TECaN Leadership Roster

TECaN Executive Council Roster

TECaN is led by an executive council of fellows and early career physicians (within 7 years of fellowship) who meet twice per year in person in addition to monthly conference calls to carry out the business of TECaN.

Theresa Urbina

Chair

Chair
Madigan Army Medical Center
[email protected]

Anisha Bhatia

Past Chair

[email protected]

Ashley Osborne

Communications Chair

Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital
Medical University of South Carolina
[email protected]

Melis Suner

Membership Chair

Bronxcare Health System
[email protected]

Cynthia Perez-Alquran

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair

New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center
[email protected]

Erin Rholl

Advocacy Chair

Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin
[email protected]

John Feister

Advocacy Vice Chair

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
[email protected]

Cecilia Kwak

Career Development & Leadership Chair

Johns Hopkins University
[email protected]

Elizabeth Crouch

Research/Quality Improvement Chair

University of California San Francisco
[email protected]

Nicole Lock

Education Chair

Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine
[email protected]

Sasha Amiri

Senior Regional Fellow Representative

District 1,2,7
Rush University Medical Center
[email protected]

Eugene Park

Senior Regional Fellow Representative

District 3, 4, 6
University of Illinois Chicago
[email protected]

Neema Pithia

Senior Regional Fellow Representative

District 5,8,9,10
University of California Los Angeles
[email protected]

Piyawat "Paul" Arichai

Junior Regional Fellow Representative

University of Southern California, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Los Angeles General Medical Center
[email protected]

Michelle J. Bartlett

Junior Regional Fellow Representative

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
[email protected]

Shannon Dunn

Junior Regional Representative

Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies
[email protected]

Ravi D'Cruz

Early Career Representative

Pediatrix - Northern Puget Sound
Washington State University College of Medicine
[email protected]

Brian King

Early Career Representative

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
[email protected]

Dmitry Dukhovny

TECaN Mentor

Oregon Health & Science University
[email protected]

Mackenzie Frost

TECaN Mentor

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
[email protected]

Executive Council Positions

To learn more about our executive council positions click on the position of interest below to see their duties and responsibilities.

Chair

The Chairperson shall be the leader of the TECaN Executive Council, shall chair meetings of the EC on a biannual basis (spring Perinatal Workshop and fall NCE), and shall serve as part of the Section on Neonatal Perinatal Medicine (SoNPM) Executive Committee. The Chair shall also have the authority to create subcommittees and appoint committee chairs as necessary. The term of the elected Chairperson shall be for no longer than two (2) years from their first spring Perinatal Workshop meeting during which they run the TECaN EC meeting as Chair.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Organize and lead biannual TECaN EC meetings (spring Perinatal Workshop and fall NCE) – travel arrangements, agenda, leading the meetings
Organize and lead monthly TECaN phone calls
Review all minutes prior to distribution to TECaN EC (provided to Chairperson by Secretary & Communications Chair)
Attend biannual SoNPM Executive Committee meetings as the TECaN representative (spring Perinatal Workshop and fall NCE) – will submit a written report prior to each of these meetings and give an oral report
Give oral presentation on the state of TECaN at the spring Perinatal Workshop each year
Write a biannual TECaN update for the SoNPM Newsletter
Attend one (or more) of the regional or national meetings as the TECaN representative
Provide final approval of survey requests prior to distribution to the TECaN listserv
Organize of elections for TECaN EC members each year
Monitor finances – from SoNPM, Abbott Nutrition, and Mead Johnson Nutrition
Monitor call for applicants, review of applications, and notification of selections for all travel grants/awards (organized by Membership Chair)
Maintenance of TECaN Dropbox and all documents
Encourage and monitoring progress of TECaN initiatives
Directing interested TECaN members to participation in TECaN-led initiatives
Serve as the primary contact person for interested TECaN members, SoNPM leadership, and other entities hoping to partner with TECaN
Monitor that TECaN EC members are fulfilling their roles & responsibilities and intervene if necessary

Past Chair

Upon completing his/her 2- year term as Chairperson, the EC member shall immediately become Past Chair. The Past Chair shall attend the biannual TECaN EC meetings (spring Perinatal Workshop and fall NCE), shall be available to the current Chairperson as a mentor, and shall serve as a member of the Planning Committee for the upcoming spring Perinatal Workshops. The term of the Past Chair shall be for two (2) years.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Transition the new Chairperson into their role
Participate in monthly TECaN calls
Participate in biannual TECaN EC meetings
Provide overall guidance and support for the current Chairperson

