APA Presidential Plenary: Advancing Child Health Equity Through Communication, Connection, and Community in Pediatric Care

Chair(s)

• 

  Tiffani Johnson, MD (she/her/hers)

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

Session Description: This APA Presidential Plenary centers on effective communication and its critical role in fostering equity within therapeutic relationships and educational environments. The session opens with a vision for child health equity from the APA President, setting the stage for an exploration of innovative research and strategies.

The first three abstracts focus on communication in clinical care. The opening presentation examines social needs screening as a foundational form of communication, engaging families in conversations about social determinants of health (SDoH) while navigating the balance of anticipated risks and benefits. The second abstract highlights "listening neglect," revealing the profound impact of families feeling unheard in clinical encounters. The third offers a practical solution by piloting an equity-focused communication intervention to enhance family-centered rounds.
The session then transitions to medical education, emphasizing workforce diversity and support for underrepresented in medicine (UIM) pediatric residents. The fourth abstract examines UIM residents’ perspectives, emphasizing the need for inclusive environments that promote well-being and professional growth. The final abstract presents a trial of virtual reality training to equip residents with skills to address microaggressions, fostering trust and equity in care.

The session concludes with a dynamic panel discussion, uniting presenters and the audience to reflect on how communication, connection, and community can drive actionable progress toward child health equity—aligned with the APA’s mission to empower pediatricians to transform systems as we strive towards health equity and well-being for all children.

Presentations:

• 10:00am – 10:10am HST

  Introduction and APA President's Vision for Child Health Equity
  

  Speaker: Tiffani J. Johnson, MD (she/her/hers) – UC Davis
• 10:10am – 10:20am HST

  An Effectiveness Trial of a Virtual Reality (VR) Intervention to Train Pediatric Residents to Respond to Microaggressions
  

  Presenting Author: Courtney A. Gilliam, MD (she/her/hers) – Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
• 10:20am – 10:30am HST

  Impossible Choices: Balancing Anticipated Risks and Benefits of Social Needs Screening in Primary Care Settings
  

  Presenting Author: Camila M. Mateo, MD MPH (she/her/hers) – University of California, San Francisco
• 10:30am – 10:40am HST

  “Listening Neglect”: A Mixed-Methods Study of How Families Feel Unheard in Hospitals
  

  Presenting Author: Monica Soni, BA (she/her/hers) – Boston Children's Hospital

  Presenting Author: Angela L. Fan, B.A. (she/her/hers) – Boston Children's Hospital
• 10:40am – 10:50am HST

  Pilot Testing an Equity Focused Communication Intervention for Family-Centered Rounds
  

  Presenting Author: Victoria Parente, MD MPH (she/her/hers) – Duke University School of Medicine
• 10:50am – 11:00am HST

  Upholding Our PROMISE: Exploring Underrepresented in Medicine (UIM) Pediatric Residents’ Perspectives on Support for Belonging, Well-Being, Burnout, and Professional Goals
  

  Presenting Author: Courtney A. Gilliam, MD (she/her/hers) – Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center