"Docs In Action" are profiles of doctors whose advocacy activities can serve as examples of reaching beyond the walls of clinical practice to advocate for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. These ordinary doctors have incorporated extraordinary advocacy work into their professional medical careers. If you know a doctor who would fit this description, let us know! Please email us with suggestions: dft@docsfortots.org.
California
Dr. Jennifer Sluder is an active Docs For Tots network doctor who advocates for children by creating awareness around social policy issues related to childhood obesity.
District of Columbia
Dr. Robert Zarr advocates for children through his involvement in a variety of programs in Washington D.C. He is also the Chief of Pediatrics at Unity Health Center, a safety net health care provider that offers care to both the under- and uninsured.
Kentucky
Dr. Thomas L. Young,
advocates on behalf of Kentucky's children in a number of ways including founding an advocacy organization aimed at promoting community initiatives to build strong foundations for all children.
Massachusetts
Dr. Eric Fleegler has created Advocacy Code Cards as quick advocacy reference guides for residents and doctors and is currently developing The Online Advocate, an internet tool to screen and connect families with appropriate human and social service agencies.
Dr. Debbie Frank has written and been quoted in articles for both the local and national press about nutrition, food stamps, poverty, and the importance of safety net programs. She has also spoken at a variety of conferences and meetings on issues related to child hunger, health care, poverty. Read an article by Dr. Frank.
Mississippi
Dr. M. Christina Glick is a neonatologist and president of the National Perinatal Association where she is working to expand maternal and infant advocacy.
Missouri
Dr. Katie Plax, is currently running a rotation with 31 participating community agencies that exposes future pediatricians to community needs and resources. Through this rotation, Katie hopes to prompt doctors to continue their work on issues that affect vulnerable children. Dr. Plax is also actively participating in a campaign to put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that will increase Missouri’s tobacco tax, increasing the funding for prevention and health care programs.
New York
Dr. Kirsten Roberts created the "Bronx Partners in Care-Linking Pediatric Residents with Day Care Centers" project to partner pediatric interns and residents with day care centers on an on-going basis.
Dr. Sarah Schlegel, a resident in Pediatrics at SUNY Stony Brook, demonstrates creative ways to do advocacy work as an undergraduate and medical student.
Dr. Leonardo Trasande is the Assistant Director for the Mount Sinai Center for Children's Health and the Environment, where he conducts research and leads advocacy efforts related to the link between environmental hazards and children's health.
North Dakota
Dr. Kurt Kooyer currently practices in Fargo, ND with a large urgent care center. He frequently gives presentations regarding access to care, the rural poor, the role that changing value systems play in modern poverty, and the consequences of an abusive tort system on healthcare in America.
Rhode Island
Dr. Patricia Flanagan, a pediatrician at Hasbro Children's Hospital, is collaborating with a local child advocacy organization to develop a comprehensive approach to expanding opportunities and improving the quality of care for disadvantaged infants and toddlers.
Texas
Dr. Steve Barnett is an active advocate for young children in Texas. He chairs the policy committee for Texans Care for Children and has given talks about early care and education and infant mental health. He has also played an important role in the state's development of an Early Childhood Comprehensive System.
Virginia
Dr. Sofia Washington advocates in her medical practice through the "Reach Out and Read" program she implemented at the Central Virginia Community Health Center (CVCHC) in New Canton, Virginia. Most recently, she spoke at a town hall meeting about the problem of underage drinking. She is also helping to develop “teach-ins” at a local school to help address the issue with the students themselves. This summer, she will travel to Honduras with VCU Project Hombre to work with the children there.
Washington
Dr. Phyllis Cavens
Attended the Early Learning Summit and is working to increase access to well child care from birth on to ensure that children are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten.
Dr. Robert A. Crittenden created Kids Get Care to ensure that children are able to receive health care regardless of their health insurance status. He has also been active in the campaign to that aims to provide all kids in the state of Washington with health insurance by 2010. He is receiving the 2006 Cynthia Shurtleff Award from HMHB of Washington, which will be presented in May.
Dr. Diana Lindner
Volunteers for the "Getting School Ready" Team to ensure that children are socially, emotionally, and physically prepared for school.
Dr. Phillip McGuiness
Evaluates grants for the Foundation for Early Learning in Clark County, Washington.
Dr. Rupin Thakkar
Recent article published in Pediatrics addresses the impact of television content on young children.
