Statement on Racism
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the AAP opposes all forms of racism and discrimination. We recognize the serious and life-long health effects that racism and bias have on children and families and condemn overt acts as well as the unlabeled attitudes and policies that allow racism to exist in our society. We hereby affirm the AAP Policy on Racism and commit to furthering our role in combatting racism and its effects on child health, following the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in all that we do.
#CallYourPediatrician
This toolkit will provide materials to help spread the word – YES, bring your child in and please call your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns! We know some parents are uncertain about bringing their child to the pediatrician for their scheduled well-child visit, or for immunizations – or if it is better to wait until after the pandemic. Pediatricians’ offices are open and have taken every precaution to ensure the safety of patients, families, and staff.
Membership Opportunities
Advocacy
Advance the interests of Pennsylvania infants, children, and adolescents and the value of pediatric practice through ADVOCACY at the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C.
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Education
Ensure the highest quality of patient care through EDUCATION of pediatricians, residents, and medical students.
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Leadership & Networking
Promote optimal physician well-being and career stamina through PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and NETWORKING opportunities.
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Become a member and help us to improve the health and well being of children in Pennsylvania
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Membership opportunities are available to pediatricians and allied health professionals. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics provides an array of benefits and services to keep you up-to-date and informed. The Chapter actively advocates on behalf of your patients, their families, and you. Together, we serve as one voice in fulfilling the needs of children and pediatricians in the state.
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November President's Message
!Attitude of Gratitude
As we see an intense resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, I wanted to take a moment to reflect upon this week’s upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. It is painfully evident that this Thanksgiving will not be like any other in my lifetime--the Governor, the PA Secretary of Health, the CDC, WHO and NIH have all asked us to avoid travel and hence to eschew our traditional large gatherings with family and friends. While cases are rising, the uncertainty of our lives weighs heavily on each of us. We have seen family and friends affected by the pandemic perhaps due to illness or death, loss of economic stability, ongoing stress or the incredible strain on children (and their parents) still unable to return to school and to the normal rhythm of their lives.
At this time of year, we reflect on aspects of our lives to be thankful for. While that may not be so easy this year, there is hope in COVID-19 treatment and vaccines. There are more than twelve COVID-19 vaccines and 2 showing very promising preliminary results that may be distributed within the next month or two. The efficient distribution of the vaccine is our next important step in bringing the pandemic under control. On November 20th, our state department of health issued a COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.
As a pediatrician who has practiced medicine for several decades, I have lived to see the near eradication of many of the diseases that I spent so much time learning about, diagnosing and attempting to treat during my residency and early career. Specifically, vaccines are one of medicine's greatest discoveries, saving over 40,000 lives in the U.S. each year. I am thankful for the many scientific breakthroughs and improved outcomes I have witnessed in my practice lifetime. This pandemic has spurred medical progress that has exceeded everyone’s expectations and entered us into a new era in vaccine production. It is now estimated that the doubling time of medical knowledge in 1950 was 50 years; in 1980, 7 years; and in 2010, 3.5 years. In 2020 it is projected to be 0.2 years—just 73 days (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › pmc › articles › PMC3116346)--- amazing yet daunting!
Thank you for your work to ensure that children receive their routine immunizations during this pandemic by allaying parental fears about the safety of our offices and the safety of the vaccines themselves. While we cannot lower our guard about the utmost importance of masking, social distancing and hand hygiene, it will be incredibly important to convince the public, starting with us, as frontline healthcare providers, that the vaccine is a crucial part in the fight against the SARS CoV 2 virus. The Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition and the CHOP Vaccine Education Center have wonderful resources for providers, patients and families.
I am also thankful for access to technology that has allowed us to stay connected remotely and participate in the various Chapter Committees, advocacy initiatives and PA AAP programs virtually. As most of you know, I am not an advocate for digital media, but last week’s PA AAP Fall Leadership Meeting was held virtually with outstanding DEI speakers, an Open Board - Member Meeting and Friday night mixer for our early career and trainee members. All went extremely well! Be sure to check our website for recorded sessions.
Be sure to join us for our next Let’s Talk Community Forum on Wednesday, December 2nd at 8 pm, featuring AAP Visiting Immunization Expert Richard Moriarty, MD, FAAP, who will present “Influenza: Disease, Immunization, and Working to Protect Families" Click here to register now!
