In the Spotlight: Feizal Waffarn, M.D., M.B.A.

It’s been 30 years since Feizal Waffarn, M.D., first stepped onto the University of California, Irvine campus. Fresh from completing a fellowship in perinatal neonatal medicine at the University of Southern California, Dr. Waffarn arrived ready to bring the best possible care to the children and families of Orange County.

From 1980 to 1996, Dr. Waffarn focused on clinical neonatology and research, and helped build the UC Irvine Medical Center NICU into a Level III referral center. He also completed a master’s degree in business administration to gain a better understanding of the complexities of health care policy and delivery.

In 2001, Dr. Waffarn became chairman of the department of pediatrics in the UC Irvine School of Medicine, a position encompassing teaching and research for medical students, residents and post-graduate fellows. It also gave him the opportunity to use his skills to influence the health and outcomes of the community.

Children and Families Commission of Orange County
Since 2001, Dr. Waffarn has helped create programs with a community orientation to improve access, assessment and intervention for children from birth to age 5. These specialty programs have provided education and training to families by promoting good parenting skills for the optimal development of young children and school readiness.

Orange County children have benefited from improved management of asthma, dentistry, autism, ADHD, and other developmental and behavioral disorders. Children are now more likely to begin school — healthy and ready to learn.

National Children’s Study
This landmark study plans to follow 100,000 children and families over a 20-year period. Thanks to Dr. Waffarn’s efforts, Orange County will be well represented. In 2005, UC Irvine was selected as one of six Vanguard Center sites in the nation to initiate the study protocol. In turn, UC Irvine selected CHOC as a major partner in the study, which has given both hospitals, as well as Orange County, national prominence in what is currently considered to be the largest comprehensive study ever undertaken that would influence and improve the long-term outcome of children’s health.

The data will become a national repository of biological health outcomes that will provide researchers worldwide with unprecedented insight into health and wellness. This information will undoubtedly benefit generations to come.

CHOC/UCI Affiliation
It’s difficult to imagine Orange County’s current health delivery system for children without Dr. Waffarn’s many contributions. Perhaps the one that means the most to him is last year’s historic affiliation between CHOC and UCI, which he describes as a “dream come true.”

CHOC and UC Irvine are well on the way to creating a world-class pediatric center that integrates high-quality, clinical care; leading-edge research; and excellent training for medical students, residents and post-graduate fellows.

“Orange County deserves a world-class level of healthcare for its children and families,” Dr. Waffarn said. “We may be facing a challenging environment, but we have the talent and the resolve to provide this to the children of Orange County.”