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PRESS KIT: AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS 2009 NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
The American Academy of Pediatrics is holding its National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) Oct. 16-20 in Washington, DC. To assist reporters in preparing stories on child and adolescent health issues covered during the meeting, the AAP Department of Communications has prepared the following news releases to coincide with onsite press briefings, as well as additional materials noted below.
PLEASE NOTE EACH RELEASE CONTAINS A DIFFERENT EMBARGO DATE AND TIME
Friday, Oct. 16
1. Fostering healthy futures for children
2. AAP honors Paul Offit, MD, FAAP, for outstanding service to children
3. Pediatric heroes walk among us: Champions for children
Saturday, Oct. 17
4. AAP president advances Medical Home – A priority for all children
5. AAP to honor director of NIH for public service
6. Alma Powell – Strengthening America’s youth
7. Dr. Howard Koh to discuss swine flu, tobacco control and obesity
8. Young artists draw up a smoke-free world
9. Hear the latest on child health controversies
10. From twins to toddlers: New books help navigate the parenting maze
11. Get a sneak peek at AAP’s new Web site, HealthyChildren.org
Monday, Oct. 19
12. AAP advocates for safer media and music lyrics
13. AAP calls for tobacco-free environments for all children
14. Judith S. Palfrey, MD, FAAP, takes office as president of the AAP
Tuesday, Oct. 20
15. Expert panel to discuss H1N1 (swine flu) at NCE
PRESS BRIEFING SCHEDULE
Saturday, Oct. 17
12:15 p.m. (ET)
Dr. Howard Koh, MD, MPH, assistant secretary for health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be available for media interviews following his plenary address.
Monday, Oct. 19
9 a.m. (ET)
Victor Strasburger, MD, FAAP, and Rosario Gonzalez, MD, FAAP, lead authors of the two new AAP policy statements, “Media Violence,” and “Impact of Music, Music Lyrics, and Music Videos on Children and Youth,” will present key recommendations in the reports.
Monday, Oct. 19
10 a.m. (ET)
AAP President David T. Tayloe, MD, FAAP; Dana Best, MD, MPH, FAAP; and Tammy Sims, MD, FAAP, will present the key recommendations in the AAP Policy, “Tobacco Use: A Pediatric Disease.”
Tuesday, Oct. 20
9 a.m. (ET)
A panel of infectious disease, emergency medicine and disaster planning experts will discuss 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu).
To access additional meeting press kit components including:
- Media registration form
- Media guidelines
- Conference highlights
- AAP fact sheet
Please click on the following:
http://s23.a2zinc.net/clients/aap/nce2009/CUSTOM/2009Uploads/AAP09NCEPressKit.pdf
PDFs, photos, NCE session handouts and abstracts are available on request.
If you have any questions regarding the kit or the meeting, please contact Debbie Linchesky at 847-434-7084 or Susan Stevens Martin at 847-434-7131.
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1. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP’s Pediatrics for the 21st Century Symposium Series titled “Fostering Healthy Futures: Optimizing Health and Well-Being for Children in Foster Care,” takes place at 11:30 a.m. (ET), Friday, Oct. 16, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
For Release: Friday, Oct. 16
11:30 a.m. (ET)
Fostering Healthy Futures for children
WASHINGTON, DC – More than 500,000 U.S. children are in foster care, and placements continue to increase each year. Many circumstances bring children into the foster care system, including abuse and neglect, parental illness, severe emotional problems and parental illnesses such as HIV/AIDS.
To improve the health outcomes of these at-risk children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will present the Pediatrics for the 21st Century Symposium, “Fostering Healthy Futures: Optimizing Health and Well-Being for Children in Foster Care” at the National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) in Washington, DC, October 16.
Highlights include:
- At 1 p.m., MaryLee Allen, MSW, director of child welfare and mental health for the Children’s Defense Fund, will give an overview of the needs of children in foster care in a presentation entitled “Enhancing Public Support to Foster Children’s Healthy Future.”
- At 1:30 p.m., Mia and Sharon Behrens will talk about Mia’s life in the foster care system and the healing team that helped transform her into a stable, caring young woman.
- At 4:15 p.m., Thomas Tonniges, MD, FAAP, director of Boys Town Pediatrics will discuss what pediatricians can do to meet the health care needs of children in foster care in his presentation, “Commitment to Change: Making a Difference.”
- At 5:00 p.m., singer Janiva Magness, will end the symposium with a live vocal performance. Ms. Magness is National Foster Care Month Spokesperson and the winner of a WC Handy Award. Magness will talk about her life in the foster care system and how guidance and support of key caring adults helped her begin the long journey of healing.
Contact the AAP Department of Communications to arrange an interview with speakers.
