Awards
2023 Awards
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Idaho AAP’s Organization of the Year – Jae’s Foundation
Some call them Cowboy Boots, some call them Magic Boots but the Jae Foundation calls them Jae Boots. The Foundation was created with the idea that if Jae’s friend Jason had just slowed down and bought his buddy Jae a pair of cowboy boots (something that Jae loved) and had a real conversation about how he was doing, things could have been different. Jae was a son, brother, and friend to all in his life. Jae grew up in Pinedale, WY and loved fishing, outdoors, swing dancing and his Cowboy boots. In 2016, Jae took his own life in what was a shock to everyone who knew him. Jae’s family and friends, including Jason Vickrey, made a commitment that something good would come from such a tragedy and the Foundation was established. In a world of technology, the idea is simple. Take an hour out of your day to slow down and share Jae’s story, buy someone a pair of Cowboy boots, and check-in to see how they are ACTUALLY doing. Once someone gets their boots, it serves as a reminder to check-in on those around us, be bold enough to have a real conversation about mental health and even give us strength to ask for help if needed.
Over 7500 boots have been shared with the Boot Check moment, reaching out and sharing with those that are loved and valued in families’ lives; and letting them know someone is here for them no matter what. The Foundation also offers a resource coordinator to connect anyone with mental health resources. The staff in the past year have taken Jae’s Story to 1600 high school seniors in 27 different Magic Valley high schools providing 1000’s of boot check moments and helping teens understand how having bold conversations about mental health is changing and is saving lives. They also offered amazing teen events at their office on the rim of the Canyon in Twin Falls from Cowboy Poetry and live music to a Teen Outreach Christmas Party to presentations to the Boise State Football team, BYU Women’s Soccer team to name a few. This year $30,000 in scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors.
Jason Vickrey is the Founder and, along with 10 amazing staff members, continues to honor Jae by raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention, along with providing healing for those who have experiences devastating loss.
As Idaho continues to experience a high suicide rate, please join the Idaho Chapter in recognizing the Jae Foundation for their innovative and outstanding work.
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IdahoAAP’s 2023 Child Advocate of the Year — Dr. Susan Bradford
Dr. Susan Bradford grew up in Alabama and worked as a chemist in Kalamazoo, MI, prior to deciding she preferred people to test tubes. She then attended Medical School at University of Washington, where she played an active role in the WWAMI Program, and spent two months at the Pocatello Children’s Clinic as part of her residency. After residency, Dr. Bradford returned to Alabama to be close to family. However, she missed the West and returned to Pocatello, practicing general pediatrics for 12 years, prior to relocating to Boise in 2010 to work with Meridian Pediatrics, and then transitioned to Full Circle Health five years ago. Susan provided outstanding pediatric care to many complex patients and provided quality education for family medicine medical students and our new pediatric residency program. She served on the founding faculty for the Pediatric Residency of Idaho and was key to its successful start-up.
Soon after arriving in Pocatello, Dr. Bradford became disheartened by the number of women who used substances during pregnancy and saddened by the fact that there was little treatment available to these women even when they wanted it. Through an AAP CATCH grant, she was able to work with other concerned members of the community to investigate the scope of the problem. As a result of this community effort, a day treatment program for parenting women was developed in Pocatello. Many of these women shared that their drug abuse resulted from sexual abuse that occurred in their childhood or adolescence. As a result, Dr. Bradford became interested in doing what she could to break the cycle of this very pervasive problem in pediatric patients. She was fortunate to be able to spend sabbatical time with the Safe and Healthy Families Team at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, learning how to evaluate and treat children who have been victimized by sexual and physical abuse.
While she enjoys all aspects of pediatric practice, working with abused children was an arena that allowed her to feel that she made a difference by helping healing to occur in a child’s life. Dr. Bradford was Idaho Pediatrician of the Year for 2006. She served as a board member for the Idaho Perinatal Project for over 15 years and is on the Governor’s Children at Risk Task Force and Idaho’s Child Fatality Review Team.
Dr. Bradford enjoys hiking, cycling, cross country skiing and just being outdoors in the beautiful state of Idaho. She also enjoys gardening and, when she has time, she likes to read and decorate cakes and cookies.
