The NVPS Board
Aarthi Vemana, MD
President
Aarthi P. Vemana, MD, is board certified in Pediatric Sleep Medicine, and the medical director of the Inova Children's Sleep Center. Dr. Vemana was born and raised in Ohio, completing her undergraduate degree at Miami University, and graduating from medical school from the Medical College of Ohio. She completed a residency in Pediatrics and a fellowship in Sleep Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, and a Pediatric Pulmonology fellowship Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. During her time at Cincinnati Children's Hospital she focused on treating children with asthma, sleep disorders and fellowship education before moving to northern Virginia. Her clinical areas of interest include treatment of insomnia, sleep disorders in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and central hypersomnia conditions. She has been the recipient of many Top Doctor Awards.
She is currently serving on the board of the Virginia Academy of Sleep Medicine. She is passionate about promoting sleep health as a cornerstone for health in children. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband, two girls, and puppy.
Annette Ansong, MD, FACC
Vice President
Annette K. Ansong, MD, FACC, is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist and the medical director of outpatient cardiology at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC. Dr. Ansong is the proud daughter of immigrants from Ghana and was born and raised in the Washington, D.C., area. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia, followed by medical school at Howard University College of Medicine. She completed her Pediatrics residency and Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, while also obtaining a Master of Health Science in Clinical Research. She has been the recipient of multiple Top Doctor Awards.
She is involved regionally and nationally on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She also has an interest in global health and has performed mission work in Ghana and Haiti. Dr. Ansong is a strong believer that Heart Health begins with our children. She currently co-chairs the Women and Children Committee of the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc., and serves on the Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology Leadership Council of the American College of Cardiology. Her career interests and passion have allowed for multiple publications, case reports, and presentations.
Taylor Ruff, MS, RN, CPNP-PC
Treasurer
Taylor is a board certified primary care pediatric nurse practitioner. She received her Bachelor’s in Chemistry from the University of Virginia and her Master’s in Nursing from the Ohio State University. Taylor completed the majority of her clinical training at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH. She has practiced in Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia. She currently practices at Capital Area Pediatrics in Falls Church, VA.
Her passion is in adolescent medicine, mental health, and nutrition.
She enjoys working out at Crossfit and Orange Theory and spending time with her family, her husband, and her two fur babies, Bert and Ernie.
Ashraf S. Harahsheh, MD
Secretary
Ashraf Harahsheh, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.A.P., joined Children’s National Hospital in September 2008 as a full-time attending. He is currently the director of the Kawasaki Disease Program and Quality improvement in Cardiology and is active in inpatient and outpatient care, as well in the Preventive Cardiology Program with a focus on hyperlipidemia. Dr. Harahsheh completed his fellowship training at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Mich. Dr. Harahsheh is board certified in pediatric cardiology. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Harahsheh received his doctorate of medicine from the University of Jordan-College of Medicine, Amman, Jordan. Dr Harahsheh has been at the front line at CNH helping adopt and respond to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, he helped organize our center’s Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) task force and developed cardiology specific guidance for inpatient and outpatient follow up.