It's Legislative Session time, time to advocate for our patients to our elected officials! Joining us today are Dr. Nola Ernest, our Chapter's Legislative Chair, and former Representative, Jay Love, who is our AL AAP's lobbyist! Get a crash course on how a bill becomes a law, tips on talking to legislators, and what the Chapter's agenda this year includes!

To find out who your local officials are: click here.

For more AL AAP info on legislative advocacy: click here.

Alabama pediatric legend and AL-AAP's first Afro-American President, Dr. A.Z. Holloway, shares about his experiences growing up and as a Black pediatrician in Alabama, how healthcare and health disparities have changed through the years and more. This is truly an episode that will inspire more conversations on social and health inequities, as well as how we as pediatricians can advocate for and support our patients and their families.

Discover the PATHS Program from the Children's of AL's Behavioral Health Department and all the resources it provides to pediatric providers across the state! From tele-mental services to didactic lectures and more, the PATHS Director, Margo Harwell shares how great this program is!

For more information on the PATHS Program: click here.

For more information on COA's Behavioral Health Services: click here.

To contact Margo Harwell: Margo.Harwell@childrensal.org or 205-638-5673.

Join us as pediatric infectious disease Dr. Shannon Ross of COA talks about the importance of antibiotic stewardship, the impact of antibiotic resistance, and how to approach good antibiotic practices and more!

Check out the AAP Statement on antibiotic stewardship: click here.

For AAP resources on antibiotic stewardship: click here.

For more information on the Children's of AL antibiotic stewardship program and their antibiogram: click here.

For resources from the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society: click here.

For information from the AL Department of Public Health: click here.

For resources and toolkit from the CDC: click here.

It's our last episode of 2025! Thank you to all you listeners and guests out there. If there are any topics or guests you would like to hear on this show, contact the AL AAP (click here). Looking forward to a new year!

Our friends from our favorite non-profit Reach Out and Read - Alabama are here to share how this year has been in terms of grants, sponsorships, successes, experiences, and more! Reach Out and Read provides books to children at well child checks, not just to support childhood literacy, but to provide building blocks in the foundation of relational health for children and family, as well as for pediatric providers and their patients!! With your help, more books (all development and age appropriate) will reach the hands of children everywhere!

To learn more about Reach Out and Read Alabama and to donate: click here.

Pediatric Rheumatologist Dr. John Bridges at Children's of AL joins us today to answer the question of, "What exactly is a rheumatologist?" He shares what history and exam findings are concerning for a pediatric rheumatologic issue, what labs to get, when to refer, and more!

For more information on COA peds rheum: click here.

Check out resources from Rheum for Primary Care: click here.

For other information from the American College of Rheumatology (ACOR): click here.

For more information and resources from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA): click here.

For more information and resources for your patients, check out Take a Pain Check Foundation: click here.

Unfortunately Rheum2Play is not available anymore but check out this one episode: click here.

Our Executive Director Linda Lee is joining us to give Chapter updates!

Check out the Firearm Injury Prevention Virtual Symposium: click here.

Check out Pages Over Pixels: click here.

For Healthy Mental Developmental Resources: click here.

For more information on HR-1 updates from AAP: click here.

To contact Linda Lee for feedback on Practice Management sessions and any legislative interests: llee@alaap.org

Dates to remember:

- AL AAP Legislative Day: February 4, 2026

- AL AAP Spring Meeting: April 16-19, 2026

- AL AAP Fall/Annual Meeting: September 11-13, 2026

We have a great panel today! Dr. Keri Read, Dr. Marquisha Jarmon, and Dr. Katie Fogle join us to talk about some highlights of the 2025 AL AAP Fall and Annual Meeting! There were some great talks, resources, and people at this meeting so make sure you join us in the future!!