West Virginia Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics

08/08/2026

📚🏃‍♀️ A great morning at the Dolly Dash at Ritter Park!

WV AAP was proud to come out and support an amazing partner organization while sharing “Benny and the Magic Book” with children and families. 💙📖

And we even had a special visitor—Marco from Marshall stopped by to say hi! 🦬💚

We love opportunities that bring together healthy kids, strong families, community partnerships, and the joy of reading. Thanks for a wonderful day!

06/19/2026

What a great evening at our first WV AAP Resident Social at Short Story Brewery in Morgantown! 🎉

A huge thank you to all of the residents, faculty, and friends who joined us at Short Story Brewery last night. We loved the opportunity to connect, build relationships, and celebrate the incredible pediatric trainees who are shaping the future of child health in West Virginia.

We are especially grateful for the donations collected for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Your generosity will help support families caring for children receiving medical treatment away from home. ❤️

05/19/2026

Did you know that floating toys are NOT safety devices? Drowning remains a leading cause of death for children, but there are simple, actionable ways to keep them safe. In this quick video, AAP drowning prevention expert Dr. Benjamin D. Hoffman breaks down what you need to know about children’s water safety before heading to the pool.

🔗 Watch the video below and learn more from Healthy Children: https://bit.ly/4wAwQuZ

Drowning is a leading cause of death for all children, particularly...

05/04/2026

🎉 Celebrating Excellence in Child Health! 🎉

At the 2026 West Virginia AAP Annual Summit last week, we were proud to recognize outstanding leaders whose dedication is making a lasting impact on the lives of children and families across our state.

🏆 Pediatrician of the Year
Dr. Hillary Porter, DO – Marshall Pediatrics
A compassionate clinician and trusted leader, Dr. Porter is recognized for her unwavering commitment to high-quality care and improving health outcomes for children in her community.

💙 Friend of Children Award
Kristy Ritz, Executive Director, West Virginia Association for Young Children
A tireless champion for early childhood, Kristy’s leadership continues to strengthen systems of support for young children and families across West Virginia.

📣 Advocate of the Year
Dr. John Fernald, MD
A dedicated general pediatrician whose strong advocacy efforts continue to protect and improve the lives of West Virginia’s children and families.

These incredible individuals represent the very best of our mission—championing children through care, collaboration, and advocacy. Their work is strengthening communities and improving the health and wellbeing of West Virginia’s children every day.

👏 Please join us in congratulating this year’s honorees!

04/21/2026

Last week, members of the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics were proud to be in Washington, DC for the national AAP Advocacy Conference.

We had the opportunity to meet with members of our state delegation’s staff, sharing perspectives and elevating the needs of children and families across West Virginia. These conversations were meaningful, energizing, and a reminder of the power of advocacy.

As we headed home, we felt inspired and grateful, for the voices of our pediatricians, for the partnerships we continue to build, and for the opportunity to advocate on behalf of kids every day 💙

04/15/2026

Play is essential for healthy growth and development. But just like food, play has healthy and less healthy options.

Learn more about the Power of Play campaign and play tips from Healthy Children: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/power-of-play/Pages/default.aspx

Play is essential for healthy growth and development. But just like food, play has healthy and less healthy options.That's why the American Academy of Pediat...

03/30/2026

The AAP schedule is updated annually to provide the latest, trusted guidance on when children and teens should receive each vaccine. This year 12 leading medical and healthcare organizations—including the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists—formally endorsed AAP’s schedule. This year’s schedule includes recommendations for protection against 18 serious diseases, including RSV, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza and meningococcal disease.

Your pediatrician cares about your child’s health and development. if you have any questions about vaccines or the AAP’s recommended immunization schedule, or visit Healthy Children: http://bit.ly/47uPeue