I am very pleased to share some very exciting news.
Just a few days ago, I was informed by American Academy of Pediatrics that I am officially appointed to serve as the new Chairperson of an important Committee of the Academy, starting July 1, and to serve for four years.
What is the Academy, what is this Committee, and how can you help?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The AAP is the definitive national professional society of pediatrics. We have 66,000 members which include the vast majority of all pediatricians and subspecialty pediatricians in the United States. More recently membership was opened to pediatric nurse practitioners and dentists.
The AAP voice is highly respected across the United States and in all branches of state and Federal US governments, and its voice is also attended to around the world.
The Academy runs the world’s largest publishing house for matters pertaining to pediatric interests.
The Academy develops priorities through participation of its membership and the directions set by its elected leadership. From these priorities flow a steady stream of outstanding expert guidance to families, to policy makers, as well as sustained advocacy for children’s interests across the country.
The AAP is unique amongst American professional societies for being founded not for the benefit of its member doctors, but for those we care for, our children. The Academy was founded in 1930 when the AMA took a stand in opposition to legislation that would have provided free milk for children. The pediatricians at the AMA meeting where this decision was made walked out and founded the AAP. Ever since, the Academy has devoted the lion’s share of its resources and attention to the needs of the children we care for.
The Committee on the Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health (COPACFH)
The Committees of the AAP are the entities charged with developing Academy policy in their various domains.
COPACFH is charged with proposing to the Board of the AAP policies relating to the psychological and social health and well-being of America’s children.
The roots of COPACFH were created a year after the founding of the Academy, and given that the very founding of the Academy was all about cruel social realities of childhood poverty in America, it makes sense that the concerns of COPACFH have remained central to the AAP to this day.
As the incoming chairperson of COPACFH it will be my responsibility to determine what are the top problems the children of America face as they develop their minds, emotions, and strive to live and succeed in their society.
Our Committee will determine its top priorities, and present the case for specific policies and actions for the Academy to take to improve the minds, emotions, and place in American society of our children.
What You Can Do
I don’t take the position of Chairperson of COPACFH until July 1, and will remain chair for four years afterwards.
So we have time for me to solicit your ideas and concerns. I will be asking many people in the Academy their perspectives on the top psychological and social challenges and problems facing America’s children, but I am very, very interested in hearing from you, the families I have known for so many years.
Please do take a moment to let me know. This is a valuable opportunity for your concerns, which reflect real life experience, to be taken into account as national policies about children are crafted.
BOTTOM LINES
- Dr. Lavin has been appointed Chairperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on the Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, effective July 1 of this year, and for four years.
- The AAP is a medical society we can all be proud of. Founded to promote the needs of children, it continues to be a leading voice for the needs of children.
- This Committee, COPACFH, is charged with developing policies for the national Academy relating to the psychological and social well-being of the children of America.
- I would like to hear from you about what concerns you think are most important for COPACFH to take on.
I am very excited to take on this new challenge. Be assured that the work involved will in no way interfere with my usual availability and work in the practice. I have been a member of COPACFH for 6 years, so the twice yearly, one day meetings, have been going on for years, and will not change as I take over the chairpersonship.
Most of all, I am very honored and humbled to take on your concerns, and the concerns of all families to advocate for the best possible policies for all our children.
To your health,
Dr. Arthur Lavin
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