Susan will be remembered for her smile and friendly demeanor, for always advocating for what is right, and for her intellectual honesty and willingness to constructively communicate what needs to be communicated (and not necessarily what is easy to communicate or to hear). Her long-term commitment to pediatrics care, advocacy, and education have greatly impacted very many children, adults and physicians in Idaho.
Please join us in thanking Susan for her amazing care provided to Idaho children.
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Idaho AAP’s Pediatrician of the Year – Dr. Bruce Cherny
Dr. Cherny graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Biology with concentration in neurophysiology. He completed medical school at the University of Arizona. His residency in Neurological Surgery occurred at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. His fellowship in Pediatric Neurosurgery was completed in 1995 at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. He then spent 8 years in Academic Neurosurgery both at the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock and returning to Phoenix at the Barrow Neurological institute and Phoenix Children's Hospital. He moved to Boise in 2002 to develop and foster a Pediatric Neurosurgical Program for Idaho in collaboration with St. Luke's. Dr. Cherny has also served as Surgeon-in-Chief of St. Luke's Children's for the past 10 years.
Dr. Henry Thompson, Executive Medical Director of St. Luke’s Children’s, shares that Dr. Bruce Cherny arrived at St. Luke’s Children’s in the winter of 2002 from sunny Arizona. Dr. Cherny has been instrumental in developing the neurosurgical program at St. Luke’s Children’s. He has served St. Luke’s and the people of Idaho throughout his career. Dr. Cherny has held or served on the medical staff, championed our pediatric trauma efforts and chaired the St. Luke’s Surgical Committee. He is known for his attention to detail and insightful questions when faced with challenging issues.
Dr. Greg Janos, previous Executive Medical Director for St. Luke’s Childrens, writes:
Dr. Cherny is first and foremost and exemplary human being who is widely respected by patients, colleagues, families and the community for his strong character, leadership skills and devotion to his craft. He is as good an example as there is of a physician who blends expertise and great skill with compassion and respect for the patients and families he serves.
He literally introduced pediatric neurosurgical care to Idaho and has led the development of a program that provides the highest quality of service.
He is well deserving of this honor by the Idaho AAP for he is a true inspiration to us all and a treasure for all of Idaho.
Colleagues on the Foundation share that Dr. Cherny and his wife Rebecca have been part of the St. Luke’s family for over 22 years, and have generously donated their time, talent, and treasure to St. Luke's Children’s Hospital.
Aside from his responsibilities as a Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Dr. Cherny actively engages with the Physician Leadership team and serves on the Children’s Advisory Board, a commitment he began in 2006. He served on several committees, always readily sharing feedback and ideas for improvement, and also sat on the board’s executive team. His unwavering dedication was recognized with the Red Wagon Award in 2015, and he was subsequently inducted into the board’s legacy group, the Red Wagon Society, in 2018, honoring his significant contributions to the children’s hospital.
Dr. Cherny's dedication extends beyond his medical expertise; he willingly participates in community events, including serving as an event ambassador in 2019, cheerfully donning a costume and even changing his persona (and eyebrows!) for the evening as he transformed into the Great Quadzilla…all for the kids.
As an advocate for St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, Dr. Cherny provides expert care to his young patients and plays a vital role in the Health Foundation’s fundraising initiatives. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Bruce Cherny for his exemplary leadership, vision, and continued support of St. Luke's Children’s Hospital.
Care staff from Pediatrics shared that Dr. Cherny is such a great communicator, with the care team, other providers, and most importantly the families and patients under his care. He communicates clearly no matter the situation. Explaining brain injuries to people who have no medical background takes skill and Dr. Cherny is amazingly capable in this area. Many times, these discussions are very emotional, as they may happen after a traumatic brain injury or when a family has been told their child has a brain tumor. He takes time when he is speaking with families, and many times, he sits down with them outside of the patient room. Many times, he will take that opportunity to use a computer to show imaging, but the personal attention when sitting with a family goes unmeasured. Dr. Cherny also takes time to communicate with the care team about the plan of care and is open to input from the team. He is willing to listen, not just talk, to the care team which allows for collaboration and great care of our patients.
Please join us in recognizing Dr. Cherny for his excellent service to children and families in Idaho.
2022 Awards
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IdahoAAP’s 2022 Organization of the Year — Boise Bicycle Project
The Boise Bicycle Project believes at its core that every child should have access to a bike, regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, and ability.
