DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI)

Raising healthy children in Ohio is our priority. As child advocates, we aim to be a voice for children and communities whose voices may not otherwise be heard. Equity and inclusion are not simply words but are demonstrated through our actions. While many of our programs, including infant mortality prevention, lead screening and population health, focus on the needs of underserved and marginalized communities, we will work to strengthen our efforts to promote and implement equity and inclusion into the fabric of all our programs.

DEI in Action

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work at the Ohio AAP aims to improve child health equity. In this vein, we commit as an organization to the following:

  • Educate our 2,900 members on identifying and mitigating implicit bias and being anti-racist in both professional and personal settings
  • Highlight the data gathered from our quality improvement programs related to the areas of the underserved, and integrate families into each of these programs to guarantee a better and more equitable perspective and approach to the children we serve in our programs
  • Be a resource for families, empower them to have meaningful conversations about recent events and help mitigate the traumatic impact of racism,
  • Promote advocacy at state and national levels to combat the crisis of racism in health care
  • Strive for a more inclusive Chapter and Foundation leadership including appointing a diversity champion to serve in leadership of the Chapter’s membership work, and
  • Commit funds through our Chapter’s Foundation to be awarded to members and/or residents to develop efforts to champion diversity and inclusion.

There is much work to be done and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to serve as a resource for our members and our communities. It is through patience, solidarity, ongoing self-reflection, courage, tireless advocacy and respect that we will build a healthier tomorrow for our children and our nation. Click on the key areas below to learn about our work and opportunities for engagement.

 Click on the key areas to the right to learn about our work and opportunities for engagement.

More information coming soon!

Jordee M. Wells, MD, MPH

Jordee M. Wells, MD, MPH as the Ohio AAP’s Diversity and Inclusion Equity Representative. Dr. Wells is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine.  She also serves as the Director of Diversity, Health Equity and Inclusion for the Division of Emergency Medicine. As a Principal Investigator in the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice at The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, her research interests include health policy, social determinants of health, population heath and reducing health disparities in pediatric emergency care.

As a dedicated child health advocate, Dr. Wells serves on the Child Health Advocacy Council at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and on the YMCA’s Head Start Health Advisory Committee. She also continues to provide both written and oral testimony at the local, state and federal level on various child health initiatives including the Tobacco to 21 Act and Dextromethorphan regulation on behalf of the Ohio AAP.

Dr. Wells’ is looking forward to sharing her expertise on diversity and inclusion efforts with Ohio AAP members. Her previous work on building awareness, targeted recruitment, fostering supportive environments and improving outcomes for patients will be an asset to all of Ohio’s children.

More information coming soon!

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) Quality Improvement Program

The Atopic Dermatitis Quality Improvement Program provides education and training on improving recognition, diagnosis and management of AD in the pediatric primary care setting, with a focus on diversity. Topics include clinical presentation in AD skin of color, cultural preference and practices, AD psycho-social impact…and more! Learn more here. 

Leadership and Participation Data

The Operations/PIP Pillar is capturing information on our leadership and participants to determine our current reach, and make plans for future programming to ensure appropriate DEI engagement.

Analysis of Participant and Team Demographics

Over the past several months, the Ohio AAP has added new optional demographic questions on CME evaluations, QI program registrations, and other Chapter communications. The information learned from these questions is currently being used to help assess who is being reached by Ohio AAP programs and resources.

WEBINAR: Implicit Bias – Preventive Health Program (PHP) 

The Preventive Health Program (PHP) features webinars and resources to address emerging child health topics such as implicit bias, immunizations, breastfeeding, developmental screenings, screen tools, and more. Access here. 

PODCAST: Infant Mortality After COVID-19: Saving Lives Through Family Health Series

This new limited podcast series, made possible thanks to the support of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus, will center on addressing infant mortality through health disparities and engaging minoritized communities. Listen here. 

Infant Mortality After COVID-19: Saving Lives Through Family Health Rack Card

Kiwanis Club of Columbus – Infant Mortality After COVID-19: Saving Lives Through Family Health

Would you like to join our efforts? Contact Liz Dawson at edawson@ohioaap.org for more details and share your ideas.

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