Q2 2026
Kansas Pediatrician
Q2 2026
Kansas Pediatrician
Welcome to the quarterly edition of the Kansas Pediatrician Newsletter. In this edition, we look at information regarding Upcoming Webinars, Fall Progress in Pediatrics, mental health, and more!
Members
Dr. Kreisler Update
A Note from KAAP President
May is a time of transition. For me it is also a time of reflection. With two of my adult children graduating in different cities in the same weekend, I have been hyper-focused on the complicated logistical details. Focusing on itineraries and food can be easier for me to manage than focusing on a new stage of life.
As my youngest is finishing his junior year in high school, I’m reminded not to blink, or you might miss something. Many days, it feels impossible to fit everything into 24 hours: work, track meets, volunteering, cooking, exercise, cleaning, and sometimes even sleep. A few years ago, I spent a lot of time worrying about becoming an empty nester. As my grandmother says, “We make plans and God laughs.”
My grandmother has been staying with me as I help her navigate the transition to life as a widow. It is easy for me to focus on logistics- making sure she eats and drinks and takes her medicine. I am chauffeuring her to appointments the way I once chauffeured children to sporting events. I hear myself saying repeatedly “we’re not in a rush” to keep her from trying to walk too fast with her cane. I have said it enough for the past few months that it has become true. I now leave enough time for her to walk safely through parking lots. Her mind is sharp and she will stop to marvel over a squirrel or a dandelion growing in the middle of the sidewalk. Her curiosity and easy laughter are contagious, and I find myself stopping to see things through her eyes the way I did with my children when they were young.
This is my last KAAP newsletter article as your president, and I am excited to see what Dr. Crane’s leadership will bring. I was honored and humbled to participate in strategic planning last month. The group of KAAP members who make up your board of directors are a passionate, thoughtful, and inspiring group of pediatricians. Seeing things through their eyes always lifts my spirits and fills me with hope.
Watch for upcoming initiatives to help you feel more connected to the KAAP and get more out of your membership. There will be new opportunities for advocacy as well as sharing your own talent and passion for helping children, families, and everyone who cares for them. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your president!
Safe Sleep
Mental Health Is Whole Health
AAP’s New Framework and What It Means for Our Collaborative
TIC Champion Perspective – Dr. Dena Hubbard, MD, FAAP
The timing couldn’t be better.
Just as our KAAP Chapter Grant Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Collaborative is kicking off, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a landmark clinical report that reframes how all of us — from the newborn nursery to the adolescent clinic — should approach mental, emotional, and relational health in pediatric practice. This isn’t a coincidence; it’s a convergence. And it’s a call to action.
What the AAP Is Saying — and Why It Matters
The new clinical report, “Framework for Approaching Healthy Mental and Emotional Development in Pediatrics” (Pediatrics, 2026), makes a bold and overdue argument: mental and emotional development is not a subspecialty concern to be flagged only when something is “wrong.” It is a core dimension of whole health — as fundamental to every well visit and every NICU follow-up as a growth curve or a vaccination.
The AAP is explicit: pediatricians should integrate mental, emotional, and relational health into their approach beginning in infancy and continuing throughout adolescence. As someone who has spent years in the NICU watching the earliest relational bonds form — or struggle to form — under the fluorescent lights of an intensive care environment, I can tell you that this recommendation isn’t theoretical. It describes what we already know to be true at the bedside. It just hasn’t always been codified into our everyday practice framework.
The Crisis Is Real and It’s in Our Waiting Rooms
The data underlying this work are sobering. A companion AAP clinical report on MEB screening (Weitzman et al., Pediatrics, September 2025) estimates that 13–20% of children in the United States currently experience a mental, emotional, or behavioral (MEB) disorder, with an additional 19% experiencing symptoms that impair daily functioning without meeting full diagnostic criteria. That’s potentially more than one in three children in your practice carrying an unaddressed mental health burden.
And specialized resources remain profoundly difficult to access. Families are waiting months for child psychiatry, therapy, and developmental pediatrics referrals. In the meantime, they’re sitting across from us at well-child visits and sick visits. We are the mental health system for most of the children we serve.
The AAP’s report acknowledges this honestly, noting that pediatricians have long felt hesitancy in this space — not from indifference, but from a genuine lack of time, comfort, and resources to offer families. The framework is designed to address exactly that.