With this belief at their foundation, BPP provides inclusive access to refurbished bicycles, bicycle repair, and empowering educational experiences. And in so doing, this organization promotes the personal, social, and environmental benefits of bicycling to so many youth throughout our state.
Their giveaway program provides over 1000 bikes to children and teens across the Treasure Valley, Fort Hall reservation, and Duck Valley reservation each year.
I myself have been lucky to volunteer at the Boise Bicycle Project’s “Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway” for a couple of years and can tell you personally that it’s one of the most incredibly positive and uplifting experiences I’ve ever seen. This specific program of the BPP donates more than 500 bicycles to children in our community each holiday season. Local nonprofits, social workers, schools, and after school programs refer kids to the Boise Bicycle Project’s shop in the months leading up to the event. And those kids draw a picture of what their “dream bike” would be. The Boise Bicycle Project then sets out to make those dreams a reality. Volunteers build the bikes at their shop, including at times tricking the bikes out with stickers, streamers, and literal and figurative “bells and whistles” to make the dream bike fit the children’s drawings. And then during the day of the event, The BPP welcomes families, tracks down each kid’s dream bike, fits the children with helmets, and hands out holiday treats. It’s honestly incredible to watch the joy on these children’s faces as they try out their new bikes. And the same can be said for their families.
Boise Bicycle Project has been an essential partner to St. Luke’s Children’s Injury Prevention Team while working together on the “Bike RX Program.” Several providers recognized an intervention was needed to change the trajectory of childhood obesity and associated disease burdens, as well as to address the increasing trend of childhood depression and mental illness. Through the Community Health Improvement Fund, St. Luke’s Children’s piloted the Bike RX Program with Boise Bicycle Project to match a medically qualified child with a bike. The Bike RX Program provides children and families, who may not have the resources to purchase or obtain a bicycle, the ability to get one free of charge. Along with donation of a bike, the child also receives a helmet, bike lock, and safety education. This program has allowed patients to gain a sense of freedom, opportunity to make new friends, and the ability to have a safe mode of transportation to and from school or work. One of the recipients’ caregivers noted that:
"Having a bicycle has been an incredible experience for Susie. Only someone who loves biking can understand the freedom and power she feels when riding, which she does every day. Biking helps her relax and improves her often frustrated mood. You can see the joy on her face as she moves down the street with her hair flying in the wind. It helps use up her abundance of energy and helps her feel comfortable in her own skin."
Since 2021, this specific program has connected over 150 children with bicycles.
Here is a quote from one of our Idaho AAP Chapter members, Dr Mindy Gaddis, who has worked closely with the BBP since 2021.
As a pediatrician of 25 plus years, I have dedicated the past 17 years to improving the mental and physical health of children by educating them about healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle interventions remain the cornerstone treatment to reverse and prevent lifestyle related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. In my current position as the physician lead for St Luke's Children's Integrative Lifestyle Clinic, I get to prescribe healthy lifestyle behaviors such as dietary choices, stress resiliency, sleep, and exercise as medicine. The goal is to reverse and/or prevent lifestyle associated diseases, such as diabetes, through healthy lifestyle change.
The partnership between St Luke's Children’s and the Boise Bicycle Project has allowed our team to prescribe a bike to kids. This provides an opportunity for these children to find joy through bike riding and experience joy through movement. Bike riding provides an opportunity for kids to get outside, enjoy fresh air and sunshine, and socialize with friends and family.
In addition, bike riding is a great way for kids to stay active and healthy. It has a wide range of health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and endurance. It enhances coordination and balance, which is important for the overall physical development of kids. Furthermore, it can be a fun and relaxing activity that reduces stress and promotes mental well-being. And finally, it helps in maintaining a healthy weight, which lowers the risk of obesity and related health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Thank you, Boise Bicycle Project from the Children's Integrative Healthy Lifestyle Team! There is nothing more satisfying than prescribing a bicycle to a child knowing that this will improve their health, both physically and emotionally.
On behalf of the Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics I would like to invite Devin McComas up to receive our Idaho Organization of the Year award for 2022.