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2. Below is a news release on an award presentation taking place at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The award presentation will take place during a joint session between the AAP and the European Academy of Pediatrics at approximately 10:30 a.m. (ET), Friday, Oct. 16 in room 207B of the Washington Convention Center.
For Release: Friday, Oct. 16
10:30 a.m. (ET)
AAP HONORS PAUL OFFIT, MD, FAAP, FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO CHILDREN
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will present Paul Offit, MD, FAAP, with the President’s Certificate for Outstanding Service at the National Conference and Exhibition of the AAP. The award recognizes an individual’s outstanding service and long-term, personal dedication to the mission of the AAP and to the health, safety and well-being of children. Dr. Offit is a pediatrician, chief of infectious diseases and the director of the vaccine education center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The AAP is honoring Dr. Offit in recognition of his ongoing commitment to promote immunization.
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3. Below is a news release on presentations at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Awards to five “Pediatric Heroes” will be presented during plenary sessions October 16 - 20 at the NCE in Washington, DC.
For Release: Friday, Oct. 16, 2009
PEDIATRIC HEROES WALK AMONG US: CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN
WASHINGTON, DC – Imagine facing difficult situations and daily challenges that can forever change a child’s life. Now, imagine how it feels to be the hero. Last fall, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reached out to parents, patients and colleagues to nominate a “Pediatric Hero,” a pediatrician who provides exceptional care for patients and parents, speaks up for the underprivileged and underserved, and makes a commitment to children and to lifelong learning.
After receiving nearly 400 nominations, members of the AAP National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) planning group and AAP staff selected the final winners – four pediatricians who exemplify what it means to be a hero to children. They are Catherine Bartlett, MD, FAAP; Scott Cohen, MD, FAAP; Bhagwan Das Bang, MD, FAAP; and Joseph Peter, MD, FAAP. In addition, the AAP will present Jennifer L. Schening, DO, FACOP, FAAP, with the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award for her work on behalf of children in foster care.
Each member will be honored at a daily plenary session. Dates and times of award presentations can be found in the AAP Program Guide. Here are excerpts from each winning entry:
Catherine Bartlett, MD, FAAP: Pediatricians see more children suffering from hearing loss than any other disease. After Dr. Catherine Bartlett attended a symposium on early diagnosis of hearing loss 20 years ago in her current hometown of Northampton, Mass., she decided to do something about it. By identifying hearing loss at birth and providing immediate intervention, Dr. Bartlett discovered that a deaf child could still learn to talk and listen rather than rely solely on sign language. Since newborn screenings weren’t common at the time, Dr. Barlett was instrumental in establishing the first Newborn Hearing Screening Program in western Massachusetts, which served as a model for several other programs around the country. “Being a champion for children is an honor and a duty that goes with being a pediatrician,” Dr. Bartlett said. “I believe that deaf children should be given the opportunity to be part of the larger world, and now that nearly all states have newborn hearing screening, I continue to work on the challenge of providing follow up and habilitation to these infants so they may listen and speak.”
Scott J. Cohen, MD, FAAP: Dr. Scott Cohen founded Global Pediatric Alliance (GPA) in 2002 to offer educational workshops for indigenous midwives and health practitioners in Latin America. He recognized that training lay practitioners could empower them to improve the quality of care for women and children and lower the rates of maternal and infant mortality in poor, rural areas. Today, in addition to the many trainings, GPA has funded many grassroots community groups. These grants have funded the construction of ecological toilets and rainwater catchment systems, and also have funded programs for improving prenatal care for women in the region. The trainings and grants program are guided by Dr. Cohen’s commitment to cost-effectiveness, sustainability and empowerment, and continues to help women and children in Latin America. When asked about his accomplishments, Dr. Cohen said, “There is no greater privilege than to practice medicine as a pediatrician. It offers a chance to build close trusting relationships with patients and their families, which enables one to advocate in a meaningful way for children. Whether our work takes place domestically or abroad, pediatricians should honor and embrace this unique opportunity.” Dr. Cohen currently serves as a general pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael, Calif.
Bhagwan Das Bang, MD, FAAP: Residents of Opp, Ala., found a hero in Dr. Bhagwan Bang, a generalist pediatrician dedicated to serving low-income and underprivileged families. Dr. Bang is known for going above and beyond in his small, rural town by making himself available 24 hours a day. He gives his cell phone number to patients and parents, reducing unnecessary and costly emergency room visits. A parent who nominated Dr. Bang says the impact he has had on her family is a mere glimpse of the impact he has had on their community. Dr. Bang is a frequent contributor of clinical articles to many pediatric trade publications. He also serves as preceptor for medical students doing rural rotations. “I began to realize that proper medical care at birth and during childhood has a lasting impact on one’s whole life,” Dr. Bang says. “The joy of being able to be of service to children, who are our future, is gratifying. I feel immense joy when a young child greets me with a hug, when and wherever he sees me!”