A Stepped Approach Built for Primary Care Reality
The clinical report offers a stepped approach — a spectrum model, not a binary one. This aligns directly with how pediatricians already think about physical health: prevention, early identification, treatment, and support aren’t separate silos; they’re iterative stages that we navigate with families over time. The framework asks us to apply that same clinical logic to mental and emotional development.
This means:
- Universal promotion of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships at every visit
- Surveillance and early identification of emerging concerns before they become crises
- Stepped intervention matched to need — from brief counseling and anticipatory guidance to co-management with behavioral health colleagues
- Ongoing support without requiring a diagnostic label before families can access help
This is not about every pediatrician becoming a therapist. It is about every pediatrician becoming trauma-informed — which brings us back to our collaborative.
From “What’s Wrong” to “What’s Strong”
One of the most powerful reframes in this new guidance — echoed in the AAP’s companion HealthyChildren.org messaging — is a shift from asking “What’s wrong with this child?” to asking “What’s strong in this child and family?”
Strength-based, relational, trauma-informed care isn’t an add-on. It’s the foundation. The AAP’s National Center for Relational Health and Trauma-Informed Care describes TIC as “fundamentally relational health care” — grounded in the capacity to form and maintain safe, stable, and nurturing relationships at every level: child, caregiver, and clinician.
As neonatologists and pediatricians, we know — as the AAP’s own TIC policy affirms — that every pediatric encounter is an opportunity to promote relational health — from the first skin-to-skin moment in the NICU to the 15-year well visit where a teenager quietly discloses that things at home aren’t okay. If we’re asking the right questions and creating the right conditions for families to feel safe, we can catch what the system would otherwise miss.
Why the KAAP TIC Collaborative Couldn’t Come at a Better Time
Our KAAP Chapter Grant TIC Collaborative Kick-off represents exactly the kind of infrastructure investment this moment demands. The AAP has given us the clinical framework. Now we need the practice-level change — the workflows, the relationships, the training, and the community connections — that turns policy into care.
Here’s what I’d encourage every KAAP member to take away as we launch this work together:
- 1. The AAP has your back. For years, pediatricians have been absorbing mental and relational health needs in their panels without adequate support, resources, or reimbursement structures to match the demand. This framework formally validates what you’ve been doing — and makes the case for health systems, payers, and institutions that integrating mental, emotional, and relational health isn’t optional. Use it.
- 2. Trauma-informed approaches are universal, not targeted. TIC is not just for families who have disclosed adversity. It is the way we practice with every family, because we rarely know what they’re carrying.
- 3. The NICU and beyond matter. For those of us in neonatal medicine, this framework validates what we’ve long understood: the NICU experience itself is traumatic for families, and the relational health of the caregiver-infant dyad must be protected and supported from day one — and followed through childhood.
- 4. We are stronger together. The collaborative model exists because no single pediatrician, practice, or institution can do this alone. Shared learning, shared tools, and shared accountability are what move systems.
Get Involved
The KAAP Chapter Grant TIC Collaborative Kick-off is your opportunity to be part of building something lasting for the children and families of Kansas. Watch for more information on collaborative dates, learning sessions, and resources — and come ready to learn, share, and lead.
The AAP clinical report is available at: www.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2026-076620
Additional family-facing and clinician resources are available through the **AAP National Center for Relational Health and Trauma-Informed Care at www.aap.org/en/patient-care/national-center-for-relational-health-and-trauma-informed-care.
The author, Dr. Dena Hubbard, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist with extensive clinical and leadership experience. She currently serves as the Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Champion for the 2026 KAAP Chapter Grant on Relational Health and Trauma-Informed Care and as the lead for the TIC Collaborative, where she plays a key role in advancing education, advocacy, and the implementation of trauma-informed and relational health practices across the chapter and state.
National Association
Bolstering Adolescent Mental Health
Healthy mental development is a critical part of comprehensive care for adolescents. AAP provides resources, training, and technical assistance to help pediatricians promote healthy mental development in adolescents. These resources help build strong relationships to buffer teens from stress and promote social, emotional, and behavioral wellness:
Members
ZERO TO THREE
Impact Report Highlights Progress for Babies, Families, and Pediatric Care
The latest Impact Report from ZERO TO THREE highlights meaningful progress in strengthening systems of care for infants, toddlers, and families through advocacy, workforce development, and integrated approaches to care. The report reinforces a growing body of evidence showing that early relationships and coordinated supports can have lasting effects on a child’s health and development.
