Longtime Pediatric Chair and Educator Lewis First, MD, Joins Child Health Advisory Council

[DALLAS – October 29, 2026] – CareerPhysician, LLC, the national leader in academic child health executive search and leadership development, today announced Lewis First, MD, professor emeritus and chair emeritus of pediatrics at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, has joined the Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC)®.

The CHAC is comprised of a diverse group of emeritus deans, department chairs, division chiefs and child health executives dedicated to shaping the future of child health. Council members bring deep experience across pediatric disciplines and work alongside CareerPhysician to strengthen pediatrics through the education and development of pediatric leaders.

“Dr. First has devoted his career to advancing pediatric leadership, medical education and mentorship,” said Wesley Millican, CEO and physician talent officer, CareerPhysician. “His decades of experience leading across academic and clinical missions, combined with his commitment to developing the next generation, will bring tremendous value to the council and the pediatric leaders we serve.”

Dr. First served as chair of the department of pediatrics and chief of pediatrics at the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital for more than three decades. He also served as senior associate dean for medical education and as Editor-in-Chief of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where he is now editor-in-chief emeritus.

“I’m honored to join the Child Health Advisory Council and contribute to its work shaping the future of academic pediatrics,” said Dr. First. “Throughout my career, I have seen the profound impact strong mentorship and thoughtful leadership can have on our institutions and, most importantly, on the children and families we serve. I look forward to collaborating with this remarkable group of colleagues to help prepare the next generation of pediatric leaders.”

Throughout his career, Dr. First has championed excellence in pediatric leadership, medical education and advocacy for children and families. He is a strong voice for developing and supporting the next generation of pediatric leaders, fostering collaboration across academic and clinical missions, and ensuring the needs of children and families remain at the center of pediatric medicine. Dr. First received his bachelor’s degree, medical degree and master’s degree in epidemiology from Harvard University.

“Lewis has made an extraordinary impact on academic pediatrics, not only through his leadership at the University of Vermont but also through his work shaping medical education and advancing pediatric scholarship as editor-in-chief of Pediatrics,” said Bruder Stapleton, MD, chair of the Child Health Advisory Council. “His commitment to mentorship and developing future pediatric leaders aligns closely with the council’s mission, and we are fortunate to have his perspective and experience.”

The CHAC’s impact to the future of child health leadership is further bolstered by its specialty advisors who are active current national leaders in each of the subspecialties in pediatrics. Collectively, the 30+ members of the CHAC bring unmatched wisdom and experience to CareerPhysician’s executive search and leadership development endeavors.

To learn more about the CHAC, click here.

About the Child Health Advisory Council
The Child Health Advisory Council™ (CHAC) is firmly committed to capturing the leadership wisdom of senior and emeritus academic child health leaders and to passing it on to current and future generations. With the current workforce shortages, many young pediatric leaders are being pressed into complex leadership roles early. The CHAC supports these professionals through mentorship and resources such as its Pediatric Insight™ articles, conversations and the New Leader Engagement Program (NLEP), all positively impacting the legacies of these emerging leaders and the faculty and patients they serve. Meet the CHAC members.

About CareerPhysician
CareerPhysician® is the national leader in academic child health executive search and leadership development. The company’s mission is to meaningfully impact the lives of children and their families and the careers of the faculty and leaders who serve them. In collaboration with the Child Health Advisory Council, CareerPhysician provides an innovative suite of executive search and leadership development services that span the full continuum from residents and fellows to senior faculty and leaders. CareerPhysician clients benefit from the company’s 25 years of experience exclusively dedicated to the child health talent needs of departments of pediatrics, colleges of medicine, and children’s hospitals.