Dr. Maria Miñon Named Pediatric Residency Alumna       

June 11, 2015 — Longtime child health advocate Dr. Maria Miñon has been named the 2015 UC Irvine Pediatric Residency Alumna of the Year.

“I am delighted that Maria has been chosen by our committee for this singular award," said Dr. Dan Cooper, chair of the UC Irvine School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics. "She serves as a role model of lifelong dedication and commitment to child health and to the overarching goal of the UC Irvine School of Medicine to advance our mission: Discover. Teach. Heal.”

Miñon is vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer for CHOC Children’s Hospital of Orange County, a position she assumed in 1998, after a successful tenure in private practice as a general pediatrician.

An alumnus of the UC Irvine School of Medicine who completed her undergraduate studies, medical degree and a post-graduate pediatric fellowship at the school, Miñon received the award for her extraordinary contributions to pediatrics as a teacher, mentor, community and clinical leader.

In 2007, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Miñon to a four-year term on the First 5 California Commission, where she oversaw the distribution of tobacco tax funds to provide services for the state's young children and their families. She served simultaneously on the Children and Families Commission of Orange County (CFCOC), leading the administration of the funds locally. She currently serves as the CFCOC chair.

Throughout her career, Miñon has contributed to the medical profession, serving as president of the California Chapter IV of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as a member of the California Medical Association's Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, Nominating Committee and House of Delegates, and as president of the Orange County Medical Association.

Miñon has a long history of mentoring future physicians. For many years, she was involved in training CHOC pediatric residents. Today, she participates in the annual interview process to select candidates for the UC Irvine-CHOC pediatric residency program. She also serves on the School of Medicine's Admissions Committee and holds a volunteer faculty appointment as associate clinical professor of Pediatrics.

In 2010, Miñon received the UC Irvine Alumni Association Lauds & Laurels Award for her commitment as a distinguished undergraduate alumnus of the university's Francisco J. Ayala School of Biological Sciences.

Miñon was recognized at the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency Graduation Dinner on June 6, 2015. Dr. Michael Cater, the 2014 prediatric residency alumnus of the year, presented the award at the event.