Harbor-UCLA Pediatrics

Dr. Beatrice Tetteh completed her residency training in pediatrics at Harbor-UCLA earlier this year. At the AAP’s National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) in Boston last month, Dr. Tetteh was interviewed on the importance of the flu vaccine for families and newborns. Her segment garnered attention from a CNN radio affiliate in Sonoma County, KSRO, who requested a follow-up interview with her. In addition, her spot was featured in a national health news wire.

Click here to listen to her expertise:

Tetteh has a history of representing Harbor-UCLA as an exemplary pediatrician. In 2010, as a third year resident, she attended and presented at NCE in San Francisco where the AAP interviewed her about her spica cast car seat program. The program Tetteh and faculty member Dr. Carol Berkowitz launched at Harbor-UCLA offers specialized car seats to families "on loan" for safe transport of their children from the hospital. Tetteh and Berkowitz continue to work together. This year at NCE, they presented a study on pediatric pedestrian trauma resulting from motor vehicle accidents. In a similar vein, Drs. Berkowitz and Tetteh collaborated on a project that proposes legislation requiring ice cream trucks to have swing out “STOP” signs, similar to ones used on school buses. The idea originated from a law already in place in Tetteh’s hometown near Chicago.

During her residency, Tetteh co-authored three research papers, the most recent of which appeared in the July edition of Pediatrics in Review. She is also passionate about local and international advocacy. Most notably, Tetteh traveled to rural Ghana earlier this year where she worked alongside an NGO to help implement community-based health and education efforts. She performed clinical work, investigated congenital cardiac referrals, and taught area health workers resuscitation management using the AAP/WHO curriculum “Helping Babies Breathe.”

Currently, Tetteh is pursuing a fellowship in primary care outcomes research and community advocacy at UC Davis. Her training centers on service learning and community-participatory research. The program aims to teach primary care faculty to be effective educators and investigators in local settings. To earn her master's degree in public health, Tetteh must design a practicum - a project that involves the practical application of coursework and clinical experience. Her project will address obesity by working with a Sacramento neighborhood fitness and education organization called the Imani Fencing Foundation.

People who know Tetteh describe her as a consummate hard worker. Her impressive achievements are also a result of her indefatigable attitude. She says, “If you have a good idea, go for it! Before you think that something is not possible just ask. You’ll never know unless you ask.” Good advice, Dr. Tetteh.