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The APA’s 50th Anniversary: Milestone for Academic General Pediatrics
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The APA’s 50th Anniversary: Milestone for Academic General Pediatrics Peter G. Szilagyi, MD, MPH Editor-in-Chief
ACADEMIC PEDIATRICS 2011;11:171–172
LAST YEAR THE Academic Pediatric Association (APA)
remarkable accomplishments and the bright future for academic trainees within our discipline. Finally, our “In the Moment” piece by Manuel Jimenez highlights a personal narrative experience on Capital Hill and the importance of getting involved at the local, state, or federal level. The second section of this special anniversary issue contains talks from the APA Presidential Plenary Session held during the 2010 Pediatric Academic Societies meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia, during which we celebrated the APA 50th anniversary. At that session, we heard presentations by luminaries in academic general pediatrics. The first article is Danielle Laraque’s APA Presidential Address, which is a stirring piece on global child health and the critical health needs of children. The second article, by Mark Young from UNICEF, was the George Armstrong Lecture. This honors UNICEF’s contributions to child health and also provides a blueprint for addressing important global health issues. The third article, by Ruth Stein, summarizes the field of child health measurement and some of the challenges we face in assessing and improving child health. Finally, Michael Kramer provides a thoughtful paper on the changing perinatal landscape in an article that serves as a nice template for conducting health services research. The 2010 APA Presidential Plenary was also filled with art and music to highlight the fact that the APA is about people and life. Three outstanding poets—Camille Dungy, Rachel Rose, and Marc Arena—read their work. We are honored to publish their poems in this special issue. Editors are supposed to remain dispassionate, but this is not possible for me since the APA has been my academic home for more than 2 decades. The past half century has been filled with challenges for children and families, during which the APA has become a thriving academic association successfully focused on its mission to “improve the health of all children and adolescents through leadership in the education of child health professionals, research and dissemination of knowledge, patient care, and advocacy, in partnership with children, families and communities.”6 As 2007–2008 APA president, I had the honor of helping to implement a major strategic plan that substantially enhanced the effectiveness and reach of the APA. As part of that process, I wrote a series of
celebrated its 50th anniversary! In honor of this milestone, the current issue of Academic Pediatrics is devoted entirely to a celebration of APA accomplishments and a reflection of the past, present, and future of the APA. Several excellent histories of the APA1–3 or its key components have been published,4,5 and a new oral history of the APA is viewable on the APA website (available at http://www.ambpeds.org/). From its founding in May 1960, the APA has grown into a vibrant and successful organization. I encourage you to review the APA Web site and to read carefully the articles and commentaries in this issue of the journal. Please reflect upon how the field of academic general pediatrics has evolved. Consider how this organization—and how you personally—can contribute to improving the health of children and families. We have organized this special issue into 2 main sections. The first section is entitled “APA: Past, Present, and Future.” An article by Ken Roberts and colleagues provides a historical summary of the first 50 years of the APA, with lessons from the past. The second thoughtful piece, by Jim Perrin and Tom DeWitt, reflects upon opportunities in academic general pediatrics based upon critical issues and health problems facing children and families. We often speak about the “4 pillars of the APA”—education, research, health care delivery, and policy—and the 4 committees of the APA reflect these pillars. The next 4 articles provide perspectives upon these 4 dimensions, with both a look back on our history and a view to the future. A piece by Ken Roberts reflects upon the APA contributions to pediatric education and areas of potential growth. An article by Mort Wasserman and colleagues summarizes the remarkable contribution of research networks that have emanated from the APA, with their potential for improving child health. A commentary by Judy Palfrey and colleagues summarizes key policy and advocacy initiatives that have arisen from or involved the APA and that also reflect important areas of concern for child health. A thoughtful article by Steve Ludwig considers the search for integration within health care delivery as a core principle that binds APA activities together. The penultimate article in this section is a follow-up study of Academic General Pediatric Fellowship Program graduates, demonstrating their
ACADEMIC PEDIATRICS Copyright ª 2011 by Academic Pediatric Association
171
Volume 11, Number 3 May–June 2011
172
SZILAGYI
letters to the APA membership to explain the new strategic plan and to invite participation. I ended the last letter as follows: The APA is a vibrant organization, teeming with ideas, and composed of the best and brightest individuals in the field of pediatrics. The APA leaders are outstanding, dedicated individuals who devote an enormous amount of time and energy to our organization. The strength of the organization is in its membership and what you do every day at your institutions and in your communities. The glue that binds all APA members is our undying and determined passion to improve the world for children. Thank you for all you do for the APA, and for children, families, and communities. Remember, it is all about children.
ACADEMIC PEDIATRICS
REFERENCES 1. Blodgett FM, Olmsted RW. 30th anniversary of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association. Its history and the collection of the George Armstrong Lectureships (1960–1990). History of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association: The Early Years. May 10, 1990: 3–8. 2. Stein REK. The History of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association: 30 Years of Reflection and Growth. 1971. 30th Anniversary: The Ambulatory Pediatric Association. Its History and the Collection of the George Armstrong Lectureships (1960–1990). McLean, Va: Ambulatory Pediatric Association; 1990. 15–25. 3. Alpert JJ. The Ambulatory Pediatric Association. Pediatrics. 1995;95: 422–426. 4. Haggerty RJ, Green M. History of academic general and ambulatory pediatrics. Pediatr Res. 2003;53:188–197. 5. Perrin JM. Reflections on the 10th anniversary of the journal. Acad Pediatr. 2009;9:1–2. 6. Cheng TL. The wisdom, the will, and the wallet: leadership on behalf of kids and families. Acad Pediatr. 2010;10:81–82.