One of the report’s largest examples of impact is the continued growth of HealthySteps, a program that integrates child development and behavioral health specialists directly into pediatric primary care practices. HealthySteps now reaches more than 500,000 children and families, providing developmental screenings, parenting guidance, care coordination, and referrals to community resources. Embedding these supports into pediatric settings allows families to receive more comprehensive care and identify concerns earlier.
The report also highlights efforts to improve outcomes for children and families through the Safe Babies initiative, which has expanded to more than 150 sites across 31 states. The initiative works to strengthen child welfare systems and support healthy family relationships, helping children achieve permanent family placements more quickly while reducing time spent in foster care.
Beyond direct service programs, ZERO TO THREE continues to invest in professional development and advocacy efforts. More than 60,000 early childhood professionals received training and resources aimed at strengthening systems and improving care for children and families. Advocacy initiatives also generated substantial engagement with policymakers around programs and services that support young children and families.
These efforts closely align with priorities across pediatric care, including early identification of developmental concerns, integrated behavioral health services, family-centered care, and stronger connections between healthcare and community resources. As Kansas continues to strengthen systems supporting maternal and child health, these examples demonstrate how collaborative approaches can improve outcomes for children and families.
Members
Upcoming Webinar
From Data to Action: Strengthening Safe Sleep Messaging
Join Dr. Stephanie Kuhlmann, a pediatric hospitalist in Wichita and board member of the Kansas Child Death Review Board, to explore how infant mortality data can help shape and strengthen safe sleep messaging efforts. The webinar will review state data on sleep-related infant deaths in comparison to other causes of childhood mortality and examine how risk perception influences caregiver decision-making around safe-sleep practices. Participants will also discuss practical strategies for addressing common barriers families face in creating safe sleep environments and supporting consistent messaging across health care and community settings.
Tuesday, June 9, 12 to 1 PM
Members
Sleep Deprivation is Not a Benign Rite of Passage
Erin N. Bider, MD, perinatal psychiatrist
“How is the baby sleeping?”
“Oh, none of us are getting any sleep these days…”
Cue the chuckle and abrupt change of subject. There’s nothing more to say, right? We’ve all seen this script play out hundreds of times, with hundreds of slight variations, in doctor’s offices, social media platforms, and mommy groups across the country. The cultural script – that new parents should be exhausted – is so ubiquitous that we never think to question it. Before babies are even born, parents have the expectation that they will “never sleep well again”. So, when babies arrive and they don’t get any sleep, they don’t even mention it when they see their doctors. In reality, we do a disservice to parents, and by extension, their children, by treating sleep deprivation as an inconvenience or inevitability. Postpartum sleep deprivation should instead be treated as a modifiable risk factor for maternal mental health, and therefore infant outcomes.
Sleep is the foundation of wellness. Poor or insufficient sleep is associated with increased risk for type II diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and dementia. In the world of psychiatry, it is a well-established risk factor for worsening depression, anxiety, and ability to regulate mood or cope with stress. In perinatal psychiatry, it is also recognized as an important risk factor for triggering more serious conditions such as postpartum psychosis. Several studies have found that sleep deprivation causes impairments similar to, or exceeding, those associated with alcohol intoxication. While not all tired parents will experience a clinically significant “bad outcome”, we as clinicians owe it to our patients to stop sweeping sleep deprivation under the rug.
New moms fall into their own “donut hole” in the United States healthcare system. They get one or two follow up visits with their prenatal care provider, and then we hope that they make it into their PCP a year later for an annual wellness visit. The most consistent point of contact with the healthcare system in the first year of parenthood isthe pediatric well-child visits. Clinically significant sleep deprivation often remains invisible unless patients are asked directly, and we can’t intervene on that which we do not assess.
