Visit to Virginia by Founder of Medical-Legal Partnership Movement

Dr. Barry Zuckerman, founder of the National Center for the Medical-Legal Partnership, and the Joel and Barbara Alpert Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at the Boston University School of Medicine, came to Virginia for a three day Visiting Professorship between March18-20. (Photo at left of Dr. Zuckerman pictured with members of the Charlottesville CHAP team.)

During his visit, Dr. Zuckerman took time out to meet with the Charlottesville CHAP team and brainstorm ideas about how to further develop and refine our medical-legal partnership program.  He was also able to do the same with the Richmond CHAP team and with Michele Peters, Esq. who is in the process of establishing a medical-legal partnership in Norfolk in collaboration with the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. As a result, the Virginia Medical Legal Partnership is re-energized and focused on developing both our individual programs and our statewide network to serve families in need most effectively  In particular, we are exploring how to develop a systemic advocacy agenda for the coming year, as well as how to expand our services to subspecialty populations.

The program, entitled "A Culture of Advocacy," sought to bring increased awareness of the importance of advocacy for child health, to promote dialogue between the health care systems and other stakeholders for children's health, and to find ways to further develop a culture of advocacy in our health care systems and our communities.

While in Virginia, Dr. Zuckerman also worked with residents, faculty and community leaders at both UVA and MCV. He presented Grand Rounds, "Transforming Pediatric Health Care to Reduce Health Disparities," describing how stress and other effects of poverty become embedded physiologically in children exposed to inadequate resources and excessive stresses during childhood.

The visiting professorship was funded through the Leonard P. Rome Visiting Professorship CATCH Grant program through the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as through support from the University of Virginia Department of Pediatricsand the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Pediatrics.

New cHAP attorney joins Legal Aid Justice Center Staff

Carolyn Pointer (photo at right)has joined the staff as the coordinating attorney for the Child Health Advocacy Program in Charlottesville. She brings a wealth of experience, having worked with the Medical Legal Partnership in Boston -- the model upon which CHAP was based -- as a legal intern and staff attorney.  Most recently, she was co-director of the Children's Mental Health Program at Health Law Advocates in Boston.  Carolyn received her B.S. in Education from Boston University, and was a high school teacher prior to receiving her law degree at BU.   

Dr. Diane Pappas Named to MLPC National Medical Advisory Board

Charlottesville, June 4, 2008 -- Dr. Diane Pappas, medical director for the Child Health Advocacy Program in Charlottesville, has been named as one of six Assistant National Medical Directors to work with the Medical Legal Partnership Council (MPLC) National Medical Advisory Board.  In this role, she will work closely with the MLPC and with developing sites to provide technical assistance and support.  The board is responsible for conference planning, participation in national/local medical and legal conferences, and the on-going work of the national working groups.