Gretchen Hull, MD, FAAP
Gretchen Hull was born in California, but grew up in Tucson. She graduated from Brown University in 1993 and attended medical school at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine, graduating in 1999. She completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 2002 and has been working at Tucson Central Pediatrics in general pediatrics since. She has been on the board of the Arizona Chapter of the AAP intermittently since 2005, serving one term as secretary and is currently the vice president. She volunteers in Baja California with Flying Samaritans and has been on many international medical trips to countries such as Guatemala, India and Ghana. Her hobbies include photography, hiking, travel and studying foreign languages.
Jason Vargas, MD, FAAP
I love being a private practice pediatrician. I have had the privilege to care for children and families and watch them grow at my practice, Cactus Children’s Clinic in Glendale, Arizona since 2004 and I hope to do it for many years to come. I have been able to cultivate my interests in child advocacy, child safety, and caring for children with special needs including Down Syndrome. I have been able to be a part of training pediatric residents, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in my office. I have been able to work with community hospitals and as a board member for Phoenix Children’s Care Network working to integrate the private practice pediatrician’s role in providing quality pediatric care for years to come. I hope my interests and experience can help in some way support our mission to improve health care for children.
I graduated from San Jose State University and Stanford University before my residency at the University of Washington- Seattle Children’s Hospital. I was born and raised in California but moved to Arizona in 2004 with my wife after her residency in Anesthesiology. We have 2 children and a dog. We love traveling with our children, running, and spending time with family and friends.
Jodi Carter, MD, FAAP
Dr. Jodi P. Carter is the Chief Medical Officer of the Phoenix Children’s Care Network, Arizona’s only pediatric clinically integrated network. Dr. Carter is also a hospitalist in the Pediatric Hospitalist Division at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. After growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Carter earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in Washington D. C. She returned to Arizona for medical school and earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona. She then completed a pediatric internship and residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire in 2003. Dr. Carter joined the Pediatric Hospitalist Division at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in 2007 and is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix. From 2010 - 2016, Dr. Carter served as the Medical Director for Utilization Review at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In January 2017, Dr. Carter joined the Phoenix Children’s Care Network as the network’s Medical Director. In July 2017, Dr. Carter became the Chief Medical Officer of the Phoenix Children’s Care Network. Dr. Carter has been a member of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) since moving back to Arizona in 2003. Dr. Carter looks forward to working with the Arizona Chapter of the AAP to continue its mission to improve the health of all Arizona children while supporting the pediatric professionals who care for these children.
Christopher Brown, CPA
Chris is Vice President of Business Development at Montage Partners. Chris was previously a manager in the assurance practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he led both public and private company audits primarily in the asset management and real estate industries. Prior to joining PricewaterhouseCoopers, Chris worked as an associate at Vicenti, Lloyd and Stutzman, LLP. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Azusa Pacific University and is a licensed CPA in California and Arizona.
Rebecca Egbert, MD, FAAP
Rebecca M. Egbert, MD, FAAP, is the pediatric medical director of TMC Hospice. She is a board-certified pediatrician who cares for children who are suffering from terminal conditions in Tucson and surrounding areas. She also serves as a pediatric hospitalist with Tucson Pediatric Hospitalists as well as pediatrician in private practice. Dr. Egbert completed her bachelor’s degree at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She graduated from The University of Arizona Medical School and completed pediatric residency at the University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals in Tucson, Arizona. Besides her clinical work, Dr. Egbert serves as the president of Pima County Pediatric Society and also serves on the board of the AzAAP.
Prabodh (PB) Hemmady, MD, FAAP
I was born in India in 1966 and moved to the USA in 1970. My father came to the USA in 1969 as a graduate student at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. When it became clear that he would be allowed immigration to the USA, my mother and I came the following year.
My family moved from Illinois to Connecticut when I was in middle school, and I finished my secondary education there. In high school, I graduated with the highest GPA (1 out of approx. 300), and I was accepted to medical school while in high school as long as I satisfactorily completed the undergraduate program at Boston University. I graduated with a combined BA/MD in 1992 from BU with a "magna cum laude" designation.
During medical school, I thought I wanted to be an ophthalmologist, but after doing some research in this field and observing the ophthalmologists at work, I changed my mind. At the end of my 3'd year of medical school, I decided on Pediatrics.
My wife and I moved to Phoenix from Boston in 1992 when I started residency In the PCH/MMC residency program. After completing my chief resident year in 1995, I was offered a job at Maricopa Integrated Health System. I was fortunate to be mentored by Kipp Charlton, Mary Rimsza, Mahesh Kotwal and Kote Chundu as well as several other outstanding pediatricians. I was offered other positions upon completing residency, but the chance to work with these physicians and to care for the population we serve at MIHS was something that I coveted.
I have held many positions since joining the faculty/ medical staff at MIHS as you can see in my CV. My passion is to help the underserved and uninsured. This may be because when my family first came to the USA, we did not have many resources, and I relate to the population I serve. I see the young boys and girls I care for and hope that they can be offered the same opportunities that l was given.
