AAP-CA3 Bronwen Anders Pediatrician of the Year Award
Nomination and Selection Process
Nominations for Pediatrician of the Year are accepted from the Chapter Membership and submitted to the Chapter Executive Board for selection. Nominees will be considered if they meet one or more of ten suggested criteria. Final selection and approval of the award recipient will be made by a majority vote of the Chapter Executive Board.
Selection Criteria- Nominations shall be based on the following criteria:
- Active involvement in local chapter initiatives
- Work in the area of advocacy for children
- Involvement in community public awareness campaigns on behalf of children
- Excellence in clinical areas
- Active involvement on state-level committee(s)
- Active involvement in the passage of state legislation benefiting children.
- Involvement in special state-level projects or programs that serve the needs of children.
- Well respected in the community
- Longevity, with minimum number of years devoted to the community and chapter on behalf of children.
- Involvement in other special projects or activities that contribute to the improvement of child healthcare.
Presentation
The Pediatrician of the Year Award should be presented to the recipient at a Chapter Meeting or the Picnic.
Past Award Winners
2021 Ken Morris, MD, FAAP (PDF)
2020 Eyla Boies, MD, FAAP, FABM. (PDF)
2019 Howard Taras, MD (PDF)
2018 Sharon Sternfeld, MD
2017 Mark Sawyer, MD
2016 Stuart Cohen, MD
2015 Joan Reese, MD
2014 James Murphy, MD
2013 Richard Walls, MD (posthumously)
2012 Amethyst Cureg, MD, MPH
2011 no selection
2010 Allen Schwartz, MD (posthumously)
2009 Bronwen Anders, MD
EARLY CAREER PHYSICIAN PEDIATRICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
2022
Kanani Titchen, MD, FAAP
Adolescent Medicine Specialist
Rady Children’s Hospital- San Diego
Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
UC San Diego School of Medicine
2021
Maya Kumar, MD, FAAP
Assistant Professor, HS Clinical Series (Adolescent Medicine)
Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
UC San Diego / Rady Children’s Hospital
2020
Camille Robinson, MD, MPH, FAAP
Adolescent Medicine & Adolescent Addiction Medicine Physician
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Uniformed Services University & University of California, San Diego
AAP-CA3 CHAPTER ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
2022
Wendy Pavlovich, MD, MHS, FAAP
Pradeep Gidwani, MD, MPH, FAAP
Natalie Muth, MD, MPH, RDN, FAAP
2021
Dr. Erin Fortune received an AAP-CA3 Special Achievement Award for her leadership & contributions forming/chairing AAP-CA3’s COVID-19 & Schools Partnership Committee. The committee advocated for children around topics including in-person school and child/youth mental health and well-being.
Dr. Vi Nguyen “aka Dr. Plastic Picker” received an AAP-CA3 Special Achievement Award for her leadership forming/co-chairing AAP-CA3’s Climate Change & Health Committee. The committee’s projects include community activities/art contests, while advocating for measures that combat climate change and promote a healthier environment for children.
Dr. Marsha Spitzer received an AAP-CA3 Special Achievement Award for her many years of outstanding service to AAP-CA3 Board, RORSD and San Diego’s children. As a child champion, her leadership extends to state and national levels with AAP-CA & ALF.
2020
Mark Sawyer, MD, FAAP, for outstanding contributions by providing infectious disease expertise. His leadership extends to state and national levels with COVID-19. He is a champion for the children of San Diego and nationwide.
Howard Taras, MD, FAAP, for his outstanding continued contribution and leadership working with school districts during the COVID-19 pandemic. For his endless work providing expertise and the latest data during a challenging year.
Nancy Wight, MD, FAAP, for her many years of outstanding service to the breastfeeding community, mothers, and babies. She is a champion for breastfeeding for children in San Diego and nationwide.
2019
Special Achievement awards received by the AAP-CA3 Chapter for the Dinner with a Doc series and Sex, Drugs, N’ Rock and Roll Adolescent Health Lecture Series.
Stuart Cohen, MD, MPH for his many years of exemplary service, contributions, & leadership to AAP-CA3, AAP-CA, National AAP committees and the children of SD County.
Yi Hui Liu, MD for her leadership & contributions co-chairing AAP-CA3’s DB Peds Comm. This new committee was the most attended with members from all parts of county.
Theodora Nelson, MD for receiving the DB Peds National AAP grant and creating free DB Peds webinars that provide recommendations about difficult behavioral topics.
2018
Ingrid Andree-Martinez, MD for her work supporting Reach Out and Read San Diego and her ROR site.
Patricia Cantrell, MD for her work on the chapter executive board and developing the chapter’s food insecurity initiative.
Lisa Stellwagen, MD for her work on the National Section on Breastfeeding, developing birth plan with Chapter VP, founder of SD’s first milk bank and the Milk app.
2017
Dean Sidelinger, MD, MSEd, FAAP, in recognition of his outstanding collaboration with the chapter as our go-to liaison for the county.
Nancy Graff, MD, FAAP, for her many years of service on SGA, for teaching residents, and for obtaining a Rome Visiting Professorship grant for our chapter.
Toluwalase Ajayi, MD, for representing AAP-CA3 at CMA & AMA and serving as the co – CATCH facilitator.
