PA AAP Chapter Awards
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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 is awarded one year of complimentary membership to the PA AAP. |
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2025 Pediatrician of the Year
Norrell Atkinson, MD, FAAP 
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) is thrilled to announce that Norrell Atkinson, MD, FAAP has been named “2025 Pediatrician of the Year,” an honor that reflects her outstanding dedication, compassion, and contributions to the field of Pediatrics. The Pediatrician of the Year is selected through a thorough vetting process based on peer nominations and is given to a Pennsylvania pediatrician who exemplifies the ideals of the pediatric profession and participates in activities that reflect the mission and values of the Chapter. Dr. Atkinson has been a pillar at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where she has provided exemplary care to countless children and families for the last eight years. Known for her unwavering commitment to her patients, Dr. Atkinson combines clinical expertise with genuine compassion, creating a safe and welcoming environment for every child in her care. Beyond her exceptional work in clinical practice, Dr. Atkinson has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting the field of Child Abuse Pediatrics through mentorship, leadership, and collaboration. Dr. Atkinson continuously educates her fellow pediatricians on how to identify and respond to cases of child abuse and neglect through clinical service, lectures, academic publications and research. As a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Child Abuse and Neglect and in her roles on the Medical Advisory Committee for the PA AAP’s Keystone State Child Abuse Medical Forum and as PA AAP’s Trauma-Informed Care Ambassador, Dr. Atkinson has served as a resource for pediatricians who are looking to provide better care for pediatric child abuse victims and children who have experienced trauma. In addition to her clinical and academic roles, Dr. Atkinson has demonstrated her commitment to advancing the field of Child Abuse Pediatrics through community engagement. She regularly participates in programs to educate community organizations and government agencies on child abuse-related issues. This award celebrates not only Dr. Atkinson’s professional excellence, but also her lasting impact on the lives of patients and the broader community. It is with great pride that we honor Dr. Atkinson as our 2025 Pediatrician of the Year. |
2025 DEI Champion
Maya Ragavan, MD, MPH, FAAP 
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) is proud to announce Maya Ragavan, MD, MPH, FAAP, as the recipient of the “2025 DEI Champion Award.” Dr. Ragavan has dedicated her career to promoting health equity and ensuring that all patients receive optimal care. In her role as Associate Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Ragavan has spearheaded various institutional changes to promote health equity, including the development of a robust program to fund health equity research. Through her extensive research on language justice and intimate partner violence, Dr. Ragavan’s academic publications have highlighted the need for inclusion of non-English speaking communities. Her work has helped provide insight into the extent of health disparities and offered innovative solutions to address those disparities. In recognition of this work, one of Dr. Ragavan’s colleagues cited her as having “begun to transform the research and clinical service landscape through her persistent advocacy for language justice.” Dr. Ragavan’s passion for health equity extends beyond her research into clinical care. She often visits clinic during her research time to provide care for Spanish-speaking families and has engaged in various efforts to improve language access for clinical services. As a dedicated teacher in both clinical and didactic settings, Dr. Ragavan participates in the clinical training of medical students, pediatric residents, and family medicine residents at the UPMC Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center. In addition, Dr. Ragavan’s efforts to advance health equity initiatives through community collaboration have been exceptional. As co-founder of the Community Vitality Collaborative (CVC), a community-academic collaboration focused on COVID-19 vaccine equity, Dr. Ragavan demonstrated her expertise in conducting community-partnered research. Throughout her career, Dr. Ragavan has engaged with countless local organizations to advance health equity through community partnerships. Dr. Ragavan continuously motivates and inspires her peers to advocate on behalf of marginalized populations, and her daily work embodies what it means to be a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion. |
Past Recipients of the Pediatrician of the Year Award
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Past Recipients of the DEI Champion Award
- Lynne Williams, MD, PhD (2024)
- Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD, FHASM, FAAP (2023)