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IdahoAAP’s 2022 Child Advocate of the Year — Dr. Perry Brown
Dr. Brown graduated from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine in 1995 and completed his Pediatric Residency at the Children’s Hospital/University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO in June of 1998. After completing residency Dr. Brown was a general pediatrician for six years at the Saltzer Medical Group in Nampa and Meridian, Idaho. He has served as Co-Director of the St Luke’s Cystic Fibrosis Center of Idaho since January 2001, and he has served as the Medical Director for Children’s Specialty Research for St Luke’s Health System since 2014.
Dr. Brown joined the faculty of Full Circle Health Family Medicine Residency in May of 2004. During his time on faculty, he made continuous improvement of the pediatric curriculum his highest professional goal.
In 2021, he transitioned his role to become the founding Program Director of the Pediatrics Residency of Idaho, developing and coordinating Idaho’s first pediatrics residency. He is very excited to welcome Idaho’s first pediatric residency class this year – starting with 4 pediatric residents per class, beginning this July.
He is active in public advocacy for children’s health and serves on several Idaho Medicaid committees and state commissions.
Dr. Kenny Bramwell states:
Dr. Perry Brown has been a pivotal figure for the state of Idaho in the realm of Graduate Medical Education. He has been the central motivator behind our movement to establishing the Pediatrics Residency of Idaho. He has been a tireless advocate for this new residency, which will certainly improve the number of pediatricians in Idaho. This has been a long-term need and Dr. Brown was instrumental in addressing this gap. We are fortunate to count Dr. Brown in our ranks.
On behalf of the Idaho Chapter of the AAP, our sincere thanks go out to Dr. Brown for his many years of advocacy, dedication to improving the health of Idaho's children, and pioneering the pediatric education of students, family medicine residents, and soon to be pediatric residents in our state.
Dr. Brown is out of town with his family and is unable to join us today. We will be presenting him with his award at our Idaho Chapter meeting.
2021 Awards
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IdahoAAP’s 2021 Organization of the Year — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho
In a world of causes, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes a difference by creating professionally supported, one-on-one mentoring relationships for children to realize their full potential.
BBBS works to clear the path to a child’s biggest possible future by matching them with a caring adult mentor in a one-on-one friendship. BBBS provides children (a “little”) with a volunteer adult mentor (a “big”) who is a consistent support and presence in the “Little’s” life. Bigs serve as cheerleaders and provides Littles with a chance to see the many possibilities life can offer. Bigs, who come in all ages, desire to have a positive impact on a young person through regularly scheduled outings. Activities can be playing a game, sharing a pizza or participating in supportive group opportunities.
Littles are between the ages of 6-14 years old and can stay in the program until they are 18. This program is free to families. It is currently serving 300 children and families and has 300 Bigs who each have a unique story of the relationship between the Big and the Little.
Here are some quotes and stories Melissa provided us from Bigs and Littles:
Big said, I don’t know who is mentoring who. My Little taught me how to use a computer program and his knowledge about the technical part of music instruments is impressive. I am sitting there thinking, wow, this kid is smart. When did he pass me up? I remember when he wouldn’t talk to me and I was the one talking about instruments. I remember not knowing where I stood with him. Now, he is teaching me things! I have grown too.
Little said, I like him, he is fun. I know he is thankful to have me. We do a lot of fun stuff together.
Big Brother: “It’s weird that my Little Brother is now 17 picks me up we go for a drive and takes me to his favorite hanging out spots.”
Little Sister “m\My Big Sister taught me how to make candles”
Big Sister is part of the family, parent said.
From a BBBS staff member: I told Little Sister that her Big Sister really enjoys being matched with her and Little replied “She is my Big Sister and she’s the only one I’ve ever had, so she is my favorite!”
Little Sister is very endearing to talk to and it just does not sound the same in an email, but it kind of melted my heart! - BBBS Staff member
BBBS serves as a wonderful resource for Pediatricians who refer families to this program who are striving to ensure the best for their child.
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IdahoAAP’s 2021 Pediatricians of the Year
Pediatric infectious disease physicians treat children with a broad array of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi that can range from flu to hospital acquired infection to COVID. These 3 outstanding physicians never expected a pandemic to be their major focus these last three years but having them the experts in the state has been invaluable.
