The Chaniece Wallace Award for Outstanding Commitment to Advocacy and Equity

Each year the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (INAAP) accepts nominations for various awards. This year, two professors in the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine were recognized as award recipients during the 2024 INAAP Pediatric CME Conference. Patrick Clements, MD was awarded the Dr. Chaniece Wallace Award for Advocacy and Equity, and Beatrice M. Stefanescu, MD was awarded the Edwin L. Gresham Award.

Created in 2022 as a way to help honor the life and legacy of Dr. Chaniece Wallace, the Dr. Chaniece Wallace Award aims to recognize a physician who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to advocacy or policy change on behalf of traditionally underserved or at-risk pediatric populations. This includes championing initiatives to change the practice of pediatrics to more equitably serve these populations

Clements, an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics shared “I feel very humbled to have been considered for this honor. While I didn't know Chaniece very close personally, I knew that she was a tremendous leader amongst her colleagues in advocating for the patients she served.” He continued by sharing that we all wish that Chaniece was still here with us. Dr. Wallace's death reminds us of the disparities that women of color face during pregnancy and childbirth, and the need for courage and action to address this crisis.


Clements continued, “as pediatricians, all of us have tremendous privilege that gives us an opportunity to amplify the voices of communities that have been marginalized. As a gay man I have a lens that allows me to understand that the medical profession has not always been a trusted partner for all communities.” For Clements, this creates a sense of urgency for both education and action towards addressing disparities.


Clements hopes that the memory of Chaniece Wallace helps encourage all of us to take action to lift up the voices of the communities we serve.


Bobbi Byrne, a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and a neonatologist at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, nominated Dr. Clements, for this award and shared, “Having known Dr. Chaniece Wallace personally, I can tell you that she would have appreciated Dr. Clements’ work in this space. Dr. Wallace quietly but effectively advocated for diversity, equity, inclusivity, and justice on a day-to-day basis, in every encounter, just like Dr. Clements does. Unfortunately, Chaniece did not get to continue her DEIJ journey, but she would be thrilled to hear that another former pediatric chief resident, Pat Clements, is carrying the torch. She would have loved to watch all that he is accomplishing as a founding member and subsequent co-chair of the IU Department of Pediatrics Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She would have appreciated his efforts in helping pediatricians in Indiana provide the best care for infants with prenatal opiate exposure and his service as a board member on the INAAP Infant Mortality Committee. Dr. Clements is passionate about caring for all children in Indiana, but he goes above and beyond to help all of us recognize special challenges and needs that our minoritized populations have.”

Congratulations to Dr. Stefanescu and Dr. Clements on this incredible achievement!