SPR Advocacy Committee
The SPR Advocacy Committee provides leadership in child health advocacy through government and public forums for issues related to the mission of the Society, “To cultivate a diverse network of child health researchers through collaboration, community, mentorship, and advocacy.”
SPR Advocacy Committee Members:
Dr. Abdallah Dalabih
Dr. Genevieve Guyol
Dr. Thomas Mariani
Dr. Jessie Maxwell
Dr. Kimberly Montez
Dr. Erin Paquette
Dr. Punita Ponda
Dr. Elaine Shelton
Dr. Miriam Vos | SPR Council
Ashwini Lakshmanan, MD, MS, MPH, FAAP
Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
Society for Pediatric Research
Tom Mariani, PhD
Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
Society for Pediatric ResearchPediatric Policy Council
The Pediatric Policy Council (PPC) has worked on Capitol Hill since 1984 and is the combined legislative advocacy efforts of the Society for Pediatric Research, American Pediatric Society, Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, and Academic Pediatric Association.
The PPC meets annually and sponsors an annual pediatric policy scholarly session at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting.
The PPC is a member of the Committee on Federal Government Affairs, American Academy of Pediatrics (COFGA).
Additional information and resource materials on issues related to child health are available from the Washington Coordinator for the societies, Matthew Mariani, Director, Federal Advocacy, American Academy of Pediatrics.
PPC Representatives:
Dr. David Keller | Chair
Dr. Shetal Shah | SPR
Dr. Joyce Javier | SPR
Dr. Ashwini Lakshmanan | SPR
Dr. Lisa Chamberlain | APS
Dr. Scott Lorch | APS
Dr. Sherin Devaskar | AMSPDC
Dr. Tina Cheng| AMSPDC
Dr. Mona Patel | APA
Dr. Jean Raphael | APA
SPR Connects with Congress
Check out our latest SPR Congressional Briefing video.
Evergreen Resources
Want to get involved in advocacy, but not sure how? Here are some resources to get you started.
- Overview and Critical Context
- Amplify your Advocacy Messages in the Media
- Conduct an Advocacy Visit: Step-by-Step Approach
- Schedule an Advocacy Visit
- Keep Medicaid Strong for Children
- Increase Federal Research Funding to Foster Key Advances in Child Health
- Strengthen the Pediatric Workforce to Ensure Children Get the Care They Need
- Capitol Hill Visit Feedback Form
Action Alert News
- Submit Public Comments on Proposed Rule Seeking to Remove Civil Service Protections from Federal Science Agency Staff 6/2025
- Urgent Opportunity for Pediatric Subspecialty Advocacy 5/2025
- PPC Survey: Impact of Cuts to Federal Research & Reductions 4/2025
- Tell Your Representatives to Protect Medicaid 4/2025
- Tell Your Senators to Protect Child Health and Support Access to Vaccines 1/2025
- Urgent Opportunity for Pediatric Subspecialty Advocacy 3/2023
- Support the Next Generation of Pediatrician Scientists 9/2022
- Urgent Opportunity for Pediatric Subspecialty Advocacy 4/2022
- Tell Congress to Finish Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Spending Bills 1/2022
- Urgent Opportunity for Pediatric Subspecialty Advocacy 6/2021
- Urgent Opportunity for Pediatric Subspecialty Advocacy 4/2021
- Support Helping MOMS Act 12/2020
- Go to Vote & Census Day of Action 9/2020
- Tell Congress: Don’t Cut the Census Short 8/2020