Past President's Message
June 2010
The Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting of 2010 in Vancouver, Canada is concluded. The APA participated in a first ever Opening Session of the four sponsoring organizations (APA, APS, AAP, SPR), held its Membership Meeting to update the membership on the myriad of activities of the Association, and participated with good humor in the APA Debate on Health Care Reform comparing the systems in the United States and Canada. This year saw a record number of abstract and workshop submissions so attendees had a plethora of scientific sessions to choose from. The Convention Center housing the meeting overlooked the magnificent Vancouver Harbour (seen in the background in the photo below) and was the setting for the APA Presidential Plenary and the 50th Anniversary Celebration. And, what a celebration it was. (We will be posting photos and links to a video gallery of the event.) In addition to the scientific session the combination of poetry, history, and music allowed us to celebrate the past but also to envision the future of pediatrics and the ability to improve the lives of all children. In the upcoming year a 50th Anniversary Theme Issue of Academic Pediatrics will publish the key articles of the plenary.
In this upcoming year the issues of Health Care Reform and its implementation will predominate. Currently in press in Academic Pediatrics is the APA Policy Statement The Family Centered Medical Home (FCMH): Specific Considerations for Child Health Research and Policy. This statement is the product of the APA Task Force on the Family Centered Medical Home. The principles of the medical home have been incorporated into the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3570) and its companion bill the Reconciliation Act 2010 (HR 4872) which are both now law. The APA policy statement puts forth an analysis of the family-centered medical home, comparing and contrasting the elements of FCMH and the patient-centered medical home as conceptualized for an adult population, and recommendations of action steps to lead to the implementation of the medical home principles to achieve the promise of integrated health care that is responsive to family needs and achieves improved outcomes for children. The APA calls for research that is inclusive of pediatric demonstration projects to fully implement the FCMH. Other publications from APA members are in press exemplifying the concepts of the medical home and its specific application in pediatrics. In this upcoming year vital appropriations issues will take much of the time of the APA Public Policy & Advocacy committee in concert with the efforts of other organizations such as the Federation of Pediatric Organizations and the Public Policy Council.
The year 2010-2011 will have many challenges. I want you to join me in full support of the efforts of our new President, Janet Serwint. Her grace, thoughtfulness and insightful leadership will allow us to accomplish a great deal this year. We are already planning for the PAS meeting of 2011. The call for invited science has gone out and I urge all of you to consider submitting an invited science proposal. Please go to the PAS website for instructions and let the APA leadership know of your efforts so that we might collaborate. The APA, in partnership with APPD, will hold its 4th Annual Leadership Conference on September 21-22 and will feature facilitated peer group mentoring as a means of helping educators master leadership challenges. APA Regional meetings will begin again and the leadership of the APA is committed to attending as many as possible and supporting the local efforts of our regional chairs and members. We invite your constant feedback and ideas, for there is much work ahead of us!
Danielle Laraque
Immediate Past President
Academic Pediatric Association
danielle.laraque@mssm.edu