Pediatricians are already extremely overworked, so I do not suggest that they take on the entire weight of managing care for new moms. Instead, I suggest that a single screening question could be added to well-baby visits: “What’s the longest stretch of sleep you’re getting in a 24-hour period?”. If the longest stretch of sleep is consistently less than 3 hours, we have a problem. Making space for this conversation as an essential part of wellbeing for both mom and baby may open doors for moms who are in desperate need of help. Other red flags include an inability to sleep when given the opportunity and escalating nighttime anxiety or sense of dread. Practical interventions to address this are within the pediatric scope: protecting one consolidated stretch of sleep, partner taking feeding shifts, strategies for improving efficiency of nighttime feeds, and validating/supporting utilization of support systems. This advice, delivered in a supportive tone from their child’s pediatrician, can be life-changing for new moms.
In a world that often minimizes or overlooks the challenges of early motherhood, we as medical professionals must be diligent about our language. Brushing off sleep deprivation as “just part of parenting” may unintentionally shut down disclosure when moms are truly suffering. Instead, we should frame our conversations in such a way that seeking help is both normalized and encouraged. Validation of the difficulties new parents are facing and honest conversations about the consequences of severe sleep deprivation help open the door for an ongoing dialogue. Even small shifts in language can help build trust between families and their doctors.
“How is the baby sleeping?”
“Oh, none of us are getting any sleep these days…”
What if we instead paused, made eye contact, and took a moment to make sure she knows that we hear her underlying concern, and we care about how she is doing?
Members
Safe Sleep Beyond the ABCs: Understanding Barriers and Reducing Risk
Dr. Stephanie Kuhlman, DO, Pediatric hospitalist at KU School of Medicine-Wichita/Wesley
Each year in the United States, approximately 3,500 infants die from sleep-related deaths. About 40 of these deaths occur here in Kansas. Over a five-year rolling period, more infants die from sleep-related deaths than from any other cause of death among children ages 0–17. Despite significant efforts surrounding the Safe to Sleep campaign, these rates have remained stagnant.
Research by Moon et al. shows that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Safe Sleep message is widely known. Yet, infants continue to die due to unsafe sleep conditions.
The AAP’s safe sleep recommendations take a risk-elimination approach, aiming to reduce all unsafe sleep factors. These guidelines are often summarized by the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone, on their Back, in a clutter-free Crib. They promote room sharing with caregivers rather than bed sharing, which increases the risk of accidental overlay and suffocation in adult beds.
While the message itself is simple, consistently following these recommendations can be challenging in real life. Caregivers may intentionally or unintentionally share a sleep surface with their infant. The demands of around-the-clock feeding, diapering, and disrupted sleep schedules can be exhausting, and that exhaustion can lead to bed sharing. For example, a tired mother feeding her infant in bed may fall asleep unintentionally. A caregiver of a fussy two-month-old who has returned to work may resort to bed sharing out of desperation for rest. Some caregivers also believe their infant is more comfortable or sleeps better in the adult bed, which may seem to justify the behavior despite the risks (Moon).
According to the Kansas State Child Death Review Board’s 2025 report, approximately 60% of sleep-related infant deaths occurred in an adult bed. More than half involved surface sharing, and all cases included at least one unsafe sleep factor.
As pediatricians, it is essential to understand the cultural, social, and practical barriers families face in following AAP Safe Sleep recommendations. We help set the tone for consistent messaging. Building trusting relationships with families and having nonjudgmental conversations about unsafe sleep practices are critical.
We should begin these discussions early, helping caregivers anticipate the realities of infant care and the exhaustion that often accompanies it. This allows us to problem-solve together and identify strategies to reduce risk. Simple interventions can make a difference—for example, encouraging breastfeeding mothers to set a 10–15 minute alarm during nighttime feedings in case they unintentionally fall asleep. We can also emphasize the importance of a firm sleep surface to prevent an infant’s relatively heavy head from sinking into a soft mattress.
Additionally, connecting families to home visitation programs, injury prevention resources, and parent education services can provide valuable support and help reduce unsafe sleep risks.
Promoting safe sleep requires a collective effort. If you or someone on your team is interested in becoming a safe sleep champion in your community, consider attending the KIDS Network Safe Sleep Instructor course offered in May or October (KIDSNetwork.org).
Dr. Kuhlmann is a pediatrician, member of the Kansas State Child Death Review Board, board member of the Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network, and faculty for the Safe Sleep Instructor Certification. For more information, visit kidsks.org.
