Dr. Debra Bogen, the Acting Secretary of Health, was recognized as the 2023 Pediatrician of the Year by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP). This annual award honors a pediatric fellow who embodies the ideals of the profession and advocates for children’s health and increased access to healthcare services.
Expressing her appreciation for the award, Dr. Bogen shared that nothing is more rewarding than helping families get the necessary care for their children, empowering them to manage their health issues and supporting parents with their newborns. She further explained that the healthcare village for children includes nurses, therapists, audiologists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who provide care every day. Dr. Bogen emphasized that her purpose of becoming a pediatrician was to help children and their families, and she is proud to continue doing so for the entire state.
Before her current role as Acting Secretary of Health, Dr. Bogen was the Director of the Allegheny County Health Department. With over two decades of experience in the Pittsburgh medical and research community, Dr. Bogen held a primary academic appointment as Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, she served as Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Pediatrics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Bogen was also a founder of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank, where she served as the organization’s Volunteer Medical Director until assuming her role at the state.