The PA AAP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Series, Promoting Dialogue and Taking Action to Advance Health Equity for all Children, will wrap up with the final webinar of the series taking place on Wednesday, December 9th at 8 pm. Registration will open shortly for Let’s Talk DEI Series Part III: “Prioritizing Health Equity in Clinical Practice." Speakers include Katie McPeak, MD, FAAP, Stacey Kallem, MD, FAAP and Nonye Madu, MPH.
Finally, please save the date for our Annual Leadership and CME Conference to be held virtually on Saturday, March 20, 2021.
As always, your concerns, thoughts and suggestions are most welcome. Please email me at haecker@email.chop.edu or Annette at amyarick@paaap.org at any time.
I wish each of you a very safe and healthy Thanksgiving!
Trude Haecker, MD, FAAP
President 2020-2022
As we see an intense resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, I wanted to take a moment to reflect upon this week’s upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. It is painfully evident that this Thanksgiving will not be like any other in my lifetime--the Governor, the PA Secretary of Health, the CDC, WHO and NIH have all asked us to avoid travel and hence to eschew our traditional large gatherings with family and friends. While cases are rising, the uncertainty of our lives weighs heavily on each of us. We have seen family and friends affected by the pandemic perhaps due to illness or death, loss of economic stability, ongoing stress or the incredible strain on children (and their parents) still unable to return to school and to the normal rhythm of their lives.
At this time of year, we reflect on aspects of our lives to be thankful for. While that may not be so easy this year, there is hope in COVID-19 treatment and vaccines. There are more than twelve COVID-19 vaccines and 2 showing very promising preliminary results that may be distributed within the next month or two. The efficient distribution of the vaccine is our next important step in bringing the pandemic under control. On November 20th, our state department of health issued a COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.
As a pediatrician who has practiced medicine for several decades, I have lived to see the near eradication of many of the diseases that I spent so much time learning about, diagnosing and attempting to treat during my residency and early career. Specifically, vaccines are one of medicine's greatest discoveries, saving over 40,000 lives in the U.S. each year. I am thankful for the many scientific breakthroughs and improved outcomes I have witnessed in my practice lifetime. This pandemic has spurred medical progress that has exceeded everyone’s expectations and entered us into a new era in vaccine production. It is now estimated that the doubling time of medical knowledge in 1950 was 50 years; in 1980, 7 years; and in 2010, 3.5 years. In 2020 it is projected to be 0.2 years—just 73 days (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › pmc › articles › PMC3116346)--- amazing yet daunting!
Thank you for your work to ensure that children receive their routine immunizations during this pandemic by allaying parental fears about the safety of our offices and the safety of the vaccines themselves. While we cannot lower our guard about the utmost importance of masking, social distancing and hand hygiene, it will be incredibly important to convince the public, starting with us, as frontline healthcare providers, that the vaccine is a crucial part in the fight against the SARS CoV 2 virus. The Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition and the CHOP Vaccine Education Center have wonderful resources for providers, patients and families.
I am also thankful for access to technology that has allowed us to stay connected remotely and participate in the various Chapter Committees, advocacy initiatives and PA AAP programs virtually. As most of you know, I am not an advocate for digital media, but last week’s PA AAP Fall Leadership Meeting was held virtually with outstanding DEI speakers, an Open Board - Member Meeting and Friday night mixer for our early career and trainee members. All went extremely well! Be sure to check our website for recorded sessions.
Be sure to join us for our next Let’s Talk Community Forum on Wednesday, December 2nd at 8 pm, featuring AAP Visiting Immunization Expert Richard Moriarty, MD, FAAP, who will present “Influenza: Disease, Immunization, and Working to Protect Families" Click here to register now!
The PA AAP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Series, Promoting Dialogue and Taking Action to Advance Health Equity for all Children, will wrap up with the final webinar of the series taking place on Wednesday, December 9th at 8 pm. Registration will open shortly for Let’s Talk DEI Series Part III: “Prioritizing Health Equity in Clinical Practice." Speakers include Katie McPeak, MD, FAAP, Stacey Kallem, MD, FAAP and Nonye Madu, MPH.
Finally, please save the date for our Annual Leadership and CME Conference to be held virtually on Saturday, March 20, 2021.
As always, your concerns, thoughts and suggestions are most welcome. Please email me at haecker@email.chop.edu or Annette at amyarick@paaap.org at any time.
I wish each of you a very safe and healthy Thanksgiving!
Trude Haecker, MD, FAAP
President 2020-2022