Members
Welcome, New Members!
Whether you’re just starting in your career or bringing years of experience, we’re glad to have you join our growing network of pediatricians across the state. Our chapter is all about supporting each other, sharing knowledge, and speaking up for the health and well-being of Kansas children—and we can’t wait to work with you to make a difference.
Michelle Karina Arzubi-Hughes, DO, MBA
Michelle Karina Arzubi-Hughes, DO, MBA, FAAP, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician affiliated with Children’s Mercy Kansas City, where she serves in leadership roles including Associate Division Chief and Medical Director of Operations within Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She is recognized for her work in pediatric emergency care, clinical operations, and improving systems that support children and families.
Dr. Arzubi-Hughes earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Phoenix Children’s Hospital followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Children’s Mercy. She also earned a Master of Business Administration degree, strengthening her expertise in healthcare leadership and organizational management.
Her clinical and professional interests include pediatric trauma care, emergency medicine operations, behavioral health considerations in pediatric populations, and improving access and quality within healthcare systems. Prior to her medical career, she served in the Peace Corps teaching health and physical education, reflecting a longstanding commitment to public health and service. She has authored publications and presented on multiple pediatric topics and remains actively engaged in advancing pediatric emergency care through leadership, education, and advocacy efforts.
Samantha Fee, DO, FAAP
Dr. Samantha Fee, DO, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician practicing in the Kansas City area. She serves with Pediatric Urgent Care at Children’s Mercy Kansas City and holds academic appointments as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine and an Education Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Fee is committed to delivering high-quality pediatric care and advancing child health through education and family-centered practice.
Lauren Hughes, MD, FAAP
Dr. Biggs graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2015. She practices in Kansas City, Missouri, and additional regional locations, specializing in pediatrics.
Dr. Lauren Hughes founded Bloom Pediatrics and Lactation in 2020, the day after finishing her pediatric residency. She earned her MD from the University of Kansas Medical School in 2017 and trained at the University of Kansas Health System. During residency, she also earned her IBCLC credential, becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She brings that dual expertise to every family navigating both pediatric care and breastfeeding challenges. Dr. Hughes treats tongue tie, latching difficulties, weight gain issues, and breastfeeding concerns alongside full-scope pediatric primary care. She runs Bloom’s community milk sharing program, overseeing donor screening, safety education, and milk distribution. Dr. Hughes is married with three children and a rescue dog.
Melissa Jefferson, MD, FAAP
Dr. Melissa Jefferson, MD, FAAP, is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist dedicated to caring for children with blood disorders and cancer. She serves as faculty with the University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita and practices pediatric hematology and oncology in Kansas. Dr. Jefferson is committed to improving outcomes for children and families through compassionate, evidence-based care, education, and collaboration.
Luis Paul Meng, MD FAAP
Luis Paul Meng, MD, FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician practicing in Manhattan, Kansas, with more than two decades of experience providing comprehensive pediatric care to children and families. He earned his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine and completed his pediatric training through the National Capital Consortium/Walter Reed training system.
Dr. Meng practices with Pediatric Associates in Manhattan and is affiliated with Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan. Throughout his career he has focused on preventive pediatric care, childhood development, immunizations, and partnering with families to support children through all stages of growth and development.
Phillip Montgomery, MD, FAAP
Philip Montgomery is a board-certified pediatrician practicing in Wichita, Kansas. He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2015 and completed training in pediatrics before beginning practice in the Wichita area. He is affiliated with pediatric practices in Wichita and is associated with several regional hospitals, including Wesley Medical Center and Ascension Via Christi St. Francis.
Dr. Montgomery specializes in general pediatrics and provides care across a broad range of childhood health needs, including preventive care, immunizations, acute illnesses, and ongoing pediatric health management. He has been noted for patient-centered care and communication, with families highlighting his listening approach and willingness to work collaboratively with parents regarding care decisions.
Apeksha Sathyaprasad, MD, FAAP
Apeksha Sathyaprasad, MD, FAAP is a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist in Wichita, Kansas, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents. Her clinical expertise includes pediatric asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic lung disease of prematurity, interstitial lung disease, sleep and breathing disorders, and care for children with complex pulmonary conditions, including tracheostomy- and ventilator- dependent patients.
