Pedi POWER

Physicians and health care staff at 750 S. Bascom Avenue, June 5, 2020

Mission Statement

Pedi POWER (Pediatricians Organizing and Working to End Racism) is committed to an anti-racism approach to medicine. We advocate for anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in patient care, in trainee education, and in recruiting and retaining pediatricians at Santa Clara Valley Healthcare.

Vision

We envision a health care system that recognizes existing inequities in the delivery of medical care and intentionally strives to correct these inequities through policy change and training. We strive for a culture where health care providers are skilled at recognizing, and comfortable talking, about racial inequities, and are committed to anti-racism work. Our goal is a place where all patients receive equitable care, families are shown respect and appreciation, and families have equal access to health resources and information.

Values

We value collaboration, inclusion, and transparency. We value caring for people who have been historically marginalized. We value continuous education around race and health disparities; we see this as an essential part of health care training to reduce health inequities and create an anti-racist system of health care.

History

After the horrific murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, pediatricians at SCVH were appalled by the violent loss of life, and recognized that the lack of a workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) group must be addressed. Physicians in the Departments of Pediatrics and of Obstetrics and Gynecology organized a protest on June 5, 2020. Dr. Abi Pitts created the name Pedi POWER (Pediatricians Organizing and Working to End Racism) and Dr. Amna Khan designed the five-arm logo.

In January 2023, in honor of the National Day of Racial Healing, the Office of System Integration and Transformation/Center for Diversity and Health Equity awarded Pedi POWER one of the Health System’s inaugural Health Equity Transformation Awards, in the category of Social Determinants of Health.

Members of Pedi POWER at the Health Equity Transformation Award ceremony (from left to right: Dr. Lee Anna Botkin, Dr. Beatriz Mares, Dr. Laurie Cammon, Dr. Amna Khan)

Award

PediPOWER received the Perinatal Equity Conference Appreciation Award for outstanding service to advancing perinatal equity for women of African Ancestry on April 12, 2023. Five of the six steering committee members have been recognized with the clinician celebration award for extraordinary contributions to the practice of medicine and commitment to the mission of Santa Clara Valley Healthcare