collaboration.
Four youth panelists, all involved in various youth advisory groups across the state will share their insight and wisdom. Speaker details for these youth will be shared at the Summit.
Moderators:
Nathaniel Widmann (He/Him)is in his final year of his biology BS at the University of Washington. Outside of academics, his professional experience consists of a research assistantship in epidemiology and public health and as a teaching aide for K-10 students at the University of Washington’s Robinson Center for Young Scholars in their accelerated learning programs. His experience of navigating healthcare as a minor and transition into adult care drives his passion for healthcare advocacy today. After graduation, Nathaniel intends to explore jobs in the healthcare field and continue his education.
Dr. Andrea (Annie) Hoopes is an adolescent medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente Washington and an Assistant Investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. Her work focuses on advancing adolescent health equity through co‑designed, innovative approaches to care, with emphasis on sexual and reproductive health. She uses qualitative and human‑centered design methods and collaborates with partners committed to research‑driven systems and policy change.
Nothing About Us Without Us: Elevating Parent Voice in Pediatric Health Equity
For this session we will bring together parents and providers for an honest, solutions-focused conversation about advancing equity in child health. Centering lived experience alongside clinical perspective, the discussion will explore how families navigate healthcare systems, where inequities persist, and what meaningful partnership truly looks like in pediatric practice.
The parent panelists will share firsthand experiences highlighting both barriers and bright spots in care while the providers will reflect on how healthcare providers and systems can move beyond listening and shift to authentic co-creation with families. Together, they will examine themes of trust, bias, access, cultural humility, and accountability.
Panelist Bio(s):
Ellissia Hill is a Parent Leader with Pediatrics Northwest and a dedicated advocate for family-centered, equitable pediatric care. Drawing from her lived experience navigating the military healthcare system on behalf of her three young children, Ellissia partners with clinicians and care teams to elevate parent voices, strengthen trust, and improve care experiences for families. She is committed to fostering open, trust-building dialogue that acknowledges both the successes and challenges within the healthcare system, with the goal of reimagining care that is more responsive, compassionate, and rooted in partnership.
Quinton Jackson is a dedicated father, high school football coach, and educator committed to supporting the well-being and success of young people. As a parent and an individual living with a disability, he brings a personal perspective on resilience, access, and advocacy, actively speaking up for himself and his family as they navigate healthcare and educational systems. He holds a Bachelor of Criminology and Sociology from the University of Montana and a Master of Education with a concentration on Educational and Instructional Supervision from City University of Seattle. In his spare time, you can find Quinton making music with friends or chasing around his 3 beautiful daughters.
Dr. Maithri Sarangam (she/her) is general pediatrician at the Seattle Indian Health Board. She works with children and families with diverse identities, backgrounds, and situations, including families who are indigenous, neurodiverse, immigrants, lower income, or part of the foster care system. She is passionate about supporting families and children in health and thriving, through collaboration and empowerment.
Dr. Frank Bell (he/his) is a pediatric infectious disease physician with Swedish Medical Center in Seattle and currently serves as vice president for the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP). His career has taken him to live and work in diverse communities and in disparate healthcare systems on three continents, maintaining steadfast interest in promoting access and support for childhood immunization, and goals for family-centered care.
Moderator:
Taylor Caragan firmly believes that her practice is her passion. As Health Integration Manager, working with perinatal, early childhood, and family healthcare providers in Pierce County and across the state, Taylor helps facilitate systems change and resource connection. Taylor received her Bachelors of Science in Public Health, and her Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. In her regular life she loves reading, tending to her houseplants, and spending time with her family and animals.
INTERDISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE CARE
Addressing School Attendance as a Shared Responsibility
School attendance reflects far more than time in the classroom—it signals the health of children, families, schools, and communities. This session explores attendance as a vital sign for individual, family, school and community health. Panelists will represent the fields of education, school-based health centers, and health systems. Participants will gain actionable strategies to move from data awareness to cross sector action that supports children’s wellbeing and educational success.
Speakers:
Erin Dury (she/her) joined the Washington School‑Based Health Alliance as Executive Director in 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience driving transformative organizational and systems change. With a direct and inclusive approach, she prioritizes social‑justice–centered community involvement and policy development. Erin’s expertise spans youth‑focused areas including child welfare reform, public education, and youth development. She is committed to expanding access and elevating youth voices to advance whole‑health approaches that help young people thrive in health, learning, and life within a racially just and inclusive society.
