Vote for Dr. Wanda Barfield for President-Elect of the AAP!

Dear Diva Docs!

I am sharing an email letter from Dr. Karen McAlmon endorsing one of our own to be the next President Elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics! If you are an AAP member (or can become one), please register and vote for Dr. Wanda Barfield! The deadline is September 16, 2026! Thank you.

To the Pediatrician Diva Docs

I’m proud to support Wanda Barfield for AAP President-Elect.  I invite you to learn why I believe her leadership, experience, and vision are what pediatrics needs at this critical moment and to consider voting by September 16.

As a fellow AAP member, I know you share a deep commitment to the health and well-being of children and families. Advancing that mission requires strong, collaborative, and effective leadership, especially during challenging times. That is why I encourage you to consider supporting my valued friend, colleague, and respected pediatric leader, Wanda Barfield.

I have known Wanda since she was a medical student and have had the privilege of watching her grow into an exceptional clinician, researcher, policymaker, and advocate.

Wanda’s campaign priorities include:

• Protecting Medicaid and CHIP while advancing payment models that appropriately reflect pediatric care.

• Reducing administrative burden and supporting the responsible use of AI that is safe, validated, and beneficial for children.

• Strengthening pathways for the next generation of pediatricians through training, mentorship, and loan repayment opportunities.

• Rebuilding the public health systems on which pediatrics depends and leading with evidence that families and policymakers can trust.

Why I believe Wanda is the right leader:

• She has dedicated more than 30 years to improving maternal and child health at the federal, state, regional, and local levels.

• She has led and supported public health responses during major crises, including 9/11, Zika, hurricanes, COVID-19, and other emergencies.

• She has successfully translated data into action, helping drive national improvements in teen pregnancy prevention, neonatal levels of care, pediatric emergency preparedness, and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

• She consistently demonstrates the ability to turn vision into reality through integrity, evidence-based decision-making, effective policy leadership, and mutual respect.

Throughout my years of knowing and working with Wanda, she has proven herself to be thoughtful, ethical, and collaborative. She is not only an outstanding leader but also someone whose judgment and character I trust deeply.

If you would like to learn more about Wanda and her vision for the future of pediatrics, I encourage you to review her biography here: AAP information on the website. Also, here is a link to a Podcast she did about why she is seeking this role: Incubator Podcast—A Conversation with Dr. Wanda Barfield

I respectfully ask for your vote for Wanda Barfield for AAP President-Elect. Your participation in this election matters, and your vote will help shape the future direction of our Academy at a critical time for children, families, and pediatricians. Wanda will bring thoughtful, principled, and effective leadership to the role of AAP President-Elect. If her vision and record of leadership resonate with you, I hope you will join me in supporting her candidacy and cast your ballot before September 16.

To vote, visit the AAP Election Center and access your ballot through your AAP member account. Please take a few moments to vote and consider sharing this information with your AAP colleagues.

Thank you for your consideration, your commitment to children and families, and your participation in this important election.

Warm regards,

Karen McAlmon, MD

Dr. Karen McAlmon