In the past several years, I have been very involved at "system level" change as the CMIO for MIHS from 2008-2013 and as Chair of Pediatrics from 2013-present day. I have become very involved in quality improvement and patient safety. In terms of serving on the AzAAP Board, I think these may be areas where l could be useful and productive.
Merlin Channing (Chan) Lowe, Jr., MD, FAAP
Dr. Lowe graduated medical school from The University of Arizona in Tucson and subsequently completed his pediatric training there as well. In 2006, he joined the faculty at the University of Arizona as a pediatric hospitalist and is the chief of pediatric hospital medicine at Banner-Diamond Children’s Medical Center. Shortly after becoming an attending, he developed an interest in child abuse and helped lead the creation of Banner-University Medical Center’s child protection team, focused on improving the care of this vulnerable population. He currently serves as Chief of Staff at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson. He serves as chair of the AzAAP CME committee and Vice-chair of the AzAAP Hospitalist committee.
Sara Park, MD, FAAP
Dr. Park received her B.A. from the University of Chicago, and her M.D. from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital & Maricopa Medical Center Pediatric Residency Program in 1995.
She practiced pediatrics in the private practice as well as in the academic setting in Arizona. She taught clinical pediatrics to students from the University of Arizona as well as Residents at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital/Maricopa Medical Center Pediatric Residency Program at Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS). Her special interests include underserved and vulnerable populations and she helped implement the Pediatric Refugee Program at MIHS. Dr. Park is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona, Department of Child Health.
Dr. Park joined the Comprehensive Medical and Dental Program (CMDP) in October of 2015. CMDP is the Medicaid Health Plan for children in out-of-home care in Arizona, it is also part of the Department of Child Safety (DCS). Her current position as Chief Medical Officer at CMDP allows her to remain in the patient care realm with evaluation of services provided to the members, but also affords her the opportunity to advocate for children on a system level. She has taken up this cause with enthusiasm, by taking the opportunity to address the care of children in out-of-home care internally with DCS, and externally with the Behavioral Health System, the Juvenile Justice System, the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the medical community. Her position at CMDP is right up her alley, as she has been able to continue her dedication to serving vulnerable populations, by working for the children in out-of-home care.
Sarah Wiersma, MD, FAAP
Dr. Sarah Wiersma did her medical school and pediatric residency training at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She is an ambulatory pediatrician who practices at North Scottsdale Pediatrics. She is interested in child advocacy and received a CATCH grant for an oral health promotion project and has participated in the Pediatricians Day at the Arizona Capitol through the chapter. During residency she served for two years on the national AAP board for the trainee section. She plans to bring an early career physician voice to the AzAAP Board of Directors.
Kristina Wilson, MD, MPH, FAAP
Kristina M. Wilson, MD, MPH is a Pediatric Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician. She specializes in non-operative treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, overuse injuries, sport specific rehabilitation, and has a special interest in injury prevention and concussion treatment and management. She received her medical degree from the University of Nevada School Of Medicine in Reno, NV. She then completed her residency in Pediatrics at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Subsequently she completed subspecialty training in Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Wilson has actively cared for athletes across the spectrum from youth leagues to professional teams. While in Nashville for her fellowship, Dr. Wilson served as the head team physician for multiple NCAA Division I teams at Belmont University as well as local high schools, and was an integral part of the sports medicine team at Vanderbilt University. She was also an active part of the medical team for the Nashville Sounds. Dr. Wilson currently serves as the Medical Director of sport medicine and the Co-Director of the pediatric Brain Injury and Concussion program at Barrow Neurologic Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital. She is actively involved in the community as a consultant for the Barrow Concussion Network and a member of the AIA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee as well as serving as the head team physician for ASU Preparatory High School, Metro Tech High School, and North Pointe Preparatory High School. She enjoys teaching and frequently has medical students and resident physicians working with her in clinic. She is a nationally recognized speaker on a variety of sports medicine topics to various audiences including athletes, parents, and other providers.
Anne M. Stafford, MA
Anne Stafford has been the Executive Director of AzAAP since July of 2015. As a nonprofit executive who has dedicated her personal and professional career to improving the health, education, and well-being of children and families, Anne has helped lead the chapter to several successes including the being named the Outstanding Chapter of the Year. With a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication and a master’s in Administration, Anne is committed to supporting pediatric professionals across the state to improve the care of Arizona children, addressing critical issues including poverty and child health, early brain and child development, and quality of care and child safety.
Sarah Bannister, DO, FAAP
Dr. Sarah Bannister has been providing care as a pediatric hospitalist since 2012. She completed her pediatric residency at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix and served as a Chief Resident at Phoenix Children's Hospital after the programs combined in 2011. She holds dual board certification in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine. Currently she is the Pediatric Hospitalist Physician lead for Cardon Children's at Banner Desert Medical Center. Her team cares for inpatient admissions and newborns at Banner Desert and Banner Gateway Medical Centers. Dr. Bannister is the current Chair of Pediatric Medicine at Banner Gateway and Banner Cardon Children's Medical Center. She is an active participant in multiple committees within the hospital and system wide within Banner. Dr. Bannister has a deep commitment to high quality evidence-based care for pediatric patients. She believes that advocacy is essential to the success of our patients and profession.
