Woodstock Pediatrician Named Childhood Immunization Champion

WOODSTOCK, GA -- WellStar Health System’s physicians are tireless advocates for the health of the children they uphold an oath to serve.

Because of his focus on saving lives through pediatric immunizations, a WellStar physician has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Sam Gold, M.D. has been named Georgia’s 2017 CDC Childhood Immunization Champion for his work to create immunization policies. Dr. Gold practices at WellStar Towne Lake Pediatrics office at 145 North Medical Parkway in Woodstock.

Team members and physicians with pediatric training have focused on saving kids’ lives through immunizations at WellStar Health System. Thanks in large part to Dr. Gold, the health system created immunization policies to screen children for vaccinations at every well visit.

“Children are our future and our focus is to make sure they are happy, healthy and protected from harm,” said Avril Beckford, M.D., chief pediatrics officer of WellStar Health System. “Dr. Gold is an incredible pediatrician and has made it his mission to make sure families know the importance of keeping up with vaccinations as children grow.”

As the 2017 CDC Childhood Immunization Champion for the state of Georgia, Gold has shown action-driven leadership for advocating child immunizations by implementing critical immunization guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Our Champions’ dedication is crucial to creating community partnerships, working towards policy advancements, finding creative solutions to immunization challenges, counseling parents and educating and raising awareness of the importance of childhood immunization,” said Nancy Messonnier, M.D., the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, in a letter notifying WellStar of the honor.

This isn’t the first time WellStar and Dr. Gold have been recognized for this work. The system was also awarded the Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunization Award for its Standards for Child Adolescent and Adult Immunization Practices award in 2015 by the Georgia Department of Public Health for demonstrating Standards for Child Adolescent and Adult Immunization Practices.

WellStar utilizes all clinical encounters to screen and immunize patients when appropriate and follows immunization guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics to protect America’s children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Image via WellStar Health System