2025 Pediatrician of the Year Award

Every year, with your help, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes a pediatric fellow who exemplifies the ideals of the pediatric profession and participates in activities that reflect the mission and values of the Chapter.

The following qualities and activities will be considered:

• Advocacy for children’s health and/or increased access to health services
• Improving the interactions of pediatricians with other agencies that result in more efficient provision of care
• Portraying pediatricians or the Chapter in a positive manner
• Highlighting AAP and/or Chapter membership activities
• Other activities or qualities demonstrating a commitment to Pennsylvania's children

Please note: nominees must be active national AAP and/or PA AAP chapter members.

​Required documentation:

• Nomination form
• 1-3 letters of support from colleagues, patients, community partners, etc.
• The nominee's Curriculum Vitae

2025 DEI Champion Award

The DEI Champion Award was established in 2022 to recognize an individual who champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of pediatric healthcare in Pennsylvania. The awardee will receive one free year of membership to the PA AAP.
The following criteria will be considered:

• Contributions to DEI efforts in pediatric medicine or demonstrated career-long commitment to advancing child health equity through clinical practice, advocacy, and research 
• Contributions to DEI initiatives at the practice, community, organizational, institutional, or state level
• Demonstrated commitment to reducing inequities and disparities in child health and/or bias in health care delivery 

Please note: nominees must be active or eligible members of the PA AAP and must live and/or practice in Pennsylvania.  

Required documentation:

• Nomination form
• Nomination letter (2 pages maximum)
• Letter of support (2 pages maximum)
• Nominee's bio information or Curriculum Vitae

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To nominate your colleague, please submit the nomination form and supporting documentation via email to [email protected] or mail it to the following address:
ATTN: Annette Myarick
Valley Forge Square II
661 Moore Road, Suite 200
King of Prussia, PA 19406
The Pediatrician of the Year and DEI Champion awards will be presented at PA AAP's 2025 Pediatric Conference, which will take place on March 8-9, 2025 at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, PA.

​If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to the Chapter at [email protected].

Announcing our 2024 Chapter Award recipients!

Pediatrician of the Year Award
 
The Pediatrician of the Year Award was incepted in 1988, and is awarded annually to a Pennsylvania-based pediatric fellow who exemplifies the ideals of the pediatric profession and participates in activities that reflect the mission and values of the Chapter.
 

DEI Champion Award
 
The DEI Champion Award was established in November 2022 by the PA AAP Board of Directors and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. This award was created to acknowledge a Pennsylvania-based pediatric health care provider who champions diversity, equity and inclusion in their pediatric practice. In recognition of their efforts, the DEI Champion will be awarded one year of complimentary membership to the PA AAP. ​

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2024 Pediatrician of the Year
Kenneth Keppel, MD, FAAP

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has announced Kenneth Keppel, MD, FAAP, as the recipient of the 2024 Pediatrician of the Year Award. 

Throughout his nearly four decades in practice as a comprehensive primary care pediatrician, Dr. Keppel has served in various clinical roles. Much of his career was spent in private pediatric practice at Children’s Community Pediatrics – Armstrong in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. A primary focus of Dr. Keppel’s career has been caring for some of most medically complex patients in his practice, many of whom see multiple specialists, require home nursing and/or therapies, and may need special educational accommodations. Though the challenges these families face are great, Dr. Keppel has been dedicated to ensuring that his practice was a medical home for them, helping to navigate these complexities.
 
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Keppel has also played a central role in the community. Dr. Keppel worked with his local Children, Youth, and Family Services to advocate for vulnerable children and families. He served local school districts as school physician, reviewing IEPs for special needs students and providing advice on medical issues. In an enthusiastic endorsement of his nomination for Pediatrician of the Year, one of Dr. Keppel’s colleagues stated that he is a “fantastic example of what a pediatric primary provider can be – a superb and caring clinician, a fierce patient advocate, and an inspiring and supportive mentor.” Dr. Keppel has had a remarkable career in pediatrics and has touched the lives of countless patients, families, and colleagues.

2024 DEI Champion
Lynne Williams, MD, PhD

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has announced Lynne Williams, MD, PhD, as the recipient of the 2024 DEI Champion Award. 

​Dr. Williams has demonstrated a commitment to the principles of equity and inclusion since the beginning of her clinical career, working with underserved patients at Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Pittsburgh area, initially at East Liberty Family Health Center and more recently at Hilltop Community Health Center. In addition to advocating for equity and inclusion in the practice setting, Dr. Williams has also been driven to community advocacy. Through her personal journey of fostering and adopting children, Dr. Williams recognized the need for all families in western PA to have access to safe, accessible, and reliable childcare during emergency and urgent life situations. In response to this need, Dr. Williams founded Jeremiah’s Place, the region’s only 24/7/365 crisis relief nursery for young children. 

​ Dr. Williams has also demonstrated a career-long commitment to training her peers on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles. For nearly a decade, as the Executive Director of the Southwest PA Area Health Education Center (AHEC), she has promoted diversity by supporting the training of a diverse group of candidates in health-related fields. AHEC works to enhance access to primary healthcare and promote recruitment and retention of a diverse group of primary care providers for the region. Dr. Williams has been active in training medical students in Poverty Simulation and has been a lecturer on Adverse Childhood experiences. She is also a Facilitator for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Racism in Medicine course.
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Pediatrician of the Year: Immediate Past Recipient

Debra Bogen, MD, FAAP
Award Year: 2023

​The PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics recognized Dr. Debra Bogen as the 2023 Pediatrician of the Year. This prestigious award is given annually to a Pennsylvania Fellow who exemplifies the ideals of the pediatric profession and participates in the type of activities that are the foundation of the AAP.

Past Recipients

• Debra Bogen, MD, FAAP (2023)
• Karen Puopolo, MD, PhD, FAAP (2022)
• Clark McSparren, Jr, MD, FAAP (2021)
• D. Holmes Morton, MD, FAAP (2020)
• Diego Chaves-Gnecco, MD, MPH, FAAP (2019)
• Renee Turchi, MD, MHP, FAAP (2017)
• Daniel Taylor, DO, FAAP, FACOP (2016)
• David Turkewitz, MD, FAAP (2014)
• Mark Widome, MD, MPH, FAAP (2013)
• Robert Cicco, MD, FAAP (2010)
• Eve Kimball, MD, FAAP (2009)
• Narayan Shah, MD (2008)
• Cindy Christian, MD (2007)
• George Fatula Sr., MD (2006)
• James Jones, MD (2005)
• Alan Cohen, MD (2004)
• Cheston Berlin, MD (2003)

• Basil Zitelli, MD (2002)
• Albert Price, MD (2001)
• Albert Gaskins, Jr., MD (2000)
• Jack Paradise, MD (1999)
• Jerold Aronson, MD (1998)
• Ellen Wald, MD (1997)
• Harold Lischner, MD (1996)
• Kenneth Rogers, MD (1995)
• Charles Reilly, MD (1994)
• Lee Bass, MD (1993)
• David Smith, MD (1992)
• Alan Kohrt (1991)
• J. Gartner, MD (1990)
• Pascal Spino, MD (1989)
• Susan Aronson, MD, FAAP (1988)

DEI Champion: Immediate Past Recipient

Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD, FHASM, FAAP
Award Year: 2023

The PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics selected as PA AAP's inaugural "DEI Champion".  The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Champion Award was established to recognize an individual who champions diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of pediatric health care in the state of Pennsylvania.