Pitt Pediatrics is proud to announce Whitney Lerch, PA-C has been awarded the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Accreditation (APPFA) Program Director of the Year Award. This incredibly prestigious award highlights Lerch’s significant contributions and dedication to the continuous improvement of the APP practice at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. 
Lerch began her clinical work at Children’s Hospital in 2007 and specializes in pediatric hematology-oncology. She transitioned into her leadership role of our APP Program in 2017. As Program Manager, she leads key innovative clinical efforts and initiatives to optimize performance and skill utilization, manage and develop our community of APPs, and lead the development of APP Fellowship training in 18 subspecialties.
In addition to her leadership role with Children’s Hospital, Lerch has been active among a number of professional organizations and societies, including the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) as the Physician Assistant SIG: Membership Committee Lead, and the ANCC’s Commission on Postgraduate Training Programs.
Lerch was officially presented this award at the end of May, during the ANCC’s 2025 Transition to Practice Symposium. Please join us in congratulating her on this tremendous recognition.
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