Ingrid Lundgren is a pediatric infectious disease specialist associated with St. Luke’s. She received her medical degree from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In addition to her medical degree, she earned a master’s degree in public health with an emphasis in global health from the University of Washington. Joseph Hilinski is also a pediatric infectious diseases specialist associated with St. Luke’s. He received his medical degree from the UNY Upstate Medical University. Lynn Luginbuhl is the third specialist in this clinic. She received her medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
These three physicians have served as resources and problem solvers, offering expertise and guidance to hospitals, peers, decision makers and families around the state. Kenny Bramwell, the Medical director of St Luke’s Children’ states:
“Our Pediatric Infectious Disease physicians have been an enormous support during these unprecedented times of the COVID pandemic. They have been a constant source of truth and steadiness amid the chaos of the last two years. They have been patient and understanding with constant questions and clarifications from their patients, from the public, and from their colleagues. We are truly fortunate to have these physicians on our team.”
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IdahoAAP’s 2021 Child Advocate of the Year — Dr. Christine Hahn
Dr. Christine Hahn is an infectious disease specialist with over 34 years of experience. She received her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Her fellowship was at Duke University and her residency at the Mayo Clinic. She finished training as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the CDC in 1995 and realized she enjoyed helping people live healthier lives. This led her to accept the position as Idaho State Epidemiologist in 1996 and she continues to be the go-to authority for health care professionals at the State, as well as the State’s Public Health District.
Her work overseeing the Idaho Refugee Health Screening Program has helped to provide better coordination and standardization of screening processes between clinics around the state in the last two years. She has been instrumental in designing Idaho’s immunization requirements with the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which means more children are starting school with their recommended panel of immunizations.
Dr. Hahn is known statewide for her commonsense approach to often challenging situations, especially in the last two years. She has served as Governor Little’s medical advisor throughout this pandemic and is seen at every press conference explaining the virus, prevalence, vaccines and the list grows as she serves as the state’s infectious disease specialist.
Her outstanding communication skills to take complex medical information and offer explanations to the general public in a calm and reassuring manner has been so important during the pandemic.
Here is a quote from Dr. Marcia Witte, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare: “Dr. Hahn is a remarkable leader and role model, and this has been especially true throughout the pandemic. Her capacity to stay abreast of complex and changing issues is incredible, but even more incredible is her cheerful and upbeat energy that she continues to display during all the challenges this pandemic has presented. She is the leader that keeps us all inspired to stay focused on doing our best work.”
As we continue to face the largest public health issue that our state has ever encountered, it is reassuring that Dr. Hahn is our medical leader who is endeavoring to ensure the health of the children and families in the State of Idaho.
2020 Awards
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IdahoAAP’s 2020 Pediatrician of the Year — Dr. Aaron Gardner
Dr. Gardner founded the Just 4 Kids Urgent Care and Just 4 Kids Home Health and Hospice. This center serves as both a pediatric urgent care as well as providing services such as private nursing, therapies and hospice for medically fragile children and families with special needs. In addition to this, he serves as Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health and Human Services ASPR Incident Management Team. In this role, he has been deployed to many domestic and international disasters, providing critical care to children around the world. He also works as an independent contractor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on radiation medical countermeasures and as a critical care transport physician. Dr. Gardner serves on the Executive Committee for the AAP’s Council on Children and Disasters. He is also certified as an American Sign Language Interpreter.
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IdahoAAP’s 2020 Child Advocate of the Year — Patricia Kempthorne
Patricia Kempthorne has dedicated her life’s work to building strong families. Patricia currently serves as the founder and owner of the Twiga Foundation, an organization dedicated to inspiring, promoting, and maintaining a family consciousness at home, in the workplace and in the community. She was also recently honored by The Idaho Voices For Children Organization as the 2020 Children’s Champion. In addition to her duties to the Twiga Foundation, Patricia Kempthorne serves on the Parents as Teachers National Board of Directors, the St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital Advisory Board and the Idaho Food Bank Capital Campaign.
Patricia Kempthorne's Response: Dear Everyone at the Idaho Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics,
I was totally flustered and humbled when Dr. Burpee made his surprise presentation at the CAB meeting and honored me with the Child Advocate of the Year award. The words of appreciation were not adequate at the time and I want to express my sincere gratitude for the recognition. Most especially coming from you and your organization. I have tried to serve families and children in my life's work from a position of community advocate and, hopefully, occasionally a catalyst for effective change and greater awareness of their needs. Your commitment and the medical community's continued efforts to improve the quality and standards of care for children in Idaho make it more possible to see and support that mission. Thank you for giving me more awareness and inspiration to keep seeking possibilities that make a difference for families and children.