Dr. Bannister has spent the majority of her life in Arizona and completed her undergraduate education at the University of Arizona (Go Wildcats!). She enjoys baking and spending time with her family. She has 3 active boys, husband and dogs that keep her busy.
Richard Engel, MD, FAAP
Richard Engel, MD, FAAP
Dr. Richard Engel is a Pediatric Hospitalist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. After college at the University of Pennsylvania, he earned his MD at New York University, then went on to complete his internship and residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor with both the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, and Creighton University College of Medicine, as well as an Instructor of Pediatrics at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine and is active in the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AzAAP) where he currently serves on the Continuing Medical Education Committee. In addition to his clinical and teaching duties, Dr. Engel has academic interests related to quality improvement and patient safety. He is the Director of Quality and Safety Education for the residents and fellows and serves on multiple quality related hospital committees, including as Chair of the Clinical Standards Committee, leading efforts related to clinical pathway development. He has been engaged in quality research as well, particularly as part of the AAP’s Value in In-Patient Pediatrics Network (VIP), where he served as the leader of the Q-UTI project working to improve the management of patients with urinary tract infection across 42 different hospitals nationally. He and his wife, Dr. Lisa Engel, also a pediatrician at North Scottsdale Pediatrics, have two children, Melissa and Matthew. Together they enjoy music, travel, and reading.
Jon McGreevy, MD, FAAP
Jon McGreevy, MD, FAAP
Dr. McGreevy, like many Arizonans, is not native to the state but has considered it home since his family moved to the Phoenix area in 1989. After attending the University of Arizona, he attended Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska. He went on to complete pediatric residency at Children’s Medical Center Dallas / University of Texas Southwestern. He spent the next 2 years as a pediatric hospitalist working for Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine / St. Louis Children’s Hospital and stayed there to complete fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine. During fellowship, he was enrolled in an NIH training grant to develop physician scientists and additionally completed a Master’s in Science and Public Health from St. Louis University School of Public Health. Research on Rapid HIV screening during this period lead to the Ludgwig-Siedel award in 2009. Upon completion of training, he moved to Phoenix. He has been with Phoenix Children’s Hospital since 2013 and has been an Associate Program Director for the pediatric residency program since that time. After completing the LEAD (Leadership in Educational Academic Development) program with the Association of Pediatric Program Directors, he was appointed as the Fellowship Director of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship aligning with his long-time interest in medical education and the mentoring of fellows. In 2019, he won the Grace Caputo Faculty Mentor award which was a tremendous honor as Dr. Caputo was one of his personal mentors. When not working, he and his wife are always looking for outdoor activities and challenges to explore in Arizona with hopes that their daughters may one day join them on their annual Rim-to-Rim day hike in the Grand Canyon.
Catherine Riley, MD, FAAP
Catherine Riley, MD, FAAP
Dr. Catherine Riley is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the University of Arizona, Department of Pediatrics. She holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University, a master's degree in education from Western Maryland College, and a doctoral degree from Mayo Medical School. She completed a fellowship in developmental behavioral pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
She has been here in Arizona for 4 years. She teaches in the UA Medical School in both the basic science and the clinical medical curricula. The majority of her time is spent clinically evaluating and diagnosing children with developmental and behavioral concerns (especially autism). Dr. Riley is the program director for the Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Fellowship. She is a member of the board, along with being the leader of the professional advisory committee for the Autism Society of Southern Arizona. Dr. Riley also serves as the Medical Director for Early Brain and Child Development Section of the AzAAP and chairs the Developmental Screening Committee.
Miran Song, MD, FAAP
Miran Song, MD, FAAP
Dr. Miran Song graduate Alpha Omega Alpha from Albany Medical College followed by a Pediatric Residency at Tufts Medical Center. She was chosen as a National Health Service Corps Scholar and did her service in the Indian Health Service at the Kayenta Health Center on the Navajo Reservation. Dr. Song gained a wealth of medical and culture knowledge while working there for 11 years. She then continued to work on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City for an additional 6 years. She currently is the Pediatric Lead for North Country HealthCare a FQHC in Northern AZ. Dr. Song has maintained a love for public health and working with underserved communities. She enjoys camping, hiking, rock climbing and many other sports that her children have surpassed her in.
CHRISTOPHER BROWN, CPA
Christopher Brown, CPA
Chris is Vice President of Business Development at Montage Partners. Chris was previously a manager in the assurance practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he led both public and private company audits primarily in the asset management and real estate industries. Prior to joining PricewaterhouseCoopers, Chris worked as an associate at Vicenti, Lloyd and Stutzman, LLP. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Azusa Pacific University and is a licensed CPA in California and Arizona.