Joseph P. Peter, MD, FAAP: Dr. Joseph Peter was nominated to be a pediatric hero by several families, patients and community leaders in his hometown of Crestview, Fla. For the past five years, Dr. Peter has hosted a free clinic for families without health insurance several times a year. He also runs an Asthma Allergy Health Fair, where guest speakers educate parents and students on asthma, allergies and obesity prevention. Dr. Peter also participated in a “No Child Without Health Care” event, in which 500 African-American children received free physicals. “See all sick children regardless of financial status.” Dr. Peter said. “Sponsoring sports teams and working clinics for the underserved are all ways to make an impact outside of our individual practices and affect the well-being of a community.” His latest community project YES –Youth Exercise and Screening Program addresses overweight and obesity. Dr. Peter is a hero to many, and continues to give tirelessly to his community.
Jennifer Leigh Schening, DO, FAAP, winner of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is proud to honor Jennifer Leigh Schening, DO, FAAP, with the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award. The award will be given to Dr. Schening at the Pediatrics for the 21st Century: Fostering Healthy Futures symposium on Friday, October 16.
This award is presented annually on behalf of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation in collaboration with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies to a practicing physician selected by fellow members of the physician’s medical society.
Dr. Schening was nominated by several parents on behalf of her work with children and youth in foster care. She opened her practice to see more than 30 percent of the children in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in Kane County, Ill. She takes time with each patient and parent to answer all of their questions. She is known as a thorough and compassionate medical team member for many foster care children who are not always treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
In the words of one parent, “Dr. Schening is my hero, my quarterback, my lifeline, my angel. This woman was born to be a doctor, she was born to be a pediatrician – not to mention her passion for foster children.” Another parent states, “Dr. Schening helped me navigate my foster child’s many medical needs and instilled in our family the confidence necessary to care for them.”
When asked how she would encourage or inspire her peers, Dr. Schening replied, “I thought if I could change one child’s life for the better, then I would have met a great goal. I then started wondering why I set my sights so low.” She adds, “My children in foster care inspire me, and I am always ready to be a stable medical home for them. One of my favorite lines from a movie is ‘Everyone needs a hero.’ My question to you is, ‘why can’t you be that hero?”
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4. Below is a news release on the AAP president’s address to be given at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP, president of the AAP, will speak at the plenary session from 10:30 to 11 a.m. (ET), Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC
For Release: Saturday, Oct. 17
10:30 a.m. (ET)
AAP PRESIDENT ADVANCES MEDICAL HOME – A PRIORITY FOR ALL CHILDREN
WASHINGTON, DC – David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), will address attendees on Oct. 17, 2009, at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) in Washington, DC. Dr. Tayloe will discuss health care reform, the AAP’s Agenda for Children, and the importance of every child having a medical home.
Every child deserves a medical home – compassionate, high-quality, family-centered health care. The AAP has been at the forefront of initiatives to promote the family-centered medical home concept and how pediatricians can be fairly paid for their medical home efforts. Especially now, in a sluggish economy slow to rebound, the medical home model provides the best health care using limited resources.
Knowing that children have unique health needs, the medical home concept is based on four principles:
- Family-centered partnership – working together with families, knowing they are the stability in a child’s life
- Community-based system – a coordinated network of community-based services intended to promote the development and well being of children
- Transitions – optimize appropriate health care services as a child grows from adolescence to adulthood
- Value – appropriate financing is needed to support and sustain a quality medical home
“The AAP is working with our nation’s leaders to put children’s health care reform at the top of their list, and we must continue efforts at the federal and state levels to bring the medical home concept to life for all children. There are opportunities within health care reform to improve the insurance payment system so that all pediatricians can be proactive in their medical home efforts,” Dr. Tayloe said.
“Thanks to the Child Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), most pediatricians will be eligible for government assistance to incorporate information technology into their practices so health records can be shared with the medical home “team” that often includes pediatric subspecialists, other health professionals, and supporting agencies.”
“These changes won’t happen overnight, but I’m confident we have taken the right steps to provide a solid foundation for the type of health care system our children and their families deserve.”
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5. Below is a news release on a presentation at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP will present the “Excellence in Public Service Award” to Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, director of the National Institutes of Health, during the plenary session Saturday, Oct. 17 at approximately 11 a.m. (ET). The presentation is at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
For Release: Saturday, Oct. 17
11 a.m. (ET)
AAP TO HONOR DIRECTOR OF NIH FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will honor Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, with the “Excellence in Public Service Award” at the National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) at approximately 11 a.m. (ET) Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Collins’s groundbreaking research has increased our understanding of the genetic basis of disease. As the newly appointed director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), he oversees a research agenda with the potential to lead to vast improvements in children’s health.