Secretary & Communications Chair

The Secretary & Communications Chair shall help document activities of the TECaN EC, shall help coordinate the TECaN EC initiatives and activities, shall direct communications to the TECaN listserv, shall serve as part of the AAP SoNPM Website Committee, and shall function as the social media coordinator for TECaN. The term of the Secretary & Communications Chair shall be for no longer than two (2) years.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Record minutes for each phone call and TECaN EC meeting
Distribute minutes to the TECaN EC in a timely fashion after approval by Chairperson
Coordinate the logistics of monthly phone calls
Coordinate and finalize the monthly Newsflash
Participate in AAP SoNPM Website Committee phone calls/meetings as the TECaN representative
Communicate with AAP representative regarding website updates and changes
Solicit website content updates from TECaN EC
Maintain social media presence for TECaN
Maintain the list of upcoming regional conferences in need of TECaN representation and coordinate representative’s travel/preparation for the conference
Advertise upcoming TECaN social events at regional and national meetings along with the Membership Chair

Membership Chair

The Membership Chair shall help organize the maintenance of current member records, shall organize and direct travel grants/awards, and shall directly supervise the Regional Fellow Liaisons and the Early Career Liaisons. The term of the Membership Chair shall be for no longer than two (2) years.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Organize financial support, call for applicants, review of applications, and notification of selections for all travel grants/awards
Direct the maintenance of member records/contact information: current fellows, graduating fellows, program representatives
Direct contact with AAP regarding TECaN listserv
Develop and maintain records of early career neonatologists in TECaN
Aid the Secretary & Communications Chair in advertising upcoming TECaN social events at regional and national meetings

Advocacy Chair

The Advocacy Chair shall organize and lead TECaN advocacy initiatives, shall be responsible for relevant TECaN webpages and communications to the listserv, and shall focus on advocating for new opportunities for TECaN members in the area of advocacy.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Provide updated content for the Advocacy TECaN webpage at LEAST quarterly
Collaborate with March of Dimes, American College of Obstetricians, AAP Federal Affairs, Section on Pediatric Trainees and any other applicable groups on relevant advocacy initiatives
Participate on general SoNPM Advocacy Subcommittee
Provide updates on advocacy initiatives on monthly phone calls
Prepare a formal update on advocacy initiatives to be presented at biannual TECaN EC meetings
Lead the TECaN advocacy campaign during your chair year (would be pre-planned during the Vice Chair year)
Participate in writing TECaN Newsflashes
Attend at least one (1) regional or national conference as a TECaN representative
Lead teleconferences/webinars and podcasts focused on research and/or QI
Attend at least one (1) Legislative Conference during term as TECaN representative

Advocacy Vice-Chair

The Advocacy Vice-Chair shall support the Advocacy Chair in the mission of creating and promoting opportunities for TECaN member engagement in advocacy initiatives related to maternal, neonatal, and child health.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Provide updated content for the Advocacy TECaN webpage at LEAST quarterly
Collaborate with March of Dimes, American College of Obstetricians, AAP Federal Affairs, Section on Pediatric Trainees and any other applicable groups on relevant advocacy initiatives
Participate on general SoNPM Advocacy Subcommittee
Provide updates on advocacy initiatives on monthly phone calls
Coordinate TECaN-led advocacy resolutions for the Annual Leadership Forum
Participate in at least one (1) advocacy campaign per year (same campaign may encompass two year term, at discretion of TECaN EC)
Participate in writing TECaN Newsflashes
Attend at least one (1) regional or national conference as a TECaN representative
Lead teleconferences/webinars and podcasts focused on research and/or QI
Attend at least one (1) Legislative Conference during term as TECaN representative

Research & Quality Improvement Chair

The Research & Quality Improvement Chair shall organize and lead TECaN initiatives focusing on research and QI, shall be responsible for relevant TECaN webpages and communications to the listserv, and shall focus on advocating for new opportunities for TECaN members in the areas of research and quality improvement.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Update content for the Research and QI TECaN webpages
Function as the TECaN liaison for Marshall Klaus Grant Award notifications
Work with the VON Fellow Champion Liaison to advocate for opportunities for TECaN members and to aid in advertising VON Scholars application
Facilitate mentoring opportunities for TECaN members
Provide updates on research and QI initiatives on monthly phone calls and at the biannual TECaN EC meetings
Lead research and/or QI initiatives
Participate in writing TECaN Newsflashes
Attend at least one (1) regional or national conference as a TECaN representative
Lead teleconferences/webinars and podcasts focused on research and/or QI