With sincere gratitude and appreciation for all you do,
Patricia -
IdahoAAP’s 2020 Organization of the Year — The Idaho Food Bank
The Idaho Foodbank is an independent, donor-supported, nonprofit organization founded in 1984, and is the largest distributor of free food assistance in Idaho. Through their partnerships with over 230 organizations, they have distributed over 135 million pounds of food to families across the State of Idaho. Their Mission is to help feed, educate and advocate for Idaho’s hungry through collaborative partnerships to develop efficient solutions that strengthen individuals, families and communities. Their Vision to one day have a hunger-free Idaho. The Idaho Food Bank has several programs that specifically benefit struggling with hunger or food insecurity. Their backpack program gives students a backpack full of nutritious food every Friday so they are provided for over the weekend, they have distributed over 63,000 backpacks across the state. They have established food pantries at 38 schools. They also have hosted multiple Picnics in the Park where children ages 1-18 can receive a free lunch. They also work to educate children and their families about the importance of proper nutrition and how to make healthy meals at home.
AAP proudly presents a Special achievement award to the following doctors for distinguished service and dedication to the mission and goals of the academy:
- Katherine Stevens, MD FAAP
For her work in disaster preparedness and her dedication to ensure the safe of medically fragile children in a variety of settings - Tom Patterson, MD, FAAP
For his ongoing support and work in the area of Maintence of Certification (MOC IV) and quality improvement projects for pediatricians across the state of Idaho -
Excellence in Patient Care Award
Idaho Hospital Association
St. Luke's Health System Boise
2019 Awards
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IdahoAAP’s 2019 Pediatrician of the Year — Dr. Cristina Leon
Dr. Cristina Leon completed medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, she did her fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Miami Children’s Hospital. Dr. Leon now works as a pediatric cardiologist in Pocatello, ID. She published “The Incidence of Chromosome Abnormalities in Neonates with Structural Heart Disease”. A study focusing on the prevalence of these chromosomal abnormalities in newborns admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Leon has been very involved in the prevention, awareness and education of congenital heart disease right here in Idaho. She was very involved with the state in developing the laws and guidelines for Congenital Heart Screening for newborns. She has been the expert for the state as they have pushed this forward. She has offered multiple trainings in the past two years to ensure that all babies are being tested.
Dr. Leon also has a deep and genuine love for her patients, and that love is widely reciprocated. She gets to know them and their families and will fight for their best interests at all costs. Beyond the individual child, Cristina also cares deeply about improving the systems, policies, and processes that affect all children's health and well-being. She's an educator, advocate, clinician, and friend--with a feisty latin flare.
We are excited for what the future has for Dr. Cristina Leon and are happy to present her with this award highlighting the excellent work she is doing for kids right here in Idaho. We look forward to continue watching her strive for excellence and making the world just a little bit safer for kids everywhere.
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IdahoAAP’s 2019 Child Advocate of the Year — Jacquie Watson
Jacquie Watson previously worked as the Maternal and Child Health Director and Section Manager for over eight years with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. She successfully presented to policy-makers during the 2018 Idaho Legislative Session to require screening of congenital heart defects for all infants. She implemented a statewide quality improvement program for primary care providers to support adoption of evidence-based care standards and clinical processes to improve quality of care and patient outcomes. Annual participation includes approximately 50 providers from 30 clinics across the state.
Jacquie Watson has supported St. Luke’s Children’s Performance Improvement team through her role in Idaho’s Maternal & Child Health Program. Our program plans and implements projects to enhance the quality of care that families receive in the primary care setting. In addition to financial support through a block grant, Jacquie has been instrumental in the development of initiatives by serving on our planning committees and continually providing guidance on community needs. Some of the projects we’ve collaborated on include Oral Health Integration, Adolescent Immunizations, Developmental Screening, and Adverse Childhood Experiences & Resiliency. Her leadership has led to many positive outcomes, and it is a testament to her commitment to improve Idaho’s families.