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6. Below is a news brief on a presentation to be given at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP’s keynote address will be presented by Alma Powell, chair of the American’s Promise Alliance, at 11:10 am (ET), Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
For Release: Saturday, Oct. 17
11:10 a.m. (ET)
ALMA POWELL: Strengthening America’s Youth
WASHINGTON, DC – Alma Powell, chair of America’s Promise Alliance and wife of the organization’s founding chairman, General Colin Powell, will present the keynote address Saturday, Oct. 17, at the National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Washington, DC.
Alma Powell will speak about the important roles pediatricians and the healthcare community play in helping children stay in school and succeed. According to Powell, all children need five essential life, health and academic resources—what American’s Promise Alliance calls the five promises—to succeed: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and opportunities to help others. Of particular importance to NCE attendees is the healthy start promise.
“Pediatricians and their medical support staff are essential to ensuring more children experience this promise,” said Powell. “Along with parents, they are often the most important advocates for ensuring the emotional and physical health and well being of our young people.”
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7. Below is a news brief on a presentation to be given at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Howard Koh, MD, MPH, assistant secretary for health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will give a plenary address at approximately 11:55 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 (ET), at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
For Release: Saturday, Oct. 17
11:55 a.m. (ET)
DR. HOWARD KOH TO DISCUSS 2009 H1N1 FLU, TOBACCO CONTROL AND OBESITY
WASHINGTON, DC – Howard Koh, MD, MPH, assistant secretary for health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will give a plenary address on “Public Health Opportunities in the 21st Century” Saturday, Oct. 17, at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Washington, DC.
Dr. Koh is scheduled to speak at 11:55 a.m. Following his 20-minute presentation, he will be available for media interviews in the press briefing room 157 of the Washington Convention Center.
Dr. Koh is expected to address the challenges pediatricians and other health care workers face in managing 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu), including administering vaccines. He will also discuss pediatricians’ role in preventing obesity and exposure to tobacco and secondhand smoke.
As assistant secretary for health, Dr. Koh oversees the HHS Office of Public Health and Science, the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, and the Office of the Surgeon General. He serves as senior public health advisor to the Secretary. At the Office of Public Health and Science, Dr. Koh leads programs related to disease prevention, health promotion, vaccines, physical fitness and bioethics, among others. He is board certified in internal medicine, hematology, medical oncology and dermatology.
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8. Below is a news release for the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Awards will be presented to the winners of the AAP’s National Children’s Art Contest Saturday, Oct. 17 (ET), at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
For Release: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
9 a.m. (ET)
YOUNG ARTISTS DRAW UP A SMOKE-FREE WORLD
WASHINGTON, DC – This year’s American Academy of Pediatrics National Children’s Art Contest drew hundreds of entries from a record 40 states and the District of Columbia.
With the theme of “Protecting Children From Tobacco Smoke,” the 2009 contest is an initiative of the Academy’s Julius B. Richmond Center, which is supported by the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute and dedicated to the elimination of children’s exposure to tobacco and secondhand smoke.
This was the Academy’s fifth annual art contest and the first to include an age group for older children.
Winners of the three age groups will each receive a $500 cash prize – with matching amounts for their schools – at the AAP’s National Conference and Exhibition in Washington, DC, on October 17, in front of an audience of several thousand pediatricians from across the world.
Second-place winners, and their schools, each receive $250. The winners’ artwork will be on display at the Washington Convention Center during the meeting and posted to the AAP’s Web site at aap.org .
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9. Below is a news release on several educational presentations to be given at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Washington, DC. See descriptions below for times and room locations.
For Release: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
9 a.m. (ET)
HEAR THE LATEST ON CHILD HEALTH CONTROVERSIES
WASHINGTON, DC - If you cover children’s health, certain issues cross your desk on a regular basis. The National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers health journalists a chance to get up to speed on breastfeeding, obesity, product safety, autism and other issues. Journalists can hear discussions of the latest research and how it affects pediatricians and their patients. Below are descriptions of several educational sessions that offer news angles and background materials for journalists.
H1047 Section on Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Program: All You Want to Know About Pediatric Obesity
9 a.m. to 12 noon (ET), Saturday, October 17
Location: Room 207B, Washington Convention Center
Obesity is now the most common chronic disease of childhood. At 9 a.m., William Cochran, MD, FAAP, will discuss prevention of obesity starting from pre-conception through adulthood. At 9:45 a.m., Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP, will review the co-morbidities associated with obesity, including cardiovascular problems, diabetes, asthma and reflux. At 10:30 a.m., Nancy Krebs, MD, FAAP, will discuss lifestyle changes, nutrition, physical activity, fad diets and medications. At 11:15 a.m., Tom Inge, MD, FAAP, will review when bariatric surgery is indicated and the relevant research.
