image: The American Pediatric Society Selects Dr. Maria Trent as the Recipient of the 2025 David G. Nichols Health Equity Award
Credit: APS
The American Pediatric Society (APS) is pleased to announce Maria E. Trent, MD, MPH, as the 2025 David G. Nichols Health Equity Award recipient.
The David G. Nichols Health Equity Award, administered by the APS and endowed by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Foundation, was created to recognize demonstrated excellence in advancing child and adolescent health, well-being, and equity through quality improvement, advocacy, practice, or research. This award recognizes Dr. Trent’s outstanding contributions to advancing child and adolescent health, well-being, and equity and the far-reaching impact of her work. The award will be presented to Dr. Trent during the APS Presidential Plenary at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2025 Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 24 – April 28.
Dr. Trent has achieved national and international recognition through her efforts to improve the health of vulnerable children, adolescents, and young adults. Her areas of expertise include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), sexually transmitted diseases (STI), and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Fueled by her observations of inequities in care, Dr. Trent was initially drawn to quality improvement work to increase adherence to the CDC’s PID treatment guidelines. Form there her career flourished and included a consistent focus on equity through further research and clinical work. Dr. Trent’s work has forged many collaborations on various facets of adolescent sexual health across multiple disciplines, such as nursing, public health, social work, and infectious disease. Evidence of Dr. Trent’s leadership is reflected in her commitment to the junior faculty, trainees, and students she mentors. She has mentored or formally advised over 150 individuals, including many underrepresented in medicine.
"Dr. Trent embodies the essence of the David G. Nichols Health Equity Award through her tireless efforts to improve the lives of underserved children and families," said Dr. Michael A. Barone, MD, MPH President and CEO of the American Board of Pediatrics. “All aspects of Maria’s work are examples of how a pediatrician can practice in an equitable and anti-racist manner. Dr. Trent has had immeasurable on children through research, clinical care, education and mentoring. Her published scholarship with colleagues on “The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health” (Pediatrics, 2019) serves an a critical reminder of the harm social structures and constructs can have on human health - and a call to action for us all.”
APS President, Dr. Clifford Bogue, MD commented, “Dr. Trent is one of the nation’s leading voices in call attention to the pervasive damaging effects for young people of persistent marginalization and injustice. She is an inspiring role model for both her colleagues and her patients. Her service and dedication to battling health disparities and racism in medicine are unparalleled and serve as an inspiration to us all.”
Dr. Trent completed her bachelor’s degree at Yale University and received her medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Her pediatric residency was at The Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, followed by her Boston Children’s Hospital fellowship. Dr. Trent is a Bloomberg Endowed Professor of American Health, Pediatrics, and Nursing at the Johns Hopkins University and the Director of the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She is also the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Please visit the APS website for more information about Dr. Trent and the APS David G. Nichols Health Equity Award.
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About the American Pediatric Society
The American Pediatric Society (APS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1888 as the first pediatric society in North America. The mission of the APS is to shape the future of academic pediatrics through the engagement of distinguished child-health leaders to represent the full diversity within the field. The 1,800-plus members of APS are recognized leaders of extraordinary achievement who work together to shape the future of academic pediatrics. For more information, please visit aps1888.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Media Contact:
Lisa Thompson
Association Director
American Pediatric Society
(346) 980-9707
lthompson@aps1888.org