Awards &
Recognition
At AAP-CA3, our chapter is regularly recognized for the work we do in the community.
Additionally, we recognize our pediatrician members through annual chapter awards, and by nominating them for local awards and recognition.
-
Chapter Awards
-
Bronwen Anders Pediatrician of the Year
-
Early Career Physician Pediatrician of the Year Award
-
Infectious Disease Committee
-
Mark Chenven, MD Ally Award
-
Member Special Achievement Awards
-
Awards Presented to AAP-CA3
-
Member Recognition
-
Additional Pediatrician Awards
-
San Diego Magazine
Celebrating Women Awards -
Pediatrician Spotlight
Chapter Awards
Bronwen Anders Pediatrician of the Year
Early Career Physician Pediatrician of the Year
Special Achievement Awards
Mark Chenven Ally Award
Infectious Disease Committee Outstanding Member Awards
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.
2023 AAP-CA3 Bronwen Anders Pediatrician of the Year Award
The Pediatrician of the Year Award is given to an outstanding pediatrician who has contributed to the improvement of health care for children at the chapter level. It can be given for either a special project or for years of service on behalf of children. To be eligible for the Pediatrician of the Year Award, a chapter member must be a Fellow in good standing of the local chapter.
2023

Marsha Spitzer, MD, FAAP
Chief of Pediatrics, Clinical Support
Bronwen Anders Pediatrician of the Year Award for 2023 is presented with sincere appreciation to Dr. Marsha Spitzer for her many years of exemplary Executive Board service and leadership to the local AAP Chapter, serving as the Reach Out and Read San Diego Medical Director, and tireless advocacy work for the children of San Diego County. For her outstanding contributions to the improvement of health and well-being of children, and for her many years of commitment and dedication to pediatrics, children, teens, and families.
Past Award Winners
AAP-CA3 Early Career Physician Pediatrician of the Year Award
2023

Richard Silva, MD, FAAP
Assistant Clinical Professor in the Dept of Pediatrics at UC San Diego
Early Career Physician Pediatrician of the Year Award for 2023 is presented with sincere appreciation to Dr. Richard Silva for his outstanding contributions training and advocating on congenital syphilis and initiating early literacy promotion in the hospital with newborns. For his outstanding contributions to the improvement of health and well-being of children, and for his commitment, dedication and advocacy to pediatrics, children, teens, and families.
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 Mark Chenven, MD Ally Award
2023

Mark Chenven, MD- 2024
The inaugural Mark Chenven Ally Award is presented with sincere appreciation to Dr. Mark Chenven for his many years of exemplary service, leadership, and collaboration with our local Chapter serving as the Chapter Child Psychiatry Liaison and his tireless work for children and providers through SmartCare: Behavioral Health Consultation Services. For his outstanding dedication and contributions to the improvement of mental health and well-being of teens, children, and families in San Diego County.
AAP-CA3 MEMBER SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

2023
Special Achievement Award for 2023 is presented with sincere appreciation to Dr. Melissa Campbell for being a star resident and an upcoming chief! She is already both the Co-Chair of AAP-CA3’s Climate Change and Health Committee and a Co-Ambassador for our Project Firstline grant. For her outstanding contributions to the improvement of health and well-being of children, and for her commitment, dedication and advocacy to pediatrics, teens, children, and families.
2023
Special Achievement Award for 2023 is presented with sincere appreciation to Dr. Michelle Dern for her many years of outstanding service and contributions to AAP-CA3 Board, as Infectious Disease Committee Chair and the School Health Committee and appreciation for her work on Chapter projects. For her outstanding contributions to the improvement of health and well-being of children, and her commitment, dedication, and advocacy to pediatrics, teens, children, and families.
2023
Special Achievement Award for 2023 is presented with sincere appreciation to Dr. Chandani Patel DeZure in appreciation of her role as the Chapter Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEI) Champion for the Chapter. Her leadership brings positive change through conducting trainings and education to reduce health disparities in pediatric care. For her outstanding contributions to the improvement of health and well-being of children, and for her commitment, dedication and advocacy to pediatrics, teens, children, and families.
Past 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.
Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Award
Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards
PRSA San Diego Imperial County
2023
Silver Bernays – Mark of Merit: Social/Digital Media
Eradicating Congenital Syphilis from San Diego
Bronze Bernays – Mark of Merit: Editorials/Op-Ed Columns
Gender-Affirming Care is Healthcare
Bronze Bernays – Mark of Merit: Social/Digital Media
Eradicating Congenital Syphilis from San Diego
2022
Bronze Award -Best in Show
Vaccinate with Confidence
Silver Bernays – Mark of Excellence: Social/Digital Media
Vaccinate with Confidence
Silver Bernays – Mark of Excellence: Community Relations – Nonprofit Association
Vaccinate with Confidence
Bronze Bernays – Mark of Excellence: Newsletters
Coastal Currents
Bronze Bernays – Mark of Excellence: Social/Digital Media
Vaccinate with Confidence
Bronze Bernays – Mark of Merit: Media Relations COVID Response
Healthcare Heroes in a time of Medical Misinformation
2021
Bronze Award -Best in Show
More Than A Score: Addressing ACEs in San Diego County
Silver Bernays – Mark of Excellence: Marketing Content
More Than A Score: Addressing ACEs in San Diego County
Silver Bernays – Mark of Excellence: Community Relations – Nonprofit Association
More Than A Score: Addressing ACEs in San Diego County
Silver Bernays – Mark of Excellence: Social/Digital Media
More Than A Score: Addressing ACEs in San Diego County
Bronze Bernays – Mark of Excellence: Social/Digital Media
More Than A Score: Addressing ACEs in San Diego County
Bronze Bernays – Mark of Merit: Newsletters
“ACEs At A Glance” Newsletter
Wyntress Smith Award
North County Philanthropy Council
2022
Volunteer Awards
Michelle Dern, MD

San Diego Business Journal
2023
Top Behavioral Health Professional Leaders of Influence
Hilary Bowers, MD, FAAP

2023
Top Asian Pacific Islander Leaders of Influence
Vi Nguyen, MD

San Diego County HHSA
2023
Debra Zanders-Willis Leadership Award
Pradeep Gidwani, MD, MPH, FAAP

San Diego Magazine



San Diego Magazine Celebrating Women Awards

2023
Kanani Titchen, MD, FAAP (Finalist)
Maya Kumar, MD (Finalist)
Chandani DeZure, MD (Finalist)

2022
Toluwalase Ajayi, MD (Winner)
Jamie Friedman, MD (Finalist)
Vi Nguyen, MD (Finalist)
Wendy Pavlovich, MD, MHS, FAAP (Finalist)

2022
Healer Award
Dr. Lase Ajayi
Pediatrician Spotlight
2024
February
Vi Nguyen, MD, FAAP
Read More…
2023
December
Nathan McFarland, MD
Read More…
April
Chandani DeZure, MD
Read More…
February
Stuart Cohen, MD, MPH
Read More…
2022
January
Kanani Titchen, MD, FAAP
Read More…
2021
September
Pradeep Gidwani, MD, MPH, FAAP
Read More…