Jacquie Watson is a dedicated public health professional with over fourteen years of experience in program administration and management. She now currently serves as the Senior Provider Network Manager at Blue Cross of Idaho. We are thrilled to honor Jacquie for all of the hard work she has done and look forward as we watch her continue her efforts to make Idaho a healthier and safer place for all children.
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IdahoAAP’s 2019 Organization of the Year — The Ada County Medical Education Consortium (ACMEC)
The Ada County Medical Education Consortium (ACMEC) was created in 1971 to improve patient care across the Treasure Valley through the provision of continuing medical education for physicians.
The Ada County Medical Education Consortium (ACMEC) has offered AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ for nearly 10 years to providers participating in quality improvement projects offered through our Performance Improvement program. Some of the topics aiming to improve the children’s health outcomes include Preventing Childhood Obesity, 2 Year Old Immunizations, Pediatric Asthma, Oral Health Integration, and Developmental Screening. Over 200 Idaho providers (104 pediatricians and 72 family physicians) have benefitted from the credits that allow providers to participate and improve their practice through standardized approaches.
Over 200 Idaho providers have benefitted from the credits that allow providers to participate and improve their practice through standardized approaches. ACMEC supports our team in the application and approval process, and their organization provides the framework to develop an organized and meaningful series. When we offer CME, providers can be certain that the quality of the content has met a higher standard.
2018 Awards
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Idaho’s 2018 HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Champion
Dr. Lisa Barker works at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital and has served this organization as secretary/treasurer for three consecutive years. Currently, she is in her second year as Vice President of the Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Barker has been an effective vaccine champion and expert for this chapter of over 124 pediatricians around Idaho. During this time, she has continued her relentless pursuit of educating the community by speaking with legislators of the state about stressing the importance of all vaccines for kids, including the HPV vaccine series.
Dr. Barker keeps an active presence to build support for HPV vaccination rates for the state’s adolescent population. Dr. Barker served as a leading expert on the planning committee and a physician champion for an Adolescent Immunizations Learning Collaborative in 2016. This project aimed to increase vaccination coverage of Tdap, Meningococcal, and HPV 3-dose series for adolescents 11-17 years old in Idaho. The project achieved these goals by focusing on assessing and documenting patients’ immunization status, reducing the number of missed vaccination opportunities, and increasing the scheduling rates of follow up appointments related to the HPV vaccine.
Dr. Barker is a vaccine champion within her community and peers often seek out her opinion on best practices and approaches to explaining the benefits of HPV vaccines in a positive and informative manner. She has recently developed a presentation about how to speak with parents about HPV vaccine questions, and will be providing that workshop as a webinar training to over 115 health care providers. Through her efforts, Dr. Barker has achieved an HPV vaccine series completion rate of 69% for her adolescent patients, and is Idaho’s 2018 HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Champion!
2017 Awards
- On June 14, St. Luke’s President’s Award Dinner and Ceremony was hosted by organization President and CEO Dr. David Pate. The annual event recognizes those who make an exceptional contribution to St. Luke’s mission, vision and values, chosen from among the nearly 14,000 members of the St. Luke’s team. Among the Honorees, Travis Criddle, D.O. was honored. For eight years, Dr. Criddle was the only pediatrician in Elmore County. He has supported teens in challenging situations and students in plays and sports, cooked for the track team before meet events and sponsored students who have needed help paying for extracurricular activities.
Dr. Alicia Lachiondo is Idaho’s 2018 CDC Childhood Immunization Champion. The impact of Dr. Lachiondo’s work is evident in her clinic’s impressive immunization rates and in her ability to create community partnerships. She recently shared her creative approaches to addressing vaccine concerns as a guest speaker at the annual Idaho Immunization Coalition Summit. Local television stations have also invited her to talk about influenza vaccines for children.
Read More››- The American Academy of Pediatrics proudly presents a “Special Achievement Award” to Aaron Gardner, MD, MS, FAAP, Idaho Chapter for distinguished service and dedication to the mission and goals of the academy for forming the Mountain States Pediatric Disaster Coalition to protect children in the event of a disaster.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics proudly presents a “Special Achievement Award” to Eda-Cristina Leio Abuchaibe, MD FAAP, Idaho Chapter for distinguished service and dedication to the mission and goals of the Academy for working with the Idaho Medical Association and other stakeholders to secure mandatory CCHD screening implementation.
