Mankato Clinic pediatrician serves as president of Minnesota AAP
MANKATO (January 28, 2025)— Dr. Katie Smentek, Mankato Clinic pediatrician, is serving as president of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MNAAP). Elected by a statewide vote of her peers, Dr. Smentek’s two-year term began on July 1, 2024, and will conclude on June 30, 2026.
“I am honored to serve the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics,” Dr. Smentek says. “I have been a member of this organization since 2002 and truly believe in the transformative work we are doing to protect and advance the health of all children and adolescents in Minnesota.”
The Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is a professional organization representing pediatricians across Minnesota, dedicated to protecting and advancing the health of every child and adolescent in Minnesota through advocacy, education and special projects. The chapter strives to build a diverse membership and actively promote anti-racist practices to ensure health equity for all children.
Key initiatives include increasing access to behavioral health and substance use treatment services, educating healthcare providers on emerging behavioral health topics, and supporting early childhood programs like Child Care Assistance, Head Start, Help Me Grow/Early Intervention Services, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). MNAAP is also dedicated to increasing immunization rates among infants, children, and teens by addressing barriers to vaccination and ensuring every child has access to life-saving preventative care.
Additionally, advocacy is at the heart of MNAAP efforts. A hallmark event, Pediatrician’s Day at the Capitol, will take place on February 26, 2025. This annual gathering brings pediatricians and pediatric trainees together with legislators to discuss critical issues affecting child and adolescent health across the state and foster connections that drive meaningful change.
To learn more about the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, visit www.mnaap.org.
About Mankato Clinic
Since 1916, Mankato Clinic has provided quality health care to the residents of southern Minnesota. Mankato Clinic has grown to nearly 200 physicians and practitioners, employs more than 900 total people and is one of the only physician owned and led primary care and multi-specialty clinics in the state of Minnesota. Visit mankatoclinic.com.
About the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
MNAAP, the leading voice on children’s health and well-being in Minnesota, represents more than 1,000 pediatricians, pediatric providers, and pediatric trainees. The Chapter is dedicated to protecting and advancing the health of every child and adolescent in Minnesota through advocacy, education and special projects.