USP Member Spotlight — Summer 2007

René H. Bravo, M.D., FAAP

Dr. René Bravo is a pediatrician, who has lived and practiced pediatrics on the Central Coast of California since 1986. A graduate of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, Dr. Bravo did his internship and residency at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto.

Dr. Bravo started his medical career at the San Luis Medical Clinic, and later joined the Pediatric Associates Medical Group where he practiced for 9 years. In 2000, Dr. Bravo started his own medical practice in San Luis Obispo.

A longtime advocate for children and families, Dr. Bravo strives to see the quality of children's lives improved. He spent several years leading medical mission trips into the very remotest regions of rural Guatemala, working with children orphaned by civil war. He developed vaccination and pediatric care clinics in these primitive areas. In the local community, Dr. Bravo also directed and led the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Sierra Vista in its very earliest years.

He has served as the Chief of Pediatrics at both Sierra Vista and French Hospitals. He was the Chief of Staff at SLO General Hospital (San Luis Obispo).

Active in state and national organizations, Dr. Bravo is currently on the Board of Trustees of the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) based in Rockville, Maryland. He has served as a USP volunteer, representing the California Medical Association since 1995 and as Chair of the Membership Committee from 2000 to 2005. The USP is an important standards-setting organization, focusing on the quality of medicines and foods.

Active on the Central Coast, Dr. Bravo has served on many community boards including leadership positions in the American Cancer Society, the Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County and the San Luis Obispo County Foundation for Public Libraries (past-President). He is past Chairman of the State of California's Medical Drug Use Review (DUR) Board in Sacramento appointed by Gov. Wilson to help design, develop and implement the nation's largest DUR program for the State's MediCal recipients.

Dr. Bravo is especially passionate about children's health issues and has served as President of the Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County and assisted in the initial vision and development of the Clinic de Tolosa Dental Clinic in Paso Robles. He currently serves on the San Luis Obispo County Children and Families Commission (First Five Commission) established by the voters of California to administer the tobacco settlement funds. First Five has been a powerful vehicle to affect children's health and welfare as they work with various entities in the community. He has served on the Children's Leadership Council to create the Children's Center of SLO (Martha's Place) to assist in the identification, evaluation and treatment of children exposed to perinatal substance abuse.

He was the founding President of the Children's Health Initiative of San Luis Obispo County, bringing together a widespread coalition of private, public and government organizations to found and support a universal health care network for all children in this community.

At the statewide level, Dr. Bravo has recently served on the Blue Shield of California Corporate Advisory Council in San Francisco and on the Board of Directors of the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation He currently is on the Board of Directors of the CMA's Political Action Committee (CALPAC) in Sacramento. He also chairs the Pharmacy Technical Advisory Committee for the CMA.

Dr. Bravo is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A family man, Dr. Bravo lives in San Luis Obispo with his wife and their five sons.