H2021 Section on Breastfeeding Program: Controversies in Breastfeeding
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET), Sunday, October 18
Location: Congressional Hall A, Renaissance Hotel
Experts in the field of breastfeeding will address controversial topics and review significant literature. Highlights include a talk at 11:45 a.m. by Debra Bogen, MD, FAAP, who will lead an evidenced-based discussion on whether mothers who use meth or marijuana, or consume alcohol, should breastfeed. At 12:30 p.m., a point/counterpoint discussion between Susan Landers, MD, and Rachel Moon, MD, FAAP, will take on the issue of co-sleeping. At 3:50 p.m., Linda Chaudron, MD, discusses the science of breastfeeding and depression, including whether difficulty breastfeeding can lead to depression, the mood-enhancing effects of breastfeeding, and whether mothers taking antidepressants can still breastfeed. At 4:35 p.m., Richard Schanler, MD, FAAP, will review the most significant studies on breastfeeding published in the past six months. And at 5:20 p.m., Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, FAAP, will discuss the claims formula companies make about their products, including the ingredients in formula and how they compare to breast milk.
H3014 Council on Community Pediatrics Program: Childhood Obesity: Successful Community Approaches for Prevention and Treatment
8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. (ET), Monday, October 19
Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Constitution Ballroom D-E
Preventing obesity requires a collaborative, community approach. Morning speakers, including William Dietz, MD, PhD, FAAP, and Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP, will discuss how pediatricians can work with parents and communities to treat obesity. An afternoon highlight is a panel discussion from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. with two Washington, DC, pediatricians who have implemented successful community-based programs. Nicole Lang, MD, FAAP, and Danielle Dooley, MD, MPhil, FAAP, plan to bring patients to speak at the session.
H3019 Section on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention Program
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET), Monday, October 19
Location: Renaissance Washington DC Hotel, Congressional Ballroom A-B
A day-long program highlights developments in pediatric injury prevention, including a keynote address at 8 a.m. by Martin Eichelberger, MD, founder of Safe Kids Worldwide. Scientific abstract sessions featuring innovative research and programs begin at 9 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Contact the AAP Department of Communications for a detailed schedule.
S3042 Controversies in the Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders
8:30 to 10 a.m. (ET), Monday, October 19
Repeated at 2 to 3:30 p.m. (ET), Monday, October 19
Location: Room 144 A-B, Washington Convention Center
Thomas Challman, MD, FAAP, will review the major controversies surrounding autism, including prevalence and the accuracy of diagnoses. Dr. Challman will address the etiology of autism, including environmental factors, vaccines and genetics. He will also discuss treatment, including supplements, diets, chelation, hyperbaric oxygen, antimicrobials and other complementary and alternative medicine.
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10. Below is a news release on book signings taking place at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Book signings will take place in the AAP Resource Center located in the exhibit hall of the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
For Immediate Release
FROM TWINS TO TODDLERS: NEW BOOKS HELP NAVIGATE THE PARENTING MAZE
WASHINGTON, DC – Whether you’re a new parent breezing through the first few months of parenthood or, more likely, a sleep-deprived mom or dad slogging your way through diaper changes and around-the-clock feedings…take a deep breath and relax, help is on the way!
Two new parenting books from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, (revised 5th edition) and Raising Twins: From Pregnancy to Preschool, provide practical, no-nonsense tips and medically sound advice on everything from first steps to curbing temper tantrums to the multitude of questions and anxieties unique to parenting multiples.
With more than 4 million copies in print, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child is a comprehensive guide to the basic care of infants and children through age 5. It covers important developmental milestones and provides a complete health encyclopedia of injuries, illnesses, immunizations, and much more. The thoroughly updated 5th edition contains new chapters on sleep and allergies plus new or updated content on more than 30 subjects. Editor in Chief Steven P. Shelov, MD, FAAP, and Associate Medical Editor Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, FAAP, will be signing copies of the new edition from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in the AAP Resource Center in the exhibit hall of the Washington Convention Center. They will also be available for media interviews and in-studio appearances.
Shelly Vaziri Flais, MD, FAAP, the author of Raising Twins, offers practical guidance on a variety of topics, from nutritional issues during pregnancy and preparing for the twins’ arrival to breastfeeding, twinproofing, naptime and toilet training. This sensible resource from a pediatrician and mother of four (including a set of twins) shows parents how to streamline everyday routines to ease the burden of pulling double-duty. Raising Twins also helps parents instill healthy sleep habits early, tackle the switch to “big-kid” beds, budget for two and address delicate discipline issues. Dr. Flais’ book signing will take place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, in the AAP Resource Center. She is available for media interviews and in-studio interviews.
