Rupin Thakkar, MD, FAAP
President, Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
The 2017 national AAP election for president-elect begins Friday, September 15 and will conclude on Sunday, October 15. We urge you to be a part of the process and vote! Washington State has some of the lowest voter turnout in the nation for AAP elections and we at WCAAP want to change that. The AAP president helps focus the academy on critical issues including, most recently, combatting childhood poverty, ensuring children access to health care and coverage, and protecting the rights and health of immigrant children. Please help choose the next president-elect who will serve as the 2019 AAP president: Kyle Yasuda, MD, FAAP or Michael A. Weiss, DO, FAAP. We are excited that both candidates hail from the West Coast, and Dr. Yasuda is from our own Washington State.
Dr. Yasuda is currently serving his second term as chairperson of AAP District VIII, the largest district in the AAP including 12 states in the western US. In this role, he has drawn on his experiences in primary care practice, academics, government, health policy, advocacy, and nonprofit organizations to actively support chapter leaders in advocacy for children and pediatricians. His prior AAP leadership positions included District VIII vice chair, chair of the Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine, and president of the Washington Chapter of the AAP. After 19 years in private practice, Dr. Yasuda joined the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics and served as the medical director of the pediatric clinic at Harborview Medical Center. Dr. Yasuda was recognized by the UW pediatric residents for his teaching and mentorship with the Stanley Stamm Mentorship Award. Dr. Yasuda was also honored by WithinReach with the Cynthia F. Shurtleff Leadership Award, given annually to an individual who has shown extraordinary dedication to improving the health of children in Washington State. Dr. Yasuda currently serves as a medical director for child and adolescent programming with Public Health Seattle King County. He is also the executive director and president of the nonprofit organization affiliated with WCAAP, BestStart Washington, which serves as a fiscal sponsor for grants for community pediatricians and residents and is launching an initiative on the impact of nature on children and families.
Dr. Weiss practiced general pediatrics in Orange County, CA for over 20 years and then served as the medical director of Quality and Performance Improvement and then chief medical officer with Monarch HealthCare, a large Orange County Independent Practice Association. He is currently the vice president of Population Health for Children’s Hospital of Orange County and leads one of only two national pediatric-focused CMS “Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative” grants directed at point of care clinical redesign (WCAAP is a partner leading the other national pediatric initiative.) Dr. Weiss’ prior AAP leadership includes serving as president of the Orange County Chapter of the AAP and chairing the Chapter’s Committee on Fitness and Nutrition. Dr. Weiss is co-chair of the California Quality Collaboration and chairs the Technical Measurement Committee for The Integrated Healthcare Association that develops and implements the CA quality pay-for-value program. Dr. Weiss graduated from The University of Michigan and attended Medical School at The Western University of Health Sciences. He completed his Pediatric Internship and Residency at The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
If you are a member of AAP, you will receive an email on 9/15/17 with personalized link to vote. Please vote and help Washington State’s voice be heard!