Membership Opportunities
Advocacy
Advance the interests of PA children and families and the value of pediatric practice through ADVOCACY at the State Capitol. Register or log in to access PA AAP's new Advocacy Action Center!
|
Education
Ensure the highest quality of patient care through EDUCATION of pediatricians, residents, and medical students.
|
Leadership & Networking
Promote optimal physician well-being and career stamina through PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and NETWORKING opportunities.
|
Call for Nominations Now Open for 2023 PA AAP Awards!
2023 Pediatrician of the Year
Click here to view the nomination form, selection criteria, a list of required documentation, and information on how to submit your nomination.
2023 DEI Champion
Click here to view the nomination form, selection criteria, a list of required documentation, and information on how to submit your nomination.
The award winners will be announced on Monday, February 20, 2023 and the awards will be presented at the PA AAP 2023 Pediatric Conference in Allentown, PA on March 11-12, 2023.
Please contact info@paaap.org if you have questions or would like more information.
2023 Pediatric Conference: Early-Bird Registration Open Until February 10, 2023!
"Addressing Challenges in Modern Pediatrics"
March 11 & 12, 2023
"Addressing Challenges in Modern Pediatrics"
March 11 & 12, 2023
The PA AAP 2023 Pediatric Conference will take place on March 11-12, 2023 at the Renaissance Allentown Hotel in Allentown, Pennsylvania!
We have an exciting agenda packed with timely and engaging sessions on physician burnout, psychopharmacology, pediatric clinical updates, adolescent health, and more!
Click here for more information and to register for the conference!
President's Message, January 2023
Mary Ann Rigas, MD, FAAP
Dear Fellow PA AAP Member,
I saw one of my favorite patients in the office this week. I first met Max as an active three-year-old child running around the exam room. At the time, his BMI was 98% for age, and his mom reported that Max had food on his mind all the time. Over the intervening 12 years, Max’s BMI increased steadily, and now that he is 15, has reached 129% of the 95% for age. Max loves football, but he also loves video games, and, especially, food. Max’s blood pressure has been in the stage I hypertension range for the past year, his fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C are in the prediabetes range, and a recent sleep study confirmed sleep apnea.
Each year, I counsel Max and his mom on the importance of healthy food and beverage choices, as well as regular exercise. Despite this counseling, Max’s BMI has continued to increase year after year, and I have felt powerless to help. Max’s mom has reported that he is obsessed with food, and that she has a hard time saying “no” to him when he begs her for more. Mom herself was overweight as a child; she knows how it feels to be bullied about her weight and does not want to make Max feel bad about himself or his body.
We used to think that we could treat childhood obesity by matching calories in with calories out, allowing a few extra calories for growth. We assumed that obesity was the result of decisions that a child or family made, and that it was a lifestyle issue that could be reversed through diet and exercise. In Pennsylvania, our school nurses measure children’s BMI each year and send letters home to parents, advising them to consult their children’s health care providers if their BMI is over 85% for age.
During a plenary session at AAP’s National Conference and Exhibition this past fall, Dr. Joseph Skelton challenged us to change our way of thinking about childhood obesity.
I saw one of my favorite patients in the office this week. I first met Max as an active three-year-old child running around the exam room. At the time, his BMI was 98% for age, and his mom reported that Max had food on his mind all the time. Over the intervening 12 years, Max’s BMI increased steadily, and now that he is 15, has reached 129% of the 95% for age. Max loves football, but he also loves video games, and, especially, food. Max’s blood pressure has been in the stage I hypertension range for the past year, his fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C are in the prediabetes range, and a recent sleep study confirmed sleep apnea.
Each year, I counsel Max and his mom on the importance of healthy food and beverage choices, as well as regular exercise. Despite this counseling, Max’s BMI has continued to increase year after year, and I have felt powerless to help. Max’s mom has reported that he is obsessed with food, and that she has a hard time saying “no” to him when he begs her for more. Mom herself was overweight as a child; she knows how it feels to be bullied about her weight and does not want to make Max feel bad about himself or his body.
We used to think that we could treat childhood obesity by matching calories in with calories out, allowing a few extra calories for growth. We assumed that obesity was the result of decisions that a child or family made, and that it was a lifestyle issue that could be reversed through diet and exercise. In Pennsylvania, our school nurses measure children’s BMI each year and send letters home to parents, advising them to consult their children’s health care providers if their BMI is over 85% for age.
During a plenary session at AAP’s National Conference and Exhibition this past fall, Dr. Joseph Skelton challenged us to change our way of thinking about childhood obesity.
Become a member and help us to improve the health and well being of children in Pennsylvania
|
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.
|
PA AAP Newsroom
|