The APA’s 50th Anniversary: Milestone for Academic General Pediatrics Peter G. Szilagyi, MD, MPH Editor-in-Chief
ACADEMIC PEDIATRICS 2011;11:171–172
LAST YEAR THE Academic Pediatric Association (APA)
remarkable accomplishments and the bright future for academic trainees within our discipline. Finally, our “In the Moment” piece by Manuel Jimenez highlights a personal narrative experience on Capital Hill and the importance of getting involved at the local, state, or federal level. The second section of this special anniversary issue contains talks from the APA Presidential Plenary Session held during the 2010 Pediatric Academic Societies meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia, during which we celebrated the APA 50th anniversary. At that session, we heard presentations by luminaries in academic general pediatrics. The first article is Danielle Laraque’s APA Presidential Address, which is a stirring piece on global child health and the critical health needs of children. The second article, by Mark Young from UNICEF, was the George Armstrong Lecture. This honors UNICEF’s contributions to child health and also provides a blueprint for addressing important global health issues. The third article, by Ruth Stein, summarizes the field of child health measurement and some of the challenges we face in assessing and improving child health. Finally, Michael Kramer provides a thoughtful paper on the changing perinatal landscape in an article that serves as a nice template for conducting health services research. The 2010 APA Presidential Plenary was also filled with art and music to highlight the fact that the APA is about people and life. Three outstanding poets—Camille Dungy, Rachel Rose, and Marc Arena—read their work. We are honored to publish their poems in this special issue. Editors are supposed to remain dispassionate, but this is not possible for me since the APA has been my academic home for more than 2 decades. The past half century has been filled with challenges for children and families, during which the APA has become a thriving academic association successfully focused on its mission to “improve the health of all children and adolescents through leadership in the education of child health professionals, research and dissemination of knowledge, patient care, and advocacy, in partnership with children, families and communities.”6 As 2007–2008 APA president, I had the honor of helping to implement a major strategic plan that substantially enhanced the effectiveness and reach of the APA. As part of that process, I wrote a series of
celebrated its 50th anniversary! In honor of this milestone, the current issue of Academic Pediatrics is devoted entirely to a celebration of APA accomplishments and a reflection of the past, present, and future of the APA. Several excellent histories of the APA1–3 or its key components have been published,4,5 and a new oral history of the APA is viewable on the APA website (available at http://www.ambpeds.org/). From its founding in May 1960, the APA has grown into a vibrant and successful organization. I encourage you to review the APA Web site and to read carefully the articles and commentaries in this issue of the journal. Please reflect upon how the field of academic general pediatrics has evolved. Consider how this organization—and how you personally—can contribute to improving the health of children and families. We have organized this special issue into 2 main sections. The first section is entitled “APA: Past, Present, and Future.” An article by Ken Roberts and colleagues provides a historical summary of the first 50 years of the APA, with lessons from the past. The second thoughtful piece, by Jim Perrin and Tom DeWitt, reflects upon opportunities in academic general pediatrics based upon critical issues and health problems facing children and families. We often speak about the “4 pillars of the APA”—education, research, health care delivery, and policy—and the 4 committees of the APA reflect these pillars. The next 4 articles provide perspectives upon these 4 dimensions, with both a look back on our history and a view to the future. A piece by Ken Roberts reflects upon the APA contributions to pediatric education and areas of potential growth. An article by Mort Wasserman and colleagues summarizes the remarkable contribution of research networks that have emanated from the APA, with their potential for improving child health. A commentary by Judy Palfrey and colleagues summarizes key policy and advocacy initiatives that have arisen from or involved the APA and that also reflect important areas of concern for child health. A thoughtful article by Steve Ludwig considers the search for integration within health care delivery as a core principle that binds APA activities together. The penultimate article in this section is a follow-up study of Academic General Pediatric Fellowship Program graduates, demonstrating their
ACADEMIC PEDIATRICS Copyright ª 2011 by Academic Pediatric Association
171
Volume 11, Number 3 May–June 2011
172
SZILAGYI
letters to the APA membership to explain the new strategic plan and to invite participation. I ended the last letter as follows: The APA is a vibrant organization, teeming with ideas, and composed of the best and brightest individuals in the field of pediatrics. The APA leaders are outstanding, dedicated individuals who devote an enormous amount of time and energy to our organization. The strength of the organization is in its membership and what you do every day at your institutions and in your communities. The glue that binds all APA members is our undying and determined passion to improve the world for children. Thank you for all you do for the APA, and for children, families, and communities. Remember, it is all about children.
ACADEMIC PEDIATRICS
REFERENCES 1. Blodgett FM, Olmsted RW. 30th anniversary of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association. Its history and the collection of the George Armstrong Lectureships (1960–1990). History of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association: The Early Years. May 10, 1990: 3–8. 2. Stein REK. The History of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association: 30 Years of Reflection and Growth. 1971. 30th Anniversary: The Ambulatory Pediatric Association. Its History and the Collection of the George Armstrong Lectureships (1960–1990). McLean, Va: Ambulatory Pediatric Association; 1990. 15–25. 3. Alpert JJ. The Ambulatory Pediatric Association. Pediatrics. 1995;95: 422–426. 4. Haggerty RJ, Green M. History of academic general and ambulatory pediatrics. Pediatr Res. 2003;53:188–197. 5. Perrin JM. Reflections on the 10th anniversary of the journal. Acad Pediatr. 2009;9:1–2. 6. Cheng TL. The wisdom, the will, and the wallet: leadership on behalf of kids and families. Acad Pediatr. 2010;10:81–82.