(August 1, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ) The Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AzAAP) welcomes its new 2012-2014 Board of Directors into their leadership roles and will be led by Gilbert pediatrician Dr. Dale Guthrie, a fourth-generation Arizonan and member of the Chapter for more than 20 years.
At its recent 35th annual conference, the new leadership officially took office. The executive committee includes: Dr. Dale Guthrie, president; Dr. Arturo Gonzales, immediate past president; Dr. Delphis Richardson, vice president; Dr. John Pope, treasurer; and Dr. Conrad Clemens, secretary.
Among Guthrie's priorities in leading the organization is "to help the pediatric profession navigate through the struggles of providing care to Arizona's kids with all the challenges they face, as well as continually examining the opportunities the statewide organization has to support care, coverage and policy that impacts children from booster seats to vaccine coverage."
Guthrie is a co-founder of Gilbert Pediatrics, a Mesa resident, the father of six, including two special needs children, and has served as the Chapter's liaison to Partnership for a Drug-Free America during their Arizona campaigns. He's also been a member of AzAAP's Pediatric Council.
Richardson, who practices in the Tempe office of Mesa Pediatrics Professional Association, says being a pediatrician has "a positive impact on how parents raise children and prevent unnecessary illness and disability." The incoming vice president has been an active member with the Chapter because of its important legislative and advocacy efforts.
Pope is the physician director for the pediatric service line for the Scottsdale Healthcare Hospital System. A Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Pope says he has "a special interest in hospital care for children in the community setting, focusing on relationships with community healthcare providers, hospital safety and service quality." He received a Masters in Public Health (Health Administration and Policy) from the University of Arizona.
Clemens is the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at the University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine. An Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Clemens has been on faculty at the UA since 2002 where he has served in a number of leadership roles. He received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins and did his Pediatric Residency training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
The organization also welcomed a number of new board members, including for the first time adding non-pediatrician members, including: Edward N. Basha, III, MBA, Chairman of the board and VP of Retail Operations and Communications for Bashas' Inc. and Ginger Ward, MA, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Human Development.
New board member Basha earned his bachelor's degree and MBA from Arizona State University. He has served on several boards including for the East Valley Child Crisis Center and Children's Cancer Center as well as committees for the City of Chandler. He's the father of five children and grandfather to three.
Ward is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Human Development (SHD), which she founded in 1981 with six employees serving 175 families. Today SHD has more than 700 employees serving 135,000 young children and families, and is the largest community-based organization of its kind in Arizona.
The other members of the board include: Dr. Matthew Barcellona; Dr. Rene Bartos; Dr. David Beyda; Dr. Robert Cannell; Dr. Cody Conklin-Aguilera; Dr. Rebecca Egbert; Dr. Kathleen Graziano; Dr. Alan Hartsook; Dr. Stephen Holve; Dr. Gretchen Hull; Dr. Elizabeth McKenna; Dr. Michael Perlstein; Dr. Sydney Rice; Dr. Mary Rimsza; Dr. Norman Saba; Dr. Amy Shoptaugh; Dr. Susan Stephens; and Dr. Alison Wilcock.
The Board of the Chapter is active in setting the strategic direction of the organization, its advocacy and education efforts with the community and elected officials, program development and the implementation of key initiatives.
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