Ontario Developmental Pediatrician Dr. Ripudaman Minhas receives American Academy of Pediatrics Award
October 09, 2025
Developmental Pediatrician Dr. Ripudaman Minhas, the 2023 EKO Tribute Award for Leadership honoree, is the 2025 recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award. The award recognizes a pediatrician who demonstrates excellence in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in pediatric medicine. “We’re so proud to see Dr. Minhas recognized on the world stage,” says Jennifer Churchill, EKO President & CEO. “This award is a tribute to his work and commitment to principles that are crucial for our growth and development as a society, and that ensure all kids around the world, from all backgrounds and life circumstances, are supported to reach their full potential.”
AAP President Susan Kressly noted pediatricians throughout North America have benefited deeply from Dr. Minhas’ knowledge, wisdom, and dedication.
The award recognizes Dr. Minhas’ work on Our Kids’ Health, an established online presence with almost one million followers across its chapters and social media platforms, as well as the annual Canadian Children, Youth and Communities Health and Equity Conference. This digital conference brings together health care professionals, community agency workers, people with lived experience and self-advocates who are doing health equity work with children and youth.
Dr. Minhas created what has become Our Kids’ Health in the early days of the COVID pandemic when the health information landscape was rapidly changing. Information was provided in English and French and not relayed in plain language. Dr. Minhas found himself responding to parents who wanted credible, evidence-based and culturally sensitive supports in their first language and he saw the opportunity to provide this online—in spaces where parents were looking. The initial chapter, Punjabi Kids’ Health, shared health information in English and Punjabi. After the first year, the Public Health Agency of Canada provided funding to help replicate the model for ten cultural linguistic communities.
Moving forward, Our Kids’ Health will continue to add more chapters and will launch on YouTube this year. The program is also training a cohort of Digital Health Youth Fellows from different communities to work as content creators. Because young people also face health misinformation online, Our Kids’ Health aims to create inclusive content for youth.
His research interests focus on advocating for populations experiencing inequity—how families, children and youth participate in and navigate the complexities of our mainstream systems based on who they are and the experiences they’ve had, and identifying opportunities to ensure health care is easily accessible to everyone.