Virginia - Dr. Sofia Washington
Posted April 2006

Since 2001, Dr. Sofia Washington has been practicing as a pediatrician at the Central Virginia Community Health Center (CVCHC) in New Canton, Virginia.  At CVCHC, she is the only pediatrician in the county and the closest acute care setting is an hour away.  For 30 years, CVCHC has been serving a rural population where poverty, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, and other high risk behaviors are common.

In Dr. Washington's practice, she recognized that the underserved children in her practice were lacking exposure to reading and other literacy tools which would provide them the necessary skills to compete with children who had attended day-care.  As a result, Dr. Washington implemented the “Reach Out and Read” program at CVCHC.  Having participated in such a program during her residency at the Medical College of Virginia, she was already familiar with “Reach Out and Read”, and applied for a grant through CVCHC.  Since then, she has been distributing a new book to every child at every visit.  By the age of 5, children in her practice have taken home 9-10 culturally diverse and developmentally appropriate books. Dr. Washington has also taken further steps, encouraging volunteers at CVCHC to read to children and model reading techniques to parents. 

Dr. Washington continues to be a child advocate outside of her practice at CVCHC by collaborating with other child advocacy organizations to effect positive policy change for children.  In the past she has worked with the Parent Action Council in Washington, DC, contributing to an article by Marilyn Rauber entitled, "The New Federal Budget: A major setback for children and families. "  Dr. Washington continues advocating for children beyond her medical practice because she believes that pediatricians in advocacy can "truly make such a huge difference in children's lives."