2016 Awards
- Pediatrician of the Year – Tom Rand, MD
Dr. Rand received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; earning his Pediatric specialty at University of Washington and Infectious Disease specialty at Harvard Medical School.
During his 24 years in Boise, Dr. Rand served the children of Idaho as a pediatric infectious disease specialist. He provided care to children in St. Luke’s Infections and Immune Deficiency Clinic; acted as a consultant for communicable diseases control and medical director of immunization clinics for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare; and served as medical director for St. Luke’s Travel Clinic. For many years, he kept the current RSV data available online for the pediatricians in the state to refer to, so in turn, they could better care for their patients.
Dr. Ingrid Lundgren from St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, Children’s Infections and Immune Deficiency Clinic, shared the following about Dr. Rand:
In the 5 years that I had the honor of being Tom Rand’s partner in pediatric infectious disease, I came to appreciate firsthand the enormity of his contributions to specialty care in this state. He had the foresight to introduce infectious disease and immunodeficiency care into his general pediatric practice, and as time went on, to recognize the growing need for expanding this practice. St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital became what it is now, because of the vision of people like Dr. Rand, who were bold enough to forge specialty niches in this community before a cohesive children’s facility existed in its present form. When I joined him in 2011, I was coming straight from fellowship into my first “real job”. In many ways, Tom was an ideal partner, but also a mentor and friend.
He has touched the lives of so many children in Idaho, and was truly committed to providing a personal level of care to the families that he knew over the years. His dedication to the families in our practice is unparalleled, and we are reminded every week of how much he is missed, now that he has moved on to other adventures.
Dr. Rand played a large role in providing education in many settings; from major conferences to informal in the hall consultations.
When he isn’t working with patients and their families, Dr. Rand and his wife volunteer in wilderness search and rescue. Both are certified in tracking (following human sign). They have four grown children, and the youngest is a student at WWU.
- Organization of the Year – The Ronald McDonald House
Luke Sturdy, President
Mindy Plumlee, Executive DirectorThis award is given on behalf of the Pediatricians in Idaho to an organization with a mission and services that benefit families and children in our state.
The Idaho Ronald McDonald House opened on February 1, 1988 with 4 bedrooms and was the smallest Ronald McDonald House in the world. Over 29 years and two expansions later, the 14,000 square foot facility can accommodate 17 families each night, providing a home away from home.
Families of seriously ill or injured children, 18 of years of age or younger, who are receiving treatment at a Boise area hospital or clinic can stay at the Ronald McDonald House. They can stay for as long as the child is receiving inpatient or outpatient medical treatment and the average length of stay is 8 days. Meals and snacks are provided and prepared by local volunteers on a regular basis.
The Ronald McDonald House’s staff, board, and team of volunteers offer an amazing service to families who are seeking care and treatment at St. Luke’s Children's Hospital.
Ronald McDonald House provides so much more than a bed and a meal, but a warm and caring environment that helps families to heal.
- 2016 Child Advocate: Jerry Hirshfeld Special Achievement Award – George Groberg, MD
Dr. Groberg is out of the country doing humanitarian work. On his behalf, Arron Gardner, Member of the Chapter’s Executive committee, will accept this award. Dr. Gardner will present the award to Dr. Groberg in Idaho Falls in front of an audience of his peers.
When Dr. Gardner reached out to his partners and started to describe the award they said “Oh, that’s George ... for sure!”
Dr. Groberg is a native of Idaho Falls. He received his undergraduate degree in Zoology at Brigham Young University. He completed medical school at the University of Colorado and his residency in Pediatrics at Willford Hall USAF Medical Center. He served with the USAF as a Pediatrician and preceptor for Family Practice residents at Offutt AFB in Omaha.
He started working in 1986 and was one, if not the first, pediatricians in Idaho Falls. He retired in 2010 to do missionary work in Indonesia for 3 years, and returned part-time in 2013.
He has lead several teams of health care workers in teaching newborn resuscitation in China, Indonesia and Africa. He and his wife Bonnie are very busy with family, community and church responsibilities. He enjoys hiking, jogging, studying history, philosophy, current events, languages and cultures.
Dr. Groberg your work over so many years in Idaho Falls has benefitted families and providers alike. Your peers have relied on your expertise in cases with patients and then you have played such a large role in providing education in many settings from Idaho Falls to around the world.