How did SOMG prepare you to be an advocate for pediatric wellness at the policy and patient care level?

• USC School of Medicine Greenville gave me a strong foundation in both clinical excellence and preventive care in many ways, but specifically through the unique, longitudinal Lifestyle Medicine curriculum. From day one, we were trained not just to treat disease, but to understand its root causes—nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and social determinants of health. This focus made advocacy feel like a natural extension of clinical care. Through community engagement, interprofessional teamwork, and curriculum-integrated policy discussions, SOMG equipped me with the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively and speak confidently about issues affecting children and their families at both the bedside and the legislative level.

How do you use your training in Lifestyle Medicine as a pediatrician?

• I apply lifestyle medicine in almost every patient encounter, counselling families on topics such as balanced nutrition, screen-time reduction, sleep hygiene, physical activity, and mental health. These conversations are grounded in the evidence-based techniques we learned during medical school—such as motivational interviewing and goal-setting strategies. I also strive to model and emphasize healthy behaviors as part of establishing trust and long-term impact. In pediatrics, early intervention in lifestyle is often our most powerful tool for preventing chronic illness down the line.

What is SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day? What purpose does it serve, and why is it important to you personally and as a physician?

• SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day is an annual event where pediatricians from across South Carolina gather at the State House to advocate for legislation that protects and promotes children's health. We meet with lawmakers, attend briefings, and present unified positions on issues like vaccine access, mental health, nutrition, and preschool suspensions. As a physician, it's deeply meaningful to step outside the clinic and work on the systems that shape patient outcomes. Personally, it's an opportunity to ensure that children—who often cannot advocate for themselves—have strong, informed voices championing their needs.

Why is it important for physicians to participate in SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day?

• Physicians bring a unique and vital perspective to legislative discussions; we witness firsthand how policies affect families' lives. By participating in SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day, we ensure that children's health remains a priority at the state level. Lawmakers may not always be aware of the barriers children face in accessing care, nutritious food, or mental health services. As trusted professionals, we have both the credibility and the responsibility to speak up for those whose voices are often unheard—especially children.

Why did you decide to attend SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day?

• I attended because I believe advocacy is a critical part of pediatric care. As someone trained in Lifestyle Medicine, I recognize that health outcomes are shaped as much by policy as by prescriptions. I wanted to represent the needs of my patients beyond the exam room and contribute to systemic changes that support healthier childhoods. This event offered the perfect opportunity to collaborate with fellow pediatricians, share stories from clinical practice, and help influence legislation with evidence-based insights.

What issues did you discuss, advocate for, advocate against, and/or learn about during SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day?

• At this year’s Legislative Advocacy Day, we focused on several key issues: 
  healthy food access, mental health care availability, Vaccine program support, Reducing preschool suspensions.
  
  
• Each of these issues has a direct impact on pediatric wellness. For example, food insecurity contributes to poor academic performance, behavioral problems, and early chronic disease. Lack of mental health access can escalate untreated anxiety, depression, and trauma in children. Undervaluing vaccine programs leads to preventable outbreaks. And suspending young children often exacerbates behavioral issues instead of addressing root causes.

How do those issues directly impact patient outcomes, access to healthcare, and overall pediatric wellbeing?

• These issues intersect deeply with access and equity. Children in underserved communities are often most affected by poor nutrition, unmet mental health needs, and punitive discipline practices like early suspension. These structural challenges contribute to lifelong disparities in health, education, and opportunity.

How can Lifestyle Medicine help address these issues?

• Lifestyle Medicine provides a framework for addressing these root causes proactively. Encouraging whole, plant-forward diets, regular physical activity, emotional resilience, and strong family connections improves not only physical health, but also behavioral and cognitive outcomes. By teaching families sustainable, health-promoting habits and pushing for supportive environments—like better school meals or community mental health resources—we can address these systemic problems from both clinical and advocacy standpoints.

What did you learn at SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day that you didn’t know before?

• I gained a deeper understanding of how legislation is developed and the key role professional organizations like SCAAP play in influencing it. I also learned more about the specific policy mechanisms driving early childhood discipline reform and how implicit bias often shapes who gets suspended and why—even at the preschool level. It was eye-opening to see just how much lawmakers value hearing directly from physicians and how a single conversation can plant the seed for meaningful change.

What are the most concerning trends you see in access to care, pediatric patient outcomes, and overall wellness in South Carolina and nationwide?

• Some of the most concerning trends include the rising rates of pediatric mental health crises, food insecurity, vaccine hesitancy, and disparities in care access—especially in rural and underserved areas.

What needs to change at the state and national policy levels to adequately address these issues?

• Nationally, and in South Carolina, we need policies that:
  • Increase funding for school- and community-based mental health programs, Support universal access to nutritious foods through SNAP and school meal programs, Strengthen public trust in vaccines through education and equity-based outreach, Incentivize primary care pediatrics and mental health services in high-need areas.
• At the heart of these changes must be a shift toward prevention. We need systems that don't just react to disease but promote well-being from the start.

Is there anything else you’d like to share related to SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day, pediatric patient outcomes and access to care, Lifestyle Medicine, SOMG, or other relevant subjects we didn’t ask about?

• I would just add that events like SCAAP Legislative Advocacy Day remind me why I chose pediatrics, and why I’m so proud to be a graduate of USC School of Medicine Greenville. SOMG didn’t just teach me how to treat disease—it taught me how to build health. Through Lifestyle Medicine and advocacy training, I left medical school empowered not just to manage illness, but to shape healthier futures for my patients, their families, and the communities we serve. These values are at the core of who I am as a physician.