Getting Involved
Our strength as an organization is entirely based on the support and commitment of our members. Understanding this, the WCAAP strives to engage members in our Chapter.
We recognize WCAAP members have multiple commitments both in and outside of work. Mindful of this, we have created opportunities for members to be involved whether they have a small or large amount of time to commit. Besides various leadership opportunities on our Board, there are many ways to be involved in the WCAAP. These opportunities include, but are not limited to:
1. Be a member. First things first: We need members! Please help us by maintaining your membership and encouraging your colleagues to join. Membership dues allow us to do the great things detailed throughout the website. Specifically, more members means a stronger voice for children and pediatricians in Olympia as well as giving the WCAAP a greater ability to support current and future member opportunities. Click here for an application.
2. Join us at a WCAAP Board Meeting. The WCAAP has quarterly Board meetings on select Thursday evenings in the Seatac area. We welcome interested members to attend so you can see what we’re up to. This is a great way to help decide if you may be interested pursuing a leadership position with the Chapter. If interested, let us reserve you a spot: Click here. We can attempt to arrange for travel with your local trustee.
3. Email, call, or write your Representatives in Olympia. The WCAAP offers and is developing an array of tools to help you voice concerns for child health care and issues that affect your day to day practice. Click here.
4. Get More Involved in an Area of Interest. Pediatrics experts across the state lead many educational and research efforts. Look over our list of key contacts and send us an inquiry to see how you can pitch in or start a project of your own in your area of interest. Click here.
5. Become a legislative liaison. In order to ensure a voice for children and pediatricians are heard, we have developed a program that connects area pediatricians with their district representatives. This program helps members establish and foster relationships with their local representatives and is an essential part of our ability to have WCAAP priorities heard in Olympia. This does not need to be major time commitment, and you will be given advice and support by others already involved. If you'd like to get more information or become a liaison for the chapter, let us know. Click here.
6. Participate in an Advocacy Day. Once to twice a year WCAAP sponsors an event to educate and demystify members about our political system. Past events have included meetings with the Governor’s Office and conversations with leaders from both political parties. We will announce soon when our next Advocacy Day will be in our News section and right here. Please join us!
7. Participate in a PROS (Pediatric Research in Office Settings) project. There are many research projects that pediatric offices can participate in. If interested, the WCAAP can help facilitate you and your office’s participation. Click here to link to the PROS website. Click here to contact WCAAP trustee Stephen Pearson who sits on the PROS executive committee. Recent studies have included measuring the amounts of nicotine exposure on children, collecting data to assess early puberty in adolescents, and identifying effective interventions for obesity.
8. Become a mentor to a Seattle Children’s Pediatric Resident or Medical Student. The WCAAP has partnered with the residency program and UW Medical school to connect interested residents and medical students to outside physician mentors throughout the state. This commitment can involve anything from a few conversations over coffee to a visit to your office or practice. Click here.
9. Send us an idea. The WCAAP supports its members and their ideas. Let us know if you have some by contacting the membership chair: Click here. We are working to create and foster member interest groups such as international medicine, environmental medicine, and EMR implementation. Do you have any other ideas? Please let us know.