Pediatric residency enhanced by advocacy curriculum

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Andrea Lauffer, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, has been named the 2021 Advocate of the Year for the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

“This award is a tremendous honor,” Lauffer said. “Now, more than ever, our children need voices advocating for their health and wellbeing. I am so incredibly proud to be part of amazing organizations like Marshall Pediatrics and the WV AAP who work to provide the children in our region and all across the state the chance for a bright, healthy future.”

Lauffer is an internal medicine and pediatric hospitalist who joined Marshall’s pediatric faculty in 2020.

“This award is well deserved,” said Audra Pritt, M.D., pediatric residency program director and pediatric hospital medicine fellowship associate director. “Dr. Lauffer has been instrumental in driving advocacy programming in our pediatric residency and pediatric hospital medicine fellowship programs at Marshall.”

Outreach and advocacy can take many forms. These efforts among Marshall’s pediatric faculty, residents and fellows have focused on educational programs and a commitment to collaboration.

Activities during the 2020-2021 academic year included:

• Hosting HIV testing drive at the Cabell-Huntington Health Department (fall 2020)
• Hosting HIV testing drive + COVID-19 vaccine event at the Cabell-Huntington Health Department (spring 2021)
• Hosting toothbrush drive for pediatric patients in the resident clinic for Children’s Dental Health Month (February 2021)
• Publishing opinion-editorials by pediatric residents in the local newspaper on “Continuing your child’s healthcare visits during a pandemic” and “National nutrition month is a good time to reflect on the role of food in our lives.”
• Working with Mission West Virginia to promote the kinship navigator program, which provides support and help for those with new custody of children.

Lauffer and pediatrics resident, Maggie DeBolt, M.D., received a grant in February 2021 from the American Academy of Pediatrics to expand the advocacy curriculum in Marshall’s pediatric training programs for 2021-2022.

“Thanks to the grant, we have financial support to better educate our residents on how to be advocates for our pediatric patients,” Lauffer said. Lauffer and DeBolt plan to share their progress and best practices with the state AAP chapter and their colleagues across the state. Lauffer, along with several residents and fellows attended the national AAP advocacy virtual conference and met with federal representatives on ensuring that vaccine laws remain strengthened.

Lauffer also helped plan and coordinate the WV AAP virtual child health advocacy conference in March 2021 and serves as chief health officer for Cabell County Schools. 

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Media Contact: Sheanna M. Spence, Director of External Affairs, School of Medicine, 304-691-1639

Date Posted: Wednesday, May 12, 2021