Dr. Sathyaprasad earned her medical degree from Sri Siddhartha Medical College and completed her Pediatric Residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center. She then completed a Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship at Washington University/St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where she received advanced specialty training in pediatric respiratory care and complex pulmonary disorders. She is board certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Pulmonology.
Throughout her career, Dr. Sathyaprasad has combined clinical care with education, research, and service efforts focused on improving outcomes for children with respiratory conditions. She is committed to providing comprehensive, family-centered care and partnering with families to support children’s long-term health and quality of life.
Mollie Mae Tharpe, MD, FAAP
Mollie M. Tharp, MD is a pediatrician practicing in Kansas City and serves on the Child Adversity and Resilience team at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Tharp is dedicated to advancing child health through education, prevention, and supporting children and families through collaborative, family-centered care.
Medical Students
- Dallin Armstrong
- Nivedita Javesekar
- Roshan Mathur
- Awuraa-Ama Osei
Affiliate
- Luisa Ohm, DNP, MPH, APRN, FNP-C
Members
Local Health Departments: Rebuilding Trust Through Community Connections
A recent article from the Kansas Health Institute explores the role local health departments may play in rebuilding public trust in public health following declines seen during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. While confidence in many public health institutions decreased, local health departments have emerged as a notable exception, showing increased levels of public trust. The article suggests this trust stems from their direct relationships with communities and visible, local impact.
The article highlights that local health departments are often viewed as trusted because they provide services directly within communities, understand local needs, and build relationships over time. Research cited in the article found that by 2024 local health departments had become one of the most trusted public health entities, reaching trust levels comparable to an individual’s own physician.
Three strategies were identified as opportunities for strengthening public trust:
• Focus on solving problems communities care about and involve residents in decision-making.
• Demonstrate integrity through ethical decision-making and transparent use of resources.
• Measure trust and use quality improvement approaches to continuously strengthen community relationships.
For pediatricians and child health advocates, the findings reinforce the importance of trusted local partnerships. Pediatric practices and community organizations often serve as critical connectors between families and public health resources, emphasizing that relationship-based approaches remain essential to improving health outcomes.
CARE Program
Become a CARE Provider: Join the Statewide Effort to Strengthen Child Abuse Response
KAAP invites pediatricians, family medicine physicians, APRNs, and PAs to become trained CARE (Child Abuse Review and Evaluation) providers — a vital role in improving outcomes for Kansas children. In partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Department for Children and Families, and Board-Certified Child Abuse Pediatricians, the CARE program equips frontline medical providers with the skills and support to identify and evaluate possible physical abuse or neglect in children under age 6.
September 22-23, Wichita
Title V Maternal Child Health Block Grant Objectives & Initiatives
Review Title V Priorities and Areas Important to You, Then Complete the Survey
Kansas Maternal and Child Health (MCH) is seeking public input to help guide future priorities and funding decisions through the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant process. Feedback from healthcare professionals, community partners, families, and stakeholders is essential to identifying the greatest needs and strengthening programs that support women, infants, children, adolescents, and children with special health care needs across Kansas.
To participate:
- Visit Kansas MCH Block Grant Information Page
- Review the current Title V priorities and focus areas that are most important to you and your community.
- Complete the public input survey and provide feedback on maternal and child health needs and priorities.
Your feedback directly helps shape statewide priorities, future programming, and funding decisions. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and encourage colleagues, partners, and families to participate—broad participation helps ensure Kansas programs reflect the needs of communities across the state.
Members
Kansas Immunization Conference; Highlights Physician Perspectives on Immunizations in today’s Landscape
Healthcare professionals from across Kansas gathered at the Kansas Immunization Conference to discuss current immunization priorities, emerging challenges, and strategies for strengthening vaccine confidence and access. One of the featured sessions, Be the Beacon: Physician Perspectives on Immunization in Today’s Landscape, brought together pediatric experts, to discuss the evolving role physicians play in supporting patients and families through vaccine conversations.
The featured panel included KAAP members,Randall Schumacher, pediatrician with Cotton O’Neil Pediatrics; Edward Lyon, pediatrician with Children’s Mercy; and Gretchen Homan, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center-Wichita. Together, they shared perspectives drawn from clinical experience and the day-to-day realities of discussing immunizations with patients and families.
