Colleen A. Kraft, MD, FAAP, began her one-year term as president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on Jan. 1, 2018.

Dr. Kraft is a graduate of the first Head Start class in 1965. She went on to receive her undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech and her M.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Kraft recently completed her M.B.A. from the Lindner School of Business at the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Kraft's experience includes work in primary care pediatrics, pediatric education, and health care financing. She cared for patients in community pediatrics practices in Richmond, Virginia. In 2009, she became the Founding Pediatric Program Director at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Dr. Kraft was the Medical Director of the Health Network by Cincinnati Children's, a Pediatric Population Health Initiative, until 2017.

She was president of the AAP Virginia Chapter from 2006 to 2008 and was best known for working with the Legislature to improve Medicaid payment rates for pediatric services. 

Dr. Kraft is co-author of the book Managing Chronic Health Conditions in Child Care and Schools. She has been actively involved in pediatric engagement in school and child care for children with special health care needs. Her work in early childhood and population health seeks to translate the goals of health equity into medical practice. As President of the AAP, Dr. Kraft's focus is in advancing child health through the practice of pediatrics.