Advocacy Virtual Training Session: Senator Discussion Panel

The Nebraska Advocates for Child Health (NEACH), a collaboration of the Nebraska Chapter AAP (NEAAP) and the Regional Council of the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (ROCAP), will host a virtual advocacy training session.

This session includes a panel of two State Senators and a parent advocate that will provide insight on the importance of physician advocacy, how physicians can better advocate and what child health topics are anticipated for the coming legislative season.

Panelists:

  • State Senator Danielle Conrad, District 46
  • State Senator Kathleen Kauth, District 31
  • Kristin Flott, Parent Advocate

Facilitator: Joan Daughton, MD

This session is open exclusively to medical student, resident, fellow and physician members of the NEAAP and ROCAP.

Registrants will receive the session’s Zoom login information just prior to the event.

ONLINE REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED – PLEASE EMAIL IF YOU WISH TO REGISTER.

Reception for Nebraska AAP Members Attending 2024 NCE in Orlando

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PLANNING TO ATTEND THE AAP NCE IN ORLANDO?
Join us for a reception for the Nebraska Chapter AAP attendees:

Saturday, September 28
6:00-8:00 PM
 EDT
Bahama Breeze Island Grille
8849 International Drive in Orlando, FL

All members of the Nebraska Chapter are invited to attend this reception.
Appetizers and first cocktail on the Nebraska AAP.

2024 Reception for NCE Attendees

NEAAP Executive Committee Election 2024

Members may now cast their vote for the candidates to fill several Nebraska Chapter Executive Board seats for terms beginning in July 2024.

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED.

There following positions are up for election
PRESIDENT-ELECT
SECRETARY/TREASURER
OMAHA REPRESENTATIVE (TWO SEATS)
LINCOLN REPRESENTATIVE
OUT-STATE REPRESENTATIVE


PRESIDENT-ELECT:
Matt Gibson, MD is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He trained in pediatrics at the UNMC/Children’s/Creighton combined program in Omaha, NE. Dr. Gibson has been practicing since 2013, the last almost 7 years in practice in Omaha at Methodist Physicians Clinic-Regency. He practices general pediatrics and newborn medicine while also serving as physician champion on vaccines and HPV, as well as on the Executive Board of Methodist Physicians Clinic. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and has served on the NE AAP board for 4 years as an Omaha representative and the past two years as Secretary/Treasurer. He works with the Chapter as a Social Media Co-Chair as well as previously helped to redesign and update its website. He enjoys spending free time with his spouse, two sons, and two crazy dogs. Dr. Gibson is board certified in Pediatrics.

SECRETARY/TREASURER:
Kenneth (Ken) Zoucha, MD received his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1988 and completed his internship and residency in in Pediatrics in 1991 during which time he served as the Chief Resident for the Department of Pediatrics from 1990 – 1991. Dr. Zoucha is currently Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Addiction Division for the Department of Psychiatry. He is also the program director for the Addiction Medicine fellowship at UNMC with Family Medicine as the sponsoring residency. He developed a pilot project for an executive fellowship in addiction medicine to provide an intensive educational experience for current medical providers. Prior to his current position he served as Medical Director of Hastings Juvenile Chemical Dependency Program at the Hastings Regional Center that started in 2012. Dr. Zoucha practiced as a general pediatrician from 1991 until 2010 and was a partner of the Children and Adolescent Clinic, P.C. in Hastings, Nebraska while serving as volunteer faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics. He maintains Board Certification in General Pediatrics and Addiction Medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and a Diplomat of the American Board of Addiction Medicine. Ken enjoys time with his family, including his grandkids and granddogs. He finds peace in the outdoors with frequent walks with his dog and when he has time, enjoys plucking the bass guitar and spinning some wax (aka listening to records).

OMAHA REPRESENTATIVES (TWO SEATS):

Kari Krenzer, MD, is a graduate of The University of Nebraska Medical Center. She trained in pediatrics at the joint UNMC/Creighton residency program in Omaha. Dr. Krenzer has been practicing with Children’s Physicians in Omaha since August of 2001. She has served the past years as an Omaha Representative on the NEAAP Executive Committee. She is board certified and a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Joseph (Jay) Snow, MD is a graduate of the Creighton University School of Medicine. He trained in Pediatrics at the University of Nebraska/Creighton University Joint Pediatric Residency program. Dr. Snow has been practicing since 2002 as a Pediatric Hospitalist at Children’s Nebraska, Omaha as well as additionally practicing at Nebraska Medicine, Madonna, Bryan, and St. Elizabeth’s over subsequent years.  Jay is also an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and volunteer faculty at Creighton University School of Medicine and is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Jay previously served on the Nebraska Chapter AAP board while serving as Chief Resident 2001-2002.  He is board certified in Pediatrics and will be sitting for the Pediatric Hospital Medicine boards this fall.

LINCOLN REPRESENTATIVE:

Pam Zegers, MD is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical College. She trained at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. She completed a chief resident year and then practiced in Milwaukee from 2003-2011 where she was actively involved in residency training and received Outstanding Volunteer Faculty Awards. She relocated back home to Nebraska in Fall of 2011 and has been practicing for 12 years at Complete Children’s Health where she serves as the Vice President. She is board certified in Pediatrics and enjoys the broad scope of practice but has some emphases in Adolescent Health, Adolescent Gynecology, and Behavioral Pediatrics. She has served as a volunteer faculty for Children’s Nebraska and the Lincoln Family Medicine Residency Program and served on the DHHS advisory board for the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. She spends much of her time at Complete Children’s Health working on marketing, media, and employee relations.