2016
Maya Kumar, MD for her outstanding extra effort as Early Career Physician. She planned several novel ECP activities that were givebacks and thoughtful events.
Donald Miller, as the RORSD Medical Director for 10+ years, helped grow the program, doubling the # of sites including military centers & was veracious ROR advocate.
Leon Kelley, MD for outstanding service to his community in Southeast San Diego for 47 years. A champion and leader for the children he served and for San Diego!
2015
Eyla Boies, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for her outstanding service and leadership as the Chair of the chapter Infectious Disease committee. For her leadership on the HPV Provider Education and Promotion grant to increase HPV immunization rates. She is a champion for immunizations for children in San Diego.
2014
Mark Sawyer, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for his outstanding service and leadership to the chapter and as the chapter president from 2011- 2013. For his endless work on immunizations with work on the “Immunizations for San Diego Kids” project and several HPV projects to increase immunization rates. He is a champion for immunizations for children in San Diego and nationwide.
Doug Wilson, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for his dedication to the health and well-being of children, his leadership, and his commitment and impact on teaching continuity clinic residents for over 25 years.
Sharon Sternfeld, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for her endless work, years of service and leadership on the Chapter School Health Committee, including her years of planning the annual School Health Leadership Conference and her leadership, passion and support of Reach Out and Read San Diego.
2013
Richard Walls, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for his many years of outstanding service and leadership to the chapter and children of San Diego. He served as the AAP-CA3 Chapter President from 1994-1997 and remained active as an important community pediatrician. He was a champion for children in San Diego and consummate pediatrician, mentor and friend to many.
Marty Stein, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for his dedication to the health and well-being of children, his leadership, his commitment and impact on teaching other pediatricians. As a local leader in developmental/behavioral pediatrics, he has taught resident pediatricians to carry on excellence in that area.
James Murphy, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for continued leadership and years of service on the AAP-CA3’s School Health Committee and being active with the Breastfeeding Coalition.
Larry Ashbacher, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for his leadership in the pediatric department at Kaiser Permanente and for spearheading Reach Out and Read at Kaiser in San Diego.
Meg Lawrence, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for creating a bridge between pediatrics and child psychiatry. It is a relationship that many children in San Diego County will benefit from.
2012
Christine Wood, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for her dedication to the health and well-being of children and her leadership and work as Co-Chair of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative. This public-private partnership guides our community’s coordinated efforts to combat childhood obesity with San Diego having the largest decrease in percent of children who are overweight or obese in Southern California.
Nancy Graff, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for teaching residents, obtaining both a Community Pediatrics Training Initiative and Rome Visiting Professorship grant, advocating for children and for service as a Chapter State Government Affairs Representative. She has also been instrumental in providing the highest quality of care for children in the foster care system.
Amethyst Cureg, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for her many years of outstanding service and leadership to the chapter and the children of San Diego County. As a local leader in maternal child health, she has overseen community improvements in dental health resources, care for children in foster care, and preventive services.
Michelle Leff, MD, FAAP, California Chapter 3, for engaging residents as the Chapter Residency Program Advisor and for advocating for the children of California as a Chapter State Government Affairs Representative.
2011
Donald Miller, MD MPH: For his outstanding contribution and leadership for many years of board service and for representing CA District IX as a member of the National AAP Chapter Forum Management Committee (ALF).
Pradeep Gidwani, MD MPH: For his outstanding contribution and leadership as a board member and for his chapter leadership and dedication to the First 5 of San Diego County’s Healthy Development Services Program.
Howard Taras, MD: For his continued contribution and leadership in school health activities and for education of parents, families and professionals on access to health care and preventive oral health practices.
2010
Dean Sidelinger, MD MSEd: In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the American Academy of Pediatrics, CA Chapter 3 and the National Academy as a board member and member of the Committee on Membership.
Bron Anders, MD: For her humanitarian work and involvement in Haiti and the Haitian literacy program, based on Reach Out and Read, called “Ti Moun, Annou Li”, as well as her outstanding service to international health on behalf of children.
2009
Joan Reese, MD, for her initiative and knowledge in the area of children with special needs, as Chair of the Chapter Children with Special Needs Committee, serving on the chapter Advisory Committee and applying for and receiving a CATCH grant.
Nathan McFarland, MD, for his initiative and leadership for the CATCH grant program. He is now serving as the District CATCH (CA) facilitator with enthusiasm and energy as well as remaining a Chapter Co-CATCH facilitator
2008
Mark Sawyer, for his initiative and knowledge in the area of Infectious Disease, as Chair of the Chapter Infectious Disease Committee, serving on the CA District State Government Affairs Committee and leading the annual chapter immunization webinar.
2001
Parvathi Pokala, DDS – AAP Plaque awarded in recognition of her dedication to advancing dental care for the children of San Diego and in appreciation of her support to AAP Chapter 3.
Ghazala Sharieff, MD – AAP Plaque awarded in recognition of her dedication to advancing emergency services for the children of San Diego and in appreciation of her service to AAP Chapter 3 Committee On Pediatric Emergency Medicine (COPEM).
2000-2001 RESIDENT RECOGNITION AND BOOK AWARDS: 25 pediatric residents were recognized for performing above and beyond the call of duty; residents received a framed AAP Chapter 3 Certificate of Recognition and a $50 gift certificate for the University Book Store.