Rebekah Halpern, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA

I have been a Physician Associate for 31 years. I became interested in medicine at an early age having lived in many countries with little to no access to medical care. I became aware that advocating for children’s health helped to ensure survival of cultures that were endangered.

I currently work in the Neonatal and Infant Critical Care Unit at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of Orange County both at Orange and Mission. Outside of my clinical duties I am active at the national level in advocating for children’s health care issues through American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) having made several trips to DC to lobby on the Hill. I am also very active in the House of Delegates (AAPA), working with PAs across the country to enact policies and position statements on behalf of the profession. I sit on 3 committees at the national level representing PA practice in Hospice/Palliative care and ethics (National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care: Pediatric Division. National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Ethics Advisory Council.) I am the pediatric director at large of Physician Associates in Hospice and Palliative Care and am a board member of the Bucket List Project.

My personal philosophy embraces the family as an integral part of the health care team. I consider it a privilege and honor to care for and advocate for patients and their families. My focus is in making sure patients are cared for medically as well as helping to make sure families are educated and equipped to care for their children once they leave the hospital environment. I am a big proponent of family centered care delivered in a culturally appropriate manner.

My spare time is spent traveling and exploring the underwater world and outdoors with my family, gardening and reading.