Our Office
The Office of Child Health Equity (OCHE) strives to transform the Department of Pediatrics into a force for equity and justice for mothers, children and families. In doing so, it provides a unique roadmap, articulating how to advance a comprehensive pediatric commitment to new models of impact beyond the clinic and hospital walls.
The Health Equity Alliance unifies the Stanford Department of Pediatrics into a force for equity and justice action for children and families who are most at risk for adverse health and educational outcomes.
Our Objectives
The Office of Child Health Equity seeks to provide a strong academic base for advocacy activities to ensure that all efficacious health and social services are provided to all children in need.
Advocacy requires more than good will; it requires both a base of knowledge derived from analytic insight and technical expertise in advocacy, which must be learned through directed educational experiences. The OCHE recognizes the proper role of such activities within a university setting. Specifically, our objectives are:
Announcements & News
Department of Pediatrics Advocacy Award
On June 24th, 2025, Dr. Esmeralda Morales, a HEA Champion in the Division of Pulmonary, Asthma, and Sleep Medicine, received the Department of Pediatrics Advocacy Award for her work in advancing community engaged work with partners from BREATHE California and RAMP to reduce asthma disparities. This award seeks to acknowledge the exemplary work of a faculty member who advocates for their patients and families.
Publications Spotlight
HSR Health Services Research
Current state assessment of food insecurity screening at Stanford Medicine Childrens Health: Lessons learned
Samantha Kling, Rachel Siden, Alexandria Blacker, Cati G. Brown–Johnson, Nymisha Chilukuri, Janine Bruce, Nadia Safaeinili, Jonathan G. Shaw, Ndidi Unaka, Grace M. Lee
Journal of School Health
Understanding Free or Reduced-Price School Meal Stigma: A Qualitative Analysis of Parent Perspectives
Leah Elizabeth Chapman, Wendi Gosliner, Marlene B. Schwartz, Monica Daniela Zuercher, Lorrene D. Ritchie, Dania Orta-Aleman, Christina E. Hecht, Kenneth Hecht, Michele Polacsek, Anisha I. Patel, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, Margaret Read, Deborah A. Olarte, Juliana F. W. Cohen
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Diapers at the Doctor: Addressing Diaper Need in a Pediatric Clinic
Max Lee, Janine S. Bruce, DrPH, Shada Sinclair,, Nicola Gerbino, Vanessa Baker-Simon, Elena Vinton, Samhita Kadiyala, Gaby Escobar, Lisa J. Chamberlain, Baraka Floyd