Announcing PA AAP's 2025 Chapter Award Winners!
Join us for PA AAP's 2025 Pediatric Conference!
Join us for the Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics' upcoming Pediatric Conference: "Addressing Challenges in Modern Pediatrics!"
We have exciting sessions covering topics including food allergies, social determinants of health screening, evaluating and treating victims of child maltreatment, as well as a keynote presentation from incoming AAP President Dr. Sue Kressly! Click here for information on registration, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, and lodging. We look forward to seeing you there! |
February is National Children's Dental Health Month!

Physicians play an important role in the development of good oral health habits for children and families. AAP policy and Bright Futures recommendations support the inclusion of oral health in daily practice. Today, insurance coverage provides payment to medical offices for application of fluoride varnish to the teeth of children up to age 21.
If you’re not implementing oral health screening, education and fluoride varnish application during well visits in your practice, the Healthy Teeth Healthy Children (HTHC) program at PA AAP offers FREE training (on-site or virtual) for the entire office staff that provides information around oral health practice implementation and associated billing/reimbursement. This 1-hour training provides certification for Medicaid reimbursement and offers 1 CME credit. To request a training, email [email protected].
Consider posting oral health materials in your office or sharing resources with your patients to help increase oral health literacy during National Children’s Dental Health Month and beyond!
Mark your calendars! On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the PA AAP is hosting an exciting webinar from 8-9pm ET titled Let’s Talk: What Pediatricians Need to Know About Oral Health Today. Presenters include Dr. Eve Kimball, Dr. Daniel Taylor, Dr. Dakota Peterson, and Dr. Kelly Curtin-Hallinan. Register for the webinar here!
If you’re not implementing oral health screening, education and fluoride varnish application during well visits in your practice, the Healthy Teeth Healthy Children (HTHC) program at PA AAP offers FREE training (on-site or virtual) for the entire office staff that provides information around oral health practice implementation and associated billing/reimbursement. This 1-hour training provides certification for Medicaid reimbursement and offers 1 CME credit. To request a training, email [email protected].
Consider posting oral health materials in your office or sharing resources with your patients to help increase oral health literacy during National Children’s Dental Health Month and beyond!
- Free NCDHM resources from the ADA, including posters and activity sheets for kids, can be found here.
- The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) offers a library of oral health resources for download and will provide printed copies upon request.
- Connect your patients to an online collection of engaging virtual resources for children and families at HTHC’s Smile Hub.
- HTHC also offers a variety of free print resources for pediatricians on our website.
Mark your calendars! On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the PA AAP is hosting an exciting webinar from 8-9pm ET titled Let’s Talk: What Pediatricians Need to Know About Oral Health Today. Presenters include Dr. Eve Kimball, Dr. Daniel Taylor, Dr. Dakota Peterson, and Dr. Kelly Curtin-Hallinan. Register for the webinar here!
President's Message, February 2025
Kate Tigue, MD, FAAP
Greetings colleagues,
What a stressful three weeks it has been. As I gather my thoughts, I hope you are finding ways to support yourself, your colleagues, and, most importantly, your patients and families in these most challenging and uncertain times. As we juggle endless professional and personal responsibilities, I want to share a few stories over these 3 weeks that brought me joy and reinforced the importance of the Pediatric Medical Home in our communities.
One Sunday morning I started patient care for ill patients and waited for my first patient to leave the bathroom. The door opened and out into the hall walked the most adorable almost 3-year-old little boy happily dancing back to the exam room in his superhero boxer briefs. A smile broke across my face as I followed him into the room. As he climbed up onto the exam table, I introduced myself. He immediately looked up and said, “Where is my doctor?” I explained his regular doctor had the day off and I was going to see him. He looked up with his big brown eyes and said, “Okay, you can be my friend too!”
This past week I walked in to meet a newborn and her family. Sitting in the chair was a grandmother, grinning from ear to ear. As I greeted her and asked what her preferred grandmother's name would be she answered and added, “I am so happy to be back in the office. All my kids received pediatric care here and there is nowhere else we would trust to care for my granddaughter.”
What a stressful three weeks it has been. As I gather my thoughts, I hope you are finding ways to support yourself, your colleagues, and, most importantly, your patients and families in these most challenging and uncertain times. As we juggle endless professional and personal responsibilities, I want to share a few stories over these 3 weeks that brought me joy and reinforced the importance of the Pediatric Medical Home in our communities.
One Sunday morning I started patient care for ill patients and waited for my first patient to leave the bathroom. The door opened and out into the hall walked the most adorable almost 3-year-old little boy happily dancing back to the exam room in his superhero boxer briefs. A smile broke across my face as I followed him into the room. As he climbed up onto the exam table, I introduced myself. He immediately looked up and said, “Where is my doctor?” I explained his regular doctor had the day off and I was going to see him. He looked up with his big brown eyes and said, “Okay, you can be my friend too!”
This past week I walked in to meet a newborn and her family. Sitting in the chair was a grandmother, grinning from ear to ear. As I greeted her and asked what her preferred grandmother's name would be she answered and added, “I am so happy to be back in the office. All my kids received pediatric care here and there is nowhere else we would trust to care for my granddaughter.”
Membership Opportunities
AdvocacyAdvance 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!
|
EducationEnsure the highest quality of patient care through EDUCATION of pediatricians, residents, and medical students.
|
Leadership & NetworkingPromote optimal physician well-being and career stamina through PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and NETWORKING opportunities.
|
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.
|