OUT-STATE REPRESENTATIVE:

Melissa Law, MD is a graduate of University of Nebraska College of Medicine. She trained in Pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center-Children’s Hospital-Creighton combined residency program in Omaha, NE, and served a fourth year as a Co-Chief Resident. Dr. Law has been practicing since 2013, the last 9 years in Grand Island, NE at the Grand Island Clinic. Dr. Law specializes in General Pediatrics and has extra training in lactation and loves following her patients from birth throughout childhood. Dr. Law is on staff at both CHI-St. Francis and Regional Medical Center hospitals in Grand Island, NE. Dr. Law is a volunteer adjunct assistant professor at both University of Nebraska Medical Center-Pediatric Department and Creighton Medical Center-Pediatric Department and is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Law was the recipient of the University of Nebraska Medical Center- Pediatric Department volunteer faculty clerkship teaching award in 2018. She has served the past two years as Out-State Representative on the NEAAP Executive Committee. Dr. Law is board certified in General Pediatrics.

NEACH Advocacy Day at State Capitol – Friday, February 23, 2024

The Nebraska Advocates for Child Health – a collaborative advocacy effort of the Nebraska Chapter AAP and the Nebraska Regional Council of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ROCAP) – invite member physicians to attend our Third Annual Advocacy Day at State Capitol. Now more than ever, it is important for lawmakers to hear from pediatric health experts as they make decisions that will impact health care and the health of Nebraska’s children and adolescents.

Make your voice heard.

NO PRIOR ADVOCACY EXPERIENCE NEEDED.
Open to seasoned advocates and anyone wanting to learn more about advocating for child health.

TENTATIVE AGENDA: (UPDATED 2.8.24)

8:30 AM – Meet in Children’s Admin Parking Lot (for those wishing to carpool to Lincoln)

9:45 AM – Meet at Nebraska State Capitol, south side entrance

10:00 AM – Group Visits with State Senators

10:30 AM – Lunch & Morning Recap

11:00 AM – Group Visits with State Senators

11:30 AMLunch in the Capitol Cafeteria & Discussion

1:00 PMObserve Legislative Hearing or Meet with Senators

3:00 PM – Leave Capitol

The visits are conducted in groups that will include both experienced advocates and those learning the advocacy process.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. If you are still interested in attending, please email director@nebraska-aap.org

2023 NEACH Advocacy Training Session

NOVEMBER 15th at 6:00 PM VIA ZOOM

This session is open only to members of the Nebraska Chapter AAP or the Nebraska Regional Council of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Wednesday, November 15th

Advocacy Panel Discussion

Panelists: 

  • State Senator Ben Hansen, District 16, Chair of Nebraska Health & Human Services Committee
  • Cristina Prentice, Legislative Aide to State Senator Tony Vargas
  • Andrea Skolkin, CEO of One World Community Health Centers

This session will give you the opportunity to learn and ask questions about:

  • Why advocacy is important and why physicians are needed in advocacy efforts
  • Gain insight into child health topics likely to arise this upcoming legislative season

NOTE: Online Registration has closed. NEAAP or ROCAP members interested in participating should email Nebraska Advocates for Child Health.

Project ECHO Series: Addiction Treatment in Pediatric Settings

Virtually on Tuesdays, 12:00 – 1:00 PM CDT, September 5 – October 24

  • September 5th: Overview of Substance Use & Addition in Adolescents presented by Kenneth Zoucha, MD, FAAP, FASAM
  • September 12th: Screening, Brief, Intervention, & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Approaches presented by Kenneth Zoucha, MD, FAAP, FASAM
  • September 19th: Cannabis and Nicotine Use Disorders presented by Varun Sharma, MD
  • September 26th: Alcohol Use Disorder presented by Claudia Moore, MD
  • October 3rd: Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Part 1 presented by Kenneth Zoucha, MD, FAAP, FASAM
  • October 10th: Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Part 2 presented by Rishi Gautam, MD
  • October 17th: Overdose Prevention and Other Medical Considerations presented by Kenneth Zoucha, MD, FAAP, FASAM
  • October 24th: Preparing Your Practice to Offer Medication to Treat Opioid Use Disorder presented by Jesse Barondeau, MD

ABP MOC Part 2, AMA PRA Category 1, DEA MATE, Opiate Prescriber credit pending.

Advocacy Training Session for Child Health Providers 12/1

Nebraska AAP and the Nebraska Regional Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry invite you to hone your advocacy skills at two online training sessions. These sessions are open to all NEAAP and ROCAP members as well as medical students and residents.

The next session, December 1 from 6-7 PM, will feature former Senator Sara Howard providing a lawmaker perspective on to help sharpen your skills and increase your advocacy effectiveness.

We hope you will join us.

2022 Advocacy Sessions - 12/1

SAVE THE DATES: Advocacy Basics for Pediatric Providers Webinar Series

Brief 20-30 minute virtual sessions designed to help pediatric providers advocate for their patients.

Friday, Aug 7 @ Noon
Understanding the Legislative Process

Presented by:
Nebraska Senator John Arch &
Liz Lyons, Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs Administration for Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Thursday, Sept. 17 @ 7 PM
Introducing Yourself to Your Lawmakers

Presented by:
Karla Lester, MD

Friday, Oct. 9th @ Noon
Writing Letters & Testifying Basics

Presented by:
Beth Ann Brooks, MD

This series was developed in partnership with the Nebraska Regional Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists.

Details to come.