As vaccine information continues to evolve and misinformation remains a challenge, sessions like Be the Beacon reinforced the critical role pediatricians and healthcare providers play in promoting child health and strengthening trust within their communities. The conference offered attendees practical insights and renewed commitment to supporting Kansas families through education, partnership, and advocacy.
Trainings and Resources
Progress in pediatrics conference
Fall 2026 Progress in Pediatrics Conference
Progress in Pediatrics Fall 2026 is coming up fast! Join us on Thursday, October 29th for our social hour with Willie the Wildcat at the K-State Student Union, then come back on Friday, October 30th for networking and learning with colleagues and top notch speakers.
Early bird pricing is available now through July 4th weekend. Ask us about our new group rates by contacting Marisa Guerrero at marisa.guerrero@kansasaap.org.
Spots are filling up fast for sponsorships and exhibitors. Join us and get your organization in front of Kansas primary care providers by chatting with Marisa. Ready to sign up?
National Association
New Resource: Managed Care Contracting Essentials
American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new resource, Managed Care Contracting Essentials, designed to help pediatric practices navigate the managed care contracting process. The guide provides a practical framework covering preparation, contract negotiation, and contract execution, helping practices strengthen financial sustainability and support continued access to high-quality pediatric care.
MEmbers
Minnesota Department of Health offers three new American Sign Language videos on hepatitis B, measles, and pertussis
Immunization education resources in American Sign Language (ASL) are crucial for the Deaf and hard of hearing. The Minnesota Department of Health shares three new American Sign Language videos to help explain vaccine information on its Diseases and Conditions web page. Please share these important resources with the Deaf community and their advocates where you live. The videos include:
- Hepatitis B: Information for Pregnant Persons
- Measles (Rubeola)
- Pertussis: What Parents Need to Know
Resources in ASL available from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Diseases and Conditions main page address COVID-19, influenza, MMR, pertussis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, mpox, rabies, and other public health topics.
Trainings
DC:0-5 Clinical Training Information
DC:0-5TM Clinical Training equips clinicians with practical skills to diagnose and support children from birth to age five. Led by experts, the program blends instruction, case work, and discussion to deliver a culturally grounded, developmentally sensitive, and relationship-based framework to support early childhood development and mental health. Trainings run through August.
For more information: DC:0-5TM Clinical Training
Maternal Health & Mortality Conference
Save the date to join us July 29-30, 2026, for A Million Moments for Maternal Mortality Prevention: Addressing maternal mortality at the intersection of physical and mental health, substance use and intimate partner violence. The conference will be held at Sporting Park in Kansas City, KS. There are no registration fees; however, attendees are responsible for their own travel costs. Free CME/CEs will be available.
Brought to you by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and partners, this conference will convene physicians, healthcare professionals, behavioral health clinicians and community partners to address the leading causes of and contributors to maternal mortality in Kansas.
Registration information will be shared soon.
Members
KSWebIZ Update: Easier Access to Immunization Records for Families
The Kansas Immunization Information System (KSWebIZ) has launched a new Public Portal that allows patients and families to securely access and download their immunization records online, reducing the need to contact providers or the KSWebIZ Helpdesk. Providers are encouraged to support portal use by promoting it to patients and ensuring that records include up-to-date email addresses or mobile phone numbers, which are required for secure identity verification. Improving contact information not only increases successful access rates for patients but also strengthens overall data quality, enhances patient matching, and creates a more efficient experience for both providers and families. Patients can access the portal at myvaccinerecord.ks.gov.
Kansas AAP Officers
Kelly Kreisler, MD, MPH, FAAP
President
Sonder Crane, MD, FAAP
President-Elect
Julianne Schwerdtfager, MD, FAAP
Treasurer
Gretchen Homan, MD, FAAP
Past President
Kansas AAP Team
Karey Padding, LMSW
Executive Director
karey.padding@kansasaap.org
Martha Atkinson
Accountant
martha.atkinson@kansasaap.org
Michelle Horst
Foundation Operations Manager
michelle.horst@kansasaap.org
Mallory Laur
Program Manager
mallory.laur@kansasaap.org
Marissa Guerrero
Outreach and Event Coordinator
marisa.guerrero@kansasaap.org