Ohio AAP Pillars

The Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics is organized into five key areas that represent the scope of our work and allow for direction and development of future projects. Our five pillars — Child Health, Practice of Pediatrics, Advocacy, Operations and Foundation — help ensure our organization is moving in the right direction while also providing member value.

Each pillar is comprised of both Board Members and Ohio AAP Staff, keeps goals and measurable outcomes and has many avenues for member involvement. This structure allows for easier participation by members, by affording them the opportunity to follow an interest, a passion, or solve a practice problem. Members can also serve as an expert or work with a group around their interests without the commitment of a committee.

Pillar Leaders:
Sarah Denny, MD, FAAP
Roopa Thakur, MD, FAAP
Vivek Ashok, MD
Senior Advisor: William Cotton, MD, FAAP
CH Advocacy Education Liaison: Denise Warrick, MD, FAAP, MEd
Staff: Melissa Wervey Gittelman and Olivia Simon

The Ohio AAP’s Advocacy Pillar leads the Chapter’s state legislative efforts and overall messaging, ensuring pediatric voices are heard at the policy table. Pillar leaders dedicate countless hours at the Ohio Statehouse, meeting with legislators and partnering with child-focused and physician organizations to advocate for our members and champion the health and well-being of Ohio’s children.
Pillar Leaders:
Sarah Adams, MD, FAAP
Denise Warrick, MD, FAAP, MEd
Staff: Elizabeth Dawson and Hayley Southworth, MS

The Ohio AAP’s Child Health Pillar represents all areas of pediatric care, with a focus on shifting from treatment to overall child wellness. It oversees the Chapter’s educational initiatives, including the Spring Education Meeting, Annual Meeting, and the Child Health Education Center.

Pillar Goals:

  • Expand Participation in the 2026 Annual Meeting: Grow attendance by building stronger pipelines from trainees, institutions, and professional networks. This includes actively engaging residents and students, reconnecting with past award winners and their institutions, partnering with speaker organizations, and enhancing visibility through targeted outreach and community-driven initiatives.
  • Increase Reach and Impact of Educational Programs: Boost engagement with Ohio AAP educational sessions and resources by improving how they are promoted, packaged, and distributed. The focus is on making content more visible and accessible, while increasing overall usage and participation by at least 20%.
  • Improve Website Experience and Resource Accessibility: Reorganize OhioAAP.org provider and parent resources to make the repository user friendly. This includes creating a more intuitive structure, ensuring content is current and connected to educational offerings, and establishing a sustainable system for maintaining and updating materials.

Pillar Priority Areas

  • Education-CME/MOC II
  • Speaker Toolkit Implementation
  • Evaluation and Outcomes of Education

Pillar Leaders:
Jill Fitch, MD, FAAP
Kelsey Logan, MD, MPH, FAAP, FACP
Staff: Marc Driscoll, MEd and Brooke Powell, CPhT

The Foundation Pillar is the charitable and community-focused arm of the Ohio AAP, supporting the Chapter’s mission through strong fiduciary and programmatic partnerships. Pillar leaders work with community, corporate, state, and federal organizations to secure resources that advance programs improving the health and well-being of Ohio’s children and families.

Pillar Goals: 

  • Fundraising Growth: Expand and elevate fundraising efforts by building on successful events, including the Annual Meeting and smaller, local opportunities, while deepening donor engagement and growing strategic partnerships.
  • Supporter Engagement: Strengthen and diversify the network of supporters, increasing participation and engagement across donors, sponsors, advisory board members, and volunteers.
  • Strategic Expansion: Accelerate strategic growth by advancing new initiatives and scaling programs that align with and further the Foundation’s mission.

Pillar Priority Areas

  • Donor Engagement
  • Fundraisers & Events

Pillar Leaders:
Michele Dritz, MD, FAAP
David Karas, MD, FAAP
Staff: Hayley Southworth, MS and Kristen Fluitt, MS

The Ohio AAP’s Operations Pillar provides fiscal and programmatic oversight for the Chapter’s initiatives, ensuring effective stewardship and strong organizational performance. Pillar members guide the work of the Planning, Implementation and Performance (PIP) Committee, which evaluates the Chapter’s existing and potential programs, including Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part IV Quality Improvement projects.
Representation Area: Create a workflow or strategic plan for resource creation and dissemination.
  • Community Engagement Area: Determine what Advisory Committees should remain and establish appropriate meeting/communication schedule for active PIP programs to develop and track program metrics, as well as identify and address challenges.
  • Program Recruitment Area: Establish process for regular maintenance of QI database (list of previous participants in Ohio AAP QI projects); Evaluate effectiveness of incentive and recruitment outreach methods.
  • Program Evaluation Area: Evaluate resource formats for impact and preferences, including provider and patient perspectives.
  • Program Sustainability Area: Build a sustainability and growth plan at the Chapter level for PIP program teams.

    • Pillar Leaders:
    Lisa Ziemnik, MD, FAAP
    Doug Fleck, MD, FAAP
    Staff: Olivia Simon; Lory Winland, MPA; and Suhavi Salmon-Rekhi, MPH

    Pediatric Care Council
    Jonathan Price, MD, FAAP
    Frank Combs, MBA, FACMPE