Contact Debbie Linchesky at 847-434-7084 (prior to Oct. 16) or at phone 202-249-4075
(Oct. 16-20) to arrange an interview. Digital cover images of both books are available. Both books will arrive in bookstores in October.
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11. Below is a news release on a presentation at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A sneak preview of the AAP’s new consumer Web site, HealthyChildren.org, will be available in the AAP Resource Center in the exhibit hall of the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
For Release: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
GET A SNEAK PEEK AT AAP’S NEW WEB SITE, HEALTHYCHILDREN.ORG
WASHINGTON, DC -- In December 2009, parents will have online access to a wealth of reliable, expert advice about children’s health in a new consumer-oriented Web site, HealthyChildren.org.
Reporters can get a sneak peek at the new site and see its interactive features at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Washington, DC, October 16 - 20.
Journalists can take a guided tour of the site or watch a lively demonstration video in the AAP Resource Center in the exhibit hall. Reporters may also attend a 15-minute presentation about the Web site in the nearby AAP Showcase. Presentations are scheduled for 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17; 11:30 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18; and 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19.
The Internet contains thousands of sites offering health advice to parents, but it can be hard to decipher truth from fiction. With gold-standard content provided by the AAP, HealthyChildren.org will offer parents news and advice they know they can trust.
The site will feature:
- Answers to children’s health and behavior questions for each age and stage
- Expert information on more than 300 health care topics
- Easy-to-use search functions by keyword, topic, age or gender
- An interactive “Ask the Pediatrician” area
- A pediatrician finder
- Monthly newsletters
- Opportunities for personalization based on children’s ages and health profiles
Reporters who are off-site will be able to watch a preview video that will be posted at www.healthychildren.org beginning Oct. 17.
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12. Below is a news release on a press briefing at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Victor Strasburger, MD, FAAP, and Rosario Gonzalez, MD, FAAP, lead authors of the two new AAP policy statements, “Media Violence,” and “Impact of Music, Music Lyrics, and Music Videos on Children and Youth,” will present key recommendations in the reports at 9 a.m. (ET), Monday, Oct. 19 in press briefing room 157 of the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The report is embargoed until Monday, Oct. 19, at 12:01 a.m. (ET).
For Release: Monday, Oct. 19
9 a.m. (ET)
AAP ADVOCATES FOR SAFER MEDIA AND MUSIC LYRICS
WASHINGTON, DC – Exposure to media violence through television, movies, music and video games can contribute to a variety of physical and mental health problems for children and adolescents, including aggressive behavior, nightmares, desensitization to violence, fear and depression. Listening to explicit music lyrics can effect schoolwork, social interactions and produce significant changes in mood and behavior.
Two new policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “Media Violence,” and “Impact of Music, Music Lyrics, and Music Videos on Children and Youth” will be released on Monday, Oct. 19, at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) in Washington, DC. They include recommendations for parents and pediatricians to take an active role in monitoring and controlling what their children are watching and listening to.
The lead authors of the reports will present the recommendations in a news briefing at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Press Briefing Room 157 of the Washington Convention Center.
U.S. children between the ages of 8 to 18 are using media an average of 6 hours and 21 minutes each day. Children between 0 and 6 years of age spend an average of almost 2 hours a day using screen media (television, movies and computers). By age 18, most teens will have viewed an average of 200,000 acts of violence on television alone.
“Media violence is the single most negative aspect of entertainment media” said Victor Strasburger, MD, FAAP, lead author of the Media Violence policy statement. “Parents who bring young children to see PG-13 and R-rated movies take a risk that their child will see violence as an acceptable way to solve their problems.”
As previously recommended by the AAP, babies or toddlers younger than 2 years should avoid all screen media. Parents need to limit their children to 1 to 2 hours of screen time per day, and remove TVs, Internet connections, and video games from the child’s bedroom. Children with a TV set in their bedroom increase their risk of obesity by 31 percent, watch more PG-13 and R-rated movies, and double their risk of smoking.
Many parents find the entertainment industry’s various rating systems difficult to use. The movie ratings are used by approximately three-quarters of parents, but only half have ever used the TV and video game ratings, or music advisories as a guide. Most parents aren’t aware that a v-chip (viewer control) is installed on their TV, and only 20 percent of parents actually use it. The AAP suggests pediatricians advocate for a simple, universal content-based media ratings system to help parents make healthy media choices for their children.
According to the new policy statement, “Impact of Music, Music Lyrics, and Music Videos on Children and Youth,” it is important for pediatricians and parents to be aware of the music children are listening to, in addition to TV and video games.
“Music plays such a vital role in the socialization and identity of children and adolescents, and parents often don’t know what lyrics their children are listening to because of increasing use of downloaded music and headphones,” said Rosario Gonzalez, MD, FAAP, lead author of the new statement.
