Oregon Pediatric Society

09/03/2026

September is Su***de Prevention Month, a time to share resources, strengthen connections, and remind young people and families that support is available. Pediatric providers play a critical role in reducing the risk of su***de among adolescents and young adults, and that role often begins with a simple, direct conversation.

Want to build your skills and confidence around these conversations? Join our Youth Su***de Prevention for Pediatric Providers: Intervention Skills Booster, a complimentary training covering practical tools, office workflows, and hands-on safety planning.

Choose one session or attend both:
📅 Friday, September 25 | 12:00–1:30pm PDT
📅 Thursday, October 15 | 12:00–1:30pm PDT

Register now: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AiFvmZbW1fzwl5caXMaiwxpVGXZWrQueSWsYoGoP_1aUMBbxSJny~AqYZFdxWf7NyKjmFlxORjPmpIsmwSkY5cgNO0nUH6USCT7SyAEVS_C2HPXer9kRpiYw8lEN8bQaBi4kJKA9yAJ5KFA

***dePreventionMonth ***deprevention

09/03/2026

Flip back with us to 1985, when the Oregon Pediatric Society's Task Force on Emergency Services for Children applied for a federal grant that would go on to change emergency care for kids across our state.

That grant application led to the establishment of the Oregon Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program in 1986. Forty years later, EMSC continues to be a vital part of pediatric emergency care in our state by ensuring Oregon's emergency medical systems are equipped to meet the unique needs of infants, children, and adolescents. It all started with a bold idea and a grant application from OPS leaders.

Want to learn more about the EMSC program, their HERO kids or Pediatric Readiness program activities? Visit the Oregon Health Authority's website: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/providerpartnerresources/ems/emsforchildren/pages/index.aspx

09/01/2026

Board Spotlight: Meet Suman Malempati, MD, JD

As a kid, he dreamed of being the next Dr. J 🏀. Turns out he became a doctor after all; just not the kind he imagined. Dr. Malempati built a career as an academic physician before making a pivot into law and policy.

Now Chief of Staff at the Office of Oregon State Representative W***y Chotzen, he brings a rare blend of clinical insight and legislative know-how to the OPS Board.

Get to know Dr. Malempati in our latest Board Member Spotlight: https://oregonpediatricsociety.org/board-member-spotlight-suman-malempati-md-jd/

Suman Malempati

08/28/2026

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and as we close it out, it's worth pausing on why this work matters so much right now. Measles cases continue to rise nationally, and deaths linked to the virus have been reported this year, a sobering reminder of what's at stake when vaccination rates fall. Oregon's kindergarten vaccination rate remains below the threshold needed for community immunity, leaving our state more vulnerable to outbreaks.

That's why we're resharing our measles resources. Earlier this year, OPS partnered with the American Academy of Pediatrics and pediatric infectious disease expert Dr. Judy Guzman-Cottrill, Professor of Pediatrics in Infectious Diseases at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital for a deep dive into managing measles in 2026, covering everything from recognizing symptoms to post-exposure prophylaxis to infection control in your clinic. The post includes a full Q&A from that training plus a bookmark-worthy list of resources for providers and families alike.

Whether you need a refresher on isolation protocols or want to share trusted info with a worried parent, this is a resource worth revisiting.

Get the full story here: https://oregonpediatricsociety.org/managing-measles-in-2026/

With rising cases of measles being reported nationally and here in Oregon, the Oregon Pediatric Society (OPS) has partnered with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Judy Guzman-Cottrill, DO to bring timely, practical information about measles and related infection prevention education to pe...

08/27/2026

Save your Seat at the Oregon Pediatric Society's 50th Anniversary Celebration!

Join us for Building Futures Across the Decades, an evening honoring our past, celebrating today, and looking ahead to the future we’re building together for Oregon's children. It is sure to be a fun evening of food, drink, trivia, community, and celebration!

📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 6:00 PM
📍 The Arc Light, 604 7th St, Oregon City, OR

Individual tickets and tables are filling up - don't miss your chance to celebrate with us! Secure your seat or host a table: https://tinyurl.com/OPS50YEARS

Sponsorship spaces are still available, contact us to learn more about getting involved.

08/25/2026

As pediatric providers, you already know sleep affects nearly every part of a student's ability to succeed at school, from concentration to mood to academic performance. But do your patients and families know it just as well? As back-to-school schedules ramp up, now is a great time to reinforce that message. Consistent bedtimes, morning light exposure, and screen-free wind-down time all make a difference.

Share Healthy Children's sleep resources with your patients and families this season: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/default.aspx

08/21/2026

Oregon Pediatric Society Stands Up for Oregon’s Children

Speaking up for children's health is not just part of our mission, it is who we are. When policies threaten to weaken protections for kids, we join our voices with pediatric providers and child health advocates across the country, speaking up at both the federal and state levels to push back.

On August 10, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing sweeping changes to childhood vaccine recommendations. The order bypasses the scientific review process that has long guided national vaccine policy and was issued without new evidence to support these changes.

OPS is paying close attention, standing among the signers of two statements: one at the federal level and one focused here at home. Policy decisions like these directly affect children and families in Oregon every day. Read the full statements and learn how to take action, including how to contact your legislators, on our blog: https://oregonpediatricsociety.org/oregon-pediatric-society-stands-up-for-oregons-children/


American Academy of Pediatrics Oregon Families for Vaccines Oregon Public Health Association Oregon Primary Care Association Oregon Academy of Family Physicians Our Children Oregon Immunize Oregon Oregon CLHO

08/20/2026

Next up in our Board & Staff Spotlights — it's Kelly Coates, Executive Director, and she's got a birthday this week! 🥳

Kelly E. Coates, PhD, MPH joined OPS as Executive Director in December 2025, bringing over 20 years of nonprofit experience and a systems-thinking approach to improving child health. Her walk-out song? "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra, a fitting soundtrack for someone who brings so much energy to our mission.

Get to know Kelly, and join us in wishing her a happy birthday, in our latest Staff Member Spotlight!
https://oregonpediatricsociety.org/staff-member-spotlight-kelly-e-coates-phd-mph/

08/19/2026

Edward Hendricks, MD, a private practice pediatrician in Beaverton, served as the Oregon Pediatric Society Board President in 1976. Fast forward 50 years, James A Bishara, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) now leads our organization. Despite the time that has passed, these dedicated champions share the same mission: to show up for Oregon's kids and the providers who care for them.

Join the Oregon Pediatric Society's 50th Anniversary Campaign and help us create a future where every child thrives. Learn more at https://oregonpediatricsociety.org/50th-anniversary-campaign/

08/14/2026

Summer is winding down and school starts soon, a perfect moment to reinforce vaccination status with the families you serve. Right now, your voice matters more than ever as vaccinations take center stage yet again at the national level with the unscientific and dangerous executive order from the Trump administration.

For the 2025-2026 school year:
- Only 85.6% of Oregon kindergartners were up to date on required vaccines.
- Oregon's rate of nonmedical exemptions for required school vaccines for kindergarteners climbed to a record high of 10.9%.
- More than one-third (36%) of all Oregon schools with 10 or more students in grades K-12, report MMR vaccination rates under the 93% vaccination rate for herd immunity.

As pediatric providers, you're on the front lines of protecting Oregon's kids. Every conversation you have with a family about staying up to date and every reminder to check school immunization records, helps move Oregon in the right direction, keeping our communities safer.

Access Oregon Health Authority's School Immunization Data dashboard for more information: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/oregon.immunization.program/viz/OregonSchoolImmunizationandExemptionRates/School-leveldata