In 2019, Wynnyee Tom, MD, pediatrician at KP Greater San Jose Area, began noticing an alarming increase in vaping among her teenage patients.
Dr. Tom started including a question about vaping in her medical center’s well-child questionnaire, which allowed for systematic vaping screening during routine pediatric visits. She developed SmartPhrases in the electronic medical record, providing pediatricians with the tools to easily offer educational materials to youth and their families about vaping risks and cessation strategies.
These efforts laid the foundation for a multidisciplinary initiative across KP Northern California. As regional lead for Vaping Cessation, Dr. Tom partnered with colleagues in Pediatrics, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Health Education to develop an anti-vaping program based on screening, evidence-based interventions, physician referral pathways, and educational outreach. Along the way, this work garnered five peer-reviewed publications and 15 academic presentations.
Dr. Tom’s leadership is defined by rigorous commitment, interdepartmental teamwork, the desire to drive change, and compassion for her patients.
“A patient asked me, What do you love about being a pediatrician?” Dr. Tom says. “I told them, ‘Watching the kids grow up, and then they become parents themselves, and the moms become grandparents. If you see a whole family grow up and they’re healthy and safe, that’s the greatest joy.’”