Amy Young, MD, chief of forensic pediatrics at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, has been named "Woman of the Year" for California Senate District 19, an honor bestowed by State Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh. The recognition underscores Young’s leadership in advancing pediatric forensic medicine and her commitment to protecting vulnerable children.
As the founder of the Resiliency Institute for Childhood Adversity (RICA), Young has transformed care for child abuse victims in and around San Bernardino County, a region with one of the state’s largest foster care populations. RICA offers a comprehensive range of services, including forensic interviews, medical care, therapy, and long-term support, to ensure children don’t slip through the cracks of an overburdened system.
"One of the most devastating aspects of child abuse is that victims often aren’t believed," Young said. "The first step is having someone listen, believe, and take action."
Each year, RICA serves more than 3,000 children on an outpatient basis and provides care for hundreds more in the hospital. Before RICA, no coordinated system ensured continuity of medical care for foster youth. Young saw the need for a solution and built one.
RICA’s impact extends beyond medical treatment. Through scholarships and employment opportunities, Young and her team help young survivors rebuild their lives well into adulthood.
“As child abuse physicians, you testify in court, and you move on after that. That's not why I went into medicine,” Young said. “I went into medicine for a connection, a lifelong connection. Too often, I’d see children return, re-injured in foster care or their homes. I wanted to create a place where not only am I involved in being sure that a child is safe at this moment in time, but see them thriving years later”
A mission shaped by personal experience
Young’s dedication to child advocacy began long before her medical career. As a teenager, she learned that a close family member had suffered years of physical and emotional abuse. “From that point on, I felt called to help women and children facing abuse and neglect,” she said.
Her convictions deepened in medical school, when she encountered a 7-month-old patient, an infant abandoned by their biological parents. Moved by the child’s fragile condition, Young and her husband decided to foster the infant, and they later adopted the baby, an experience that reinforced Young’s understanding of the long-term needs of abused children.
A lasting impact
Since 2016, Young has served as the medical director of the San Bernardino Children’s Assessment Center, a collaboration between the county and Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. She is also a professor of pediatrics and the director of the Child Abuse Pediatric Medicine Fellowship program, training the next generation of specialists in forensic pediatrics.
Her work exemplifies the spirit of Women’s History Month, honoring those who create meaningful change in their communities. Young’s recognition as "Woman of the Year" reflects not only her expertise in medicine but also her dedication to helping children imagine and have a future beyond trauma.
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