Leadership & Career Development Chair

The Leadership & Career Development Chair shall organize and lead TECaN initiatives focusing on leadership and career development, shall be responsible for relevant TECaN webpages and communications to the listserv, and shall focus on advocating for new opportunities for TECaN members in the areas of leadership and career development.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Update content for the Leadership and Career TECaN webpages
Function as the TECaN liaison for Young Physicians Leadership Alliance including advertisement of call for applications
Work with the Section on Early Career Physicians Liaison to advocate for opportunities for TECaN members
Facilitate mentoring opportunities for TECaN members
Provide updates on leadership and career development initiatives on monthly phone calls and at the biannual TECaN EC meetings
Lead leadership and career development initiatives
Participate in writing TECaN Newsflashes
Attend at least one (1) regional or national conference as a TECaN representative
Lead teleconferences/webinars and podcasts focused on leadership and/or career development

Education Chair

The Fellowship Education Chair shall organize and lead TECaN initiatives focusing on fellowship education, shall function as the ONTPD Liaison for TECaN, shall organize and lead TECaN initiatives focusing on global health education in fellowship/early career, shall be responsible for relevant TECaN webpages and communications to the listserv, and shall focus on advocating for new opportunities for TECaN members in the areas of fellowship education and global health.

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Provide updated content for the Fellowship Training TECaN webpage at LEAST quarterly
Function as the TECaN liaison for the Organization of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Training Program Directors (ONTPD) including an update to be presented at the ONTPD meetings biannually
Work with the Flipped Classroom Initiative to advocate for TECaN opportunities
Provide updates on fellowship education and global health initiatives on monthly phone calls
Prepare a formal update on fellowship education and global health initiatives to be presented at biannual TECaN EC meetings
Lead at least two (2) fellowship education and global health initiatives per year
Participate in writing TECaN Newsflashes
Attend at least one (1) regional or national conference as a TECaN representative
Lead teleconferences/webinars and podcasts focused on leadership and/or career development

Early Career Liaison

The Early Career Liaison is a two-year term and the selected individual will be a member of the TECaN Executive Council. He/she will be responsible for organizing and leading TECaN initiatives focused on the needs of early career neonatologists. He/She will serve a key role in linking each early career neonatologist to the valuable resources and opportunities the SoNPM and TECaN offer. This chair role is expected to attend both the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in the fall and the Workshop on Perinatal Practice Strategies in Scottsdale in the spring each year as part of their executive role (travel stipends are provided).

Additional responsibilities include:

Participation in TECaN organizational activities year-round via monthly phone conference calls
Notifying early career TECaN members of relevant opportunities (scholarships, grants, course offerings, etc).
Organizing and leading TECaN podcasts on topics relevant to the needs of early career neonatologists
Working with the Section on Early Career Physicians Liaison to advocate for opportunities for TECaN members
Dissemination of TECaN information to other early career neonatologists
Participation in TECaN-led initiatives year-round
Attend at least one (1) regional or national conference as a TECaN representative

Regional Fellow Representatives (6)

There are six Regional Fellow Representatives on the TECaN Executive Council, each with a two-year term. Three representatives are elected each year on an alternating schedule. They serve a key role in linking each neonatology fellow to the valuable resources and opportunities the SoNPM and TECaN offer. The representatives are expected to attend both the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in the fall and the Workshop on Perinatal Practice Strategies in Scottsdale in the spring each year as part of their executive role (travel stipends are provided).

Detailed responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Communicating with fellowship training programs within assigned region to identify program delegates at every institution.
Working with program delegates to disseminate information about TECaN resources and opportunities to program delegates and fellows.
Serve on one a TECaN Committee of personal interest (Education, Career Development, Advocacy, Research & Quality Improvement)
Attend at least one (1) regional or national conference as a TECaN representative

Assist with review of travel grant applications for the AAP National Conference and Exhibition and Workshop on Perinatal Practice Strategies

Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Leadership

Additionally, the larger Section on Neonatal Perinatal Medicine (which TECaN is a part of) has a board member from each of the 10 AAP districts. See the district map (below) to find out what district you’re in and who your Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine board member representative is.