On average, American youth listen to music from 1.5 to 2.5 hours per day, and an analysis of at-risk youth revealed they listen up to 6.8 hours per day. Studies have shown that a preference for certain types of music or music videos with explicit references to drugs, sex or violence can be associated with negative effects on schoolwork, behavior and emotions. Heavy metal and hard rock music have also been associated with increased suicidal risk, depression and delinquent behavior.
The AAP recommends that pediatricians become familiar with the literature on the effects of music and music videos on children and adolescents. Pediatricians should also encourage parents to actively monitor the music their children listen to and purchase. Parents can find song lyrics on Internet search engines and discuss them with their children. In addition, parents should be aware of the parental advisory warning of explicit content, located on the front of the CD, album, or DVD.
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13. Below is a news release on press briefing to be given at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). AAP President David T. Tayloe, MD, FAAP; Dana Best, MD, MPH, FAAP; and Tammy Sims, MD, MS, FAAP, will present the key recommendations in the AAP Policy, “Tobacco Use: A Pediatric Disease,” at 10 a.m. (ET), Monday, Oct. 19 in the press briefing room 157 of the Washington Convention Center. The report is embargoed until Monday, Oct. 19 at 12:01 a.m. (ET).
For Release: Monday, Oct. 19, 2009
10 a.m. (ET)
AAP CALLS FOR TOBACCO-FREE ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL CHILDREN
WASHINGTON, DC – Children deserve to live tobacco-free lives. A new policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises pediatricians and families to work together to make this happen. A life free of tobacco means smoke-free homes and apartment buildings, cars, schools, restaurants, parks, beaches, sidewalks, and sporting events - everywhere children live, study, and play. It means freedom from the harmful effects of tobacco use on family health, income, and safety.
The policy statement, “Tobacco Use: A Pediatric Disease,” and two accompanying technical reports released Monday, Oct. 19, at the National Conference and Exhibition of the AAP, lay out the AAP’s recommendations for tobacco- and smoke-free environments for children, guidelines for treatment of tobacco use and dependence, implementation and enforcement of tobacco-control measures, and support for training and research in pediatric tobacco control.
There is no safe way to use tobacco and no safe level or duration of exposure to secondhand smoke, said David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. (Note to media: Dr. Tayloe’s term as AAP president ends Monday, Oct. 19, when he becomes immediate past president.)
“Children’s environments should be tobacco- and smoke-free, even when children are not present,” Tayloe said. “The AAP supports and advocates for laws that protect children from tobacco smoke everywhere they learn, live, and play.”
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and illness in the United States, causing more than 443,000 deaths each year. Tobacco use is greatest among adults who live below the poverty line and secondhand smoke exposure disproportionately affects children living in low-income households. Tobacco use is passed on to the next generation through children: an estimated 3000 U.S. children start using tobacco every day. If current patterns of tobacco use continue, an estimated 6.4 million of today’s children will die prematurely from a disease related to tobacco use.
“Tobacco use is deadly, and the affects of secondhand smoke exposure of children are severe,” said Dana Best, MD, MPH, FAAP, a former member of the AAP Committee on Environmental Health and co-author of the tobacco policy statement. “Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop asthma, permanent harm to their lungs, and other significant health effects. Infants born to mothers who smoked or exposed to secondhand smoke during the prenatal period have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome and many other harms. It’s important that families make their homes and cars completely smoke- and tobacco-free.”
Parents should ask about the tobacco use policies at their children’s schools and child care centers. There should be no tobacco use on the premises, whether or not children are present. If parents use tobacco, they can talk to their child’s pediatrician about how to quit – and even get help with quitting and accessing cessation therapies, services, and resources. “Parents and children should know that it is not safe to ‘experiment’ with tobacco,” said Tammy Sims, MD, MS, FAAP, a member of the AAP Committee on Substance Abuse and co-author of the tobacco policy statement. “Nicotine is so highly addictive that dependence can begin immediately, even occasional use of tobacco is harmful.”
The AAP’s work to eliminate children’s exposure to tobacco and secondhand smoke is spearheaded at the AAP Julius B. Richmond Center, which was established in 2006 to foster tobacco-control. The AAP recommends bans on tobacco advertising in all media, and restrictions on the depiction of tobacco in movies and television. In addition to laws banning the sale of tobacco products to children, the AAP calls for bans on candy cigarettes, cigars, and other products that imitate smoking or tobacco use. E-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) should also be banned. The sale of tobacco products on the same premises as pharmacies should be eliminated, including pharmacies located in supermarkets.
Reporters looking for local angles should contact the AAP Department of Communications. A list of local tobacco control projects, with local contacts, is available.
