APA Presidential Plenary: George Armstrong Lecture: Pioneers in Pediatric Equity- Honoring Leadership in Education, Research, and Advocacy

Saturday, April 26, 2025

1:00pm – 2:30pm HST

Location: Convention Center: 310

CE: 1.5

Chair(s)

Tiffani Johnson, MD (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Emergency Medicine
UC Davis
Sacramento, California, United States

Disclosure(s):

Tiffani J. Johnson, MD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Session Description: The Academic Pediatric Association (APA) proudly presents the George Armstrong Lecture, an extraordinary Presidential Plenary session celebrating three trailblazing leaders who have significantly advanced child health equity through their transformative work in medical education, research, and policy.

This year’s honorees embody the values of innovation, dedication, and leadership, each addressing critical dimensions of child health equity. Dr. Kenya McNeil-Trice has redefined medical education by fostering inclusive, equitable learning environments and mentoring the next generation of pediatricians to prioritize health equity. Dr. Tumaini Coker has led groundbreaking research integrating community health workers into early childhood preventive care, focusing on reducing health disparities among marginalized populations. Dr. Lisa Chamberlain has revolutionized pediatric advocacy by shaping policies that bridge early childhood education and healthcare, creating sustainable models to reduce disparities for children with medical complexity.

The George Armstrong Lecture offers a platform to honor these exceptional leaders, elevate their contributions, and inspire the academic pediatrics community to collectively advance the vision of equitable health care and outcomes for all children. This plenary will be a profound gathering of diverse voices, sparking dialogue and action to address the systemic inequities that continue to challenge child health. Together, we will honor the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future of pediatric care through the lens of equity and justice.

Learning Objectives:

Identify innovative strategies in medical education, research, and policy advocacy that promote health equity
Explore actionable methods to integrate inclusive teaching, community-partnered research, and policy development into pediatric practice to address systemic health disparities
Develop skills to collaborate across disciplines and leverage diverse perspectives in academic pediatrics to create equitable healthcare systems for all children and families.

Presentations:

1:00pm – 1:15pm HST

Introduction and Land Acknowledgement
Speaker: Tiffani J. Johnson, MD (she/her/hers) – UC Davis
1:15pm – 1:20pm HST

George Armstrong Awardee Presentation
Speaker: Lisa Chamberlain, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – Stanford University School of Medicine
1:20pm – 1:25pm HST

George Armstrong Awardee Presentation
Speaker: Tumaini Rucker Coker, MD, MBA (she/her/hers) – University of Washington School of Medicine
1:25pm – 1:30pm HST

George Armstrong Awardee Presentation
Speaker: Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD (she/her/hers) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1:30pm – 1:45pm HST

Awardee Panel Discussion
Speaker: Lisa Chamberlain, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – Stanford University School of Medicine
Speaker: Tumaini Rucker Coker, MD, MBA (she/her/hers) – University of Washington School of Medicine
Speaker: Tiffani J. Johnson, MD (she/her/hers) – UC Davis
Speaker: Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD (she/her/hers) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1:45pm – 1:55pm HST

Guest Presentation
Speaker: Chelsey V. Jay, BS Environmental Science & Resource Management, Masters in Educational Foundations (she/her/hers) – Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha
1:55pm – 2:05pm HST

Guest Presentation
Speaker: Isaiah Pule, BA, MSEd (he/him/his) – E Ala Voyaging Academy
2:05pm – 2:25pm HST

Panel Discussion with Awardees and Guests
Speaker: Lisa Chamberlain, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – Stanford University School of Medicine
Speaker: Tumaini Rucker Coker, MD, MBA (she/her/hers) – University of Washington School of Medicine
Speaker: Chelsey V. Jay, BS Environmental Science & Resource Management, Masters in Educational Foundations (she/her/hers) – Hoa 'Āina O Mākaha
Speaker: Tiffani J. Johnson, MD (she/her/hers) – UC Davis
Speaker: Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD (she/her/hers) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Speaker: Isaiah Pule, BA, MSEd (he/him/his) – E Ala Voyaging Academy
2:25pm – 2:30pm HST

Closing and Charge to the Attendees