Advocacy and policy skills are essential in enabling pediatricians to shape policies that address health disparities and promote the health and well-being of children. To meet this need, the Policy, Equity, and Advocacy for Kids (PEAK) Pathway at Children’s National Hospital provides pediatric residents with structured opportunities to develop key competencies in public policy, advocacy, and career planning.

The Children’s National Residency Program offers tracks which residents join immediately upon starting residency, and pathways that are optional, more flexible, and focused on a specific topic, typically beginning around the end of their first year or later. While many residency programs offer advocacy tracks, Children’s National is unique in having multiple levels of engagement: a LAUnCH Track with specific rotations and experiences already built into the residents’ schedules, a PEAK Pathway for residents in any track looking to add policy, equity, and advocacy to their standard training, and the advantage of being located in Washington, D.C., which provides unparalleled access to legislative opportunities and community partnerships. The PEAK Pathway provides a personalized approach to navigating healthcare policy, with an emphasis on improving access and outcomes for under-resourced communities.

A core component of the PEAK Pathway is the opportunity for mentorship from faculty within the Child Health Advocacy Institute (CHAI), a team dedicated to advancing policy and systems change for all children. Residents are paired with a faculty mentor and given a menu of experiences to consider for their elective and research time, such as an advocacy rotation, media training, leading community engagement initiatives, and more. This hands-on, skill-building approach empowers residents to develop strong leadership in pediatric health policy, all while developing advocacy portfolios to document their work and accomplishments. Led by Drs. Yael Smiley and Danielle Dooley, the pathway is tailored to help residents align their advocacy efforts with long-term professional goals. Residents can choose to complete the standard pathway or pursue the Excellence in Policy, Equity, and Advocacy designation by engaging in additional activities that strengthen their expertise.

Dr. Pettit presenting alongside Dr. Dooley and other CNH faculty at HOSA Mid-Winter Leadership conference for high school students.

Dr. Betsy Pettit, a current PEAK Pathway resident, shares how she became involved in the pathway and how it continues to shape her career in pediatric policy and advocacy.

What sparked your interest in pediatric policy and advocacy?

“I’ve always had an interest in advocacy and valued the importance of community involvement from a young age. Growing up in Huntington, West Virginia, I saw the detrimental effects of inequity and social determinants of health on children and families in under-resourced communities. This early exposure led to my passion for community engagement in medical school and particular focus on childhood obesity. I firmly believe the role of a pediatrician extends beyond the clinic to use our expertise to influence advocacy and policies to make greater, systemic impacts on pediatric health.  With these influences in my life, I came into residency at Children’s National with a desire to enhance my skills in pediatric policy and advocacy.”

How did you become involved in the PEAK Pathway?

“I really became involved in the PEAK Pathway thanks to Dr. Yael Smiley and Dr. Danielle Dooley. In my third year of residency, I knew I only had one more year of training to take advantage of all the electives the program had to offer, so I signed up for the advocacy elective. This decision was also sparked by my participation in the press conference of the Keep Kids Covered Act in September 2024. After that event, I realized I wanted to learn more about government affairs in public health and how I can incorporate advocacy into my future career. It was in my initial meeting with Dr. Yael Smiley that she made me realize that I had already participated in many activities/committees that fulfilled the PEAK Pathway requirement. Because of that, I was able to focus my advocacy elective on my personal and professional goals. My mentor Dr. Danielle Dooley recognized that I planned on practicing in Virginia after graduation, so we catered my elective to focus on upcoming Virginia bills. We discussed ways to become involved in the Virginia AAP once I start practicing and I attended virtual hearings to learn more about writing and presenting testimonials.”

Can you share more about a particularly meaningful experience from your advocacy elective?

“Another special experience I had during my advocacy elective was participating in the DC Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Mid-Winter Leadership Conference at Catholic University. I, along with other Children’s National employees including Tangee Pruit, Dr. Danielle Dooley, and Patricia O’Brien, held a leadership workshop for high school students based on leading with your values.  I found this experience fulfilling and hopeful, reminding me that mentorship is also fundamental in my future career.”

What impact has the PEAK Pathway had on your career and advocacy journey?

“I am very grateful for the opportunities the PEAK Pathway provided as part of my training. I feel empowered and equipped, now more than ever, to advocate for children and families, not only on a personal level, but also on a community, state, and federal level. The PEAK Pathway was very easy to complete with plenty of guidance from mentors who care about your professional development. I encourage all pediatric residents to consider joining the PEAK Pathway!”

Dr. Pettit’s experience highlights the PEAK Pathway’s role in equipping residents with the tools and knowledge needed to drive meaningful changes in pediatric healthcare. If you are interested in applying for residency at Children’s National or replicating this work at your own institution, we encourage you to connect with Drs. Smiley and Dooley to learn more about how to get involved and tailor the experience to your professional goals.

Dr. Pettit, Dr. Falusi, and co-residents at the Keep Kids Covered Act AAP conference.