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14. Below is a news release for the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Judith S. Palfrey, MD, FAAP, will begin her term as president of the AAP on Monday, October 19, at the NCE in Washington, DC.
For Release: Monday, October 19
12 noon (ET)
JUDITH S. PALFREY, MD, FAAP TAKES OFFICE AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
WASHINGTON, DC – Judith S. Palfrey, MD, FAAP, will begin her term as president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on Monday, October 19 at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The AAP is the nation’s largest pediatric organization with a membership of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists.
Dr. Palfrey is a general pediatrician and child advocate. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and medical degree from Columbia University, she trained at Jacobi Hospital in New York. She then joined Children’s Hospital, Boston, holding the position of general pediatrics division chief from 1986 to 2008. Under her leadership, the division grew to one of the largest and most productive general pediatrics programs in the country. Dr. Palfrey has served as chair of the AAP Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, president of the Academic Pediatric Association, director of Building Bright Futures, and national program director of the Dyson Community Pediatrics Initiative.
Dr. Palfrey is the T. Berry Brazelton Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She directs the Children’s International Pediatric Center, Children’s Hospital, Boston. Dr. Palfrey is also master of Adams House at Harvard College along with her husband, pediatrician Sean Palfrey. She has written five books, including Community Child Health and Child Health in America, and more than 100 articles dealing with improving child health systems.
As AAP president, Dr. Palfrey will work closely with government leaders to advance the AAP child health priorities for 2009-2010, which focus on three main principals:
- All children have access to health insurance and quality health care
- All children receive the highest quality care in a medical home
- Health care finance ensures appropriate payment to pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists
“Now is the time to make our voices heard and insist that advancing children’s health care be a priority in Congress,” said Dr. Palfrey. “The economy continues to strengthen, and it is imperative that funding be used to improve pediatric health care quality in the U.S. No child should ever be without consistent medical care and access to a stable medical home, and I will do whatever I can to make this a reality for all children.”
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15. Below is a news release on a press briefing at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A panel of experts in infectious diseases, emergency medicine and disaster preparedness will discuss the latest news in the H1N1 swine flu pandemic at 9 a.m. (ET), Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the press briefing room 157 of the Washington Convention Center.
For Release: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
9 a.m. (ET)
EXPERT PANEL TO DISCUSS H1N1 (SWINE FLU) AT NCE
WASHINGTON, DC – Federal authorities are predicting the new H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine will be ready for distribution in mid-October. How are children faring in the pandemic? What should parents do about the vaccine? How can you answer your children's questions and provide support? Pose your questions about the latest developments in the H1N1 pandemic to top experts in pediatric infectious diseases, emergency medicine and disaster preparedness. The panel includes:
Joseph A. Bocchini, Jr., MD, FAAP
Professor of pediatrics and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, and medical director of the Children’s Hospital. He is chairperson of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. He is a member of the American Society of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the American Pediatric Society. He is member of the Editorial Board of the Pediatric Infection Disease Journal.
Henry “Hank” Bernstein, DO, FAAP
Professor of pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School and Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth. He is a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases and serves as the AAP Liaison to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Influenza Workgroup. He is editor-in-chief of the AAP’s online learning system, PediaLink®. His extensive experience as a primary care pediatrician informs and influences his research.
Steven E. Krug, MD, FAAP
Professor of pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and head of the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is the past-chair of the AAP Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine and a past-chair of the AAP Section on Emergency Medicine. He currently serves as the chair of the AAP Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council and also serves as the AAP liaison to the American College of Surgeon Committee on Trauma. Dr. Krug is the editor in chief for Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine.
David Schonfeld, MD, FAAP
Developmental-behavioral pediatrician, director of the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, and director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He is a member of the AAP’s Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council and a member of the National Commission on Children and Disasters. He has provided consultation and training on school crisis and pediatric bereavement in the aftermath of a number of school crisis events and disasters within the United States and abroad.
H1N1 will also be addressed in two additional presentations Tuesday, Oct. 20:
P4047: Plenary Address: Pandemic Influenza H1N1: Epidemiology, Treatment, and Prevention
11:55 - 12:10 a.m. (ET), Tuesday, Oct. 20
Speaker: Joseph Bocchini, MD, FAAP
Location: Washington Convention Center, Ballroom
S4059: Pediatric Emergency Readiness and Pandemic Influenza H1N1
2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (ET), Tuesday, Oct. 20
Speakers Steven E. Krug, MD, FAAP; David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP
Location: Washington Convention Center, Room 151
Contact the AAP Department of Communications for a list of other sessions at NCE that will address H1N1.
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The FAAP designation following a pediatrician’s name stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatricians with a FAAP designation have obtained board certification in pediatrics and made an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and advocacy for children.
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