Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine (COPAM)

The Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine (COPAM) addresses issues around practice management and ambulatory medicine. COPAM is involved with developing and reviewing a significant number of policy documents produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

Mission

The mission of COPAM is to strengthen the ability of pediatricians in ambulatory settings to provide the highest quality of care to children and youth in partnership with the family. COPAM will accomplish this mission by providing strategic and practical guidance to the AAP and to pediatricians that facilitates effective integration of policy into daily practice, and helps practitioners prepare for the challenges, opportunities and changing trends in practice.

Vision

• Pediatric practices have adequate time, resources and payment to provide optimal care for children as recommended by the AAP.
• Pediatric practices have successfully integrated evidence-informed policy into daily practice.
• Pediatricians experience higher levels of job satisfaction while children experience a higher quality of life.

Values

• Pediatricians, as medical specialists, should have equitable payment for services provided.
• The pediatrician-directed medical home is the ideal setting for delivering pediatric care. 
• Pediatricians are specialists in providing care to children. 
• A well-functioning practice is an essential element to delivering quality health care for children.

COPAM is currently addressing issues related to ensuring implementability of policy, vaccine financing and delivery, the Bright Futures/AAP Periodicity Schedule, patient experience and pediatric practice transformation.

View policy statements

Committee Members

Jesse M. Hackell, MD, FAAP
Chairperson
Pomona, NY

Yvette Marie Almendarez, MD, FAAP
San Antonio, TX

Patricia E. Cantrell, MD, FAAP
San Diego, CA

Carolyn Cleary, MD, FAAP
Rochester, NY

Elizabeth Hawse, MD, FAAP
Lexington, KY

Lisa Michele Kafer, MD, FAAP
New Bern, NC

Seth Kaplan, MD, FAAP, SOAPM liaison
Plano, TX

Tomitra Latimer, MD, FAAP
Chicago, IL

Alisa Skatrud, MPA, Family Liaison
Needham, MA

Robert H. Wiskind, MD, FAAP
Atlanta, GA

Contact COPAM