Annie Hetzel, MSN, RN, NCSN, is the School Health Services Consultant at the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). A registered nurse with 36 years of experience in hospital, home care, and school nursing, she previously served as a School Nurse Corps Administrator for the Puget Sound region, providing school nurse support and coordinating school safety services. In her current role, she offers guidance, consultation, and technical assistance on school health issues and oversees OSPI’s Home Hospital program.
Jill Patnode is a Senior Community Health Consultant at Kaiser Permanente, focusing on Thriving Schools, youth mental health, the healthcare workforce, and safety‑net partnerships. She previously supported King and Pierce County school districts in roles spanning school safety, dropout prevention, reengagement, anti‑racism facilitation, and juvenile justice. Grounded in equity and community well‑being, Jill’s commitment to addressing systemic oppression is shaped by her MSW training at the University of Washington and her lived experience as a parent. A Washington native, she enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and time with her two sons, two bonus daughters, and three grandchildren.
Vicki Wood is the Attendance & Truancy Program Supervisor at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), where she provides statewide guidance, technical assistance, and support to improve student attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism through a multi‑tiered system of support. Prior to joining OSPI, she served as an Attendance Specialist and District Truancy Liaison, providing direct case management and connecting students with resources to help them reengage in school.
Moderators:
Dr. Crystal Shen (she/her) is the lead pediatrician at the Eastgate Clinic and also practices at Seattle Children’s Hospital Urgent Care. Caring for many immigrant and lower‑income families fuels her commitment to addressing the social and systemic factors that shape child health.
Dr. Shen co‑chairs the WCAAP Legislative Committee, leading statewide child‑health advocacy grounded in equity. She is a past Chair of the AAP Section on Early Career Physicians, a founding steering committee member of Washington Breathes, and an active volunteer with HEART supporting immigrant families.
Dr. Yolanda Evans is a Professor of Pediatrics and Head of Adolescent Medicine at the University of Washington. She has held key leadership roles including Director of Telemedicine at Seattle Children’s and Medical Director of multiple adolescent clinics. Her work focuses on improving adolescent access to care through technology and social media, and she currently chairs the AAP Council on Communications and Media. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing and traveling with her husband and 3 children.
LGBTQIA+ Disproportionality and System Involvement
This course explores disproportionality and system involvement through the lens of LGBTQIA+ youth, with a particular focus on foster care, education, mental health, and the juvenile and criminal legal systems. Participants will examine the social, cultural, and institutional factors that contribute to overrepresentation, placement instability, and adverse outcomes for LGBTQIA+ youth—especially youth of with multiple intersectionality. Grounded in research, data, and lived experience, the course highlights how discrimination, victimization, rejection, and lack of affirming environments intersect to shape system involvement and wellbeing.
The training also emphasizes practical, affirming practices and policy considerations that can reduce harm and promote safety, belonging, and resilience. Topics include the importance of names and pronouns, gender-inclusive school policies, mental health impacts, and the distinction between survival and thriving perspectives. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of their role in disrupting disproportionality, fostering affirming environments, and supporting LGBTQIA+ youth in ways that center dignity, connection, and long-term positive outcomes.
Speaker:
Nathan LaChine is a third‑generation foster parent with over 20 years of experience providing therapeutic foster care to Washington’s most vulnerable youth. His frontline work and deep knowledge of the digital landscape make him a sought‑after expert in internet safety. Nathan has volunteered with MaleSurvivor for more than 25 years and founded Evergreen Caregiver Support, where he develops trainings on topics including CSEC, CSAM, LGBTQIA+/SOGIE, and harm reduction. He is a frequent speaker to policymakers, a trainer for caregivers, and a Foster Parent Mentor and Support Group Facilitator with the University of Washington, as well as a member of DCYF’s Foster Parent 1624 Consultation Team. Nathan is also a published author, professional speaker, international trainer, community advocate, and collector of modern and historic queer art.
Check out a recap of the 2025 Pediatric Health Equity Summit – Activate Your Agency
Many Thanks to this year’s sponsors:
