What's Happening at the PA AAP?
President's Message, May 2025
Kate Tigue, MD, FAAP
Colleagues,
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we all recognize the essential role pediatricians play in the mental and emotional health of children and adolescents. Serving as the medical home for our patients and families, we are a trusted source of support, education, diagnostic acumen and honesty in these days where families and teens may feel threatened or worried about government interference in the exam room.
Over the past decade, we’ve seen meaningful progress in awareness, diagnosis, and access to mental health services for young people. While mental health concerns remain common—affecting roughly 1 in 5 children annually—signs of improved support are evident:
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we all recognize the essential role pediatricians play in the mental and emotional health of children and adolescents. Serving as the medical home for our patients and families, we are a trusted source of support, education, diagnostic acumen and honesty in these days where families and teens may feel threatened or worried about government interference in the exam room.
Over the past decade, we’ve seen meaningful progress in awareness, diagnosis, and access to mental health services for young people. While mental health concerns remain common—affecting roughly 1 in 5 children annually—signs of improved support are evident:
- Diagnoses of anxiety and depression in children aged 6–17 rose by more than 30% from 2009 to 2019, largely due to better recognition and reduced stigma (Ghandour et al., JAMA Pediatrics, 2019).
- Telehealth visits for pediatric mental health increased more than 30-fold from 2019 to 2021 (Verma et al., Pediatrics, 2022), improving access for many families.
- As of 2023, over 65% of pediatricians report conducting routine mental health screenings (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2023).
- Encouragingly, more than half of parents now feel comfortable discussing mental health with their child’s primary care provider, compared to just 30% a decade ago (Child Mind Institute Annual Report, 2022).
Measles Updates
The United States is currently experiencing one of its most severe measles outbreaks in over two decades with 935 confirmed cases (as of May 1, 2025). While Texas remains the epicenter, Pennsylvania has also reported several cases, prompting heightened public health responses.
While in Pennsylvania, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for kindergarten students are around 94% for the state, there are counties that dip as low as 84%. This is not ideal for herd immunity and can be a factor in outbreaks in the state.
The Bureau of Immunizations for the Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to stress that vaccination is the best and proven method to prevent measles. It is safe, effective, and provides lasting protection. The Bureau of Immunizations has created resources on how to locate vaccine providers within Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia County) that are enrolled in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program or State Health Centers who offer vaccines under VFC. Philadelphia's VFC program information can be found here.
Educational Resources and Webinars:
To support our members during this time, we have compiled a list of resources to support your efforts to combat misinformation and increase vaccination rates to curb the spread of this preventable disease.
While in Pennsylvania, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for kindergarten students are around 94% for the state, there are counties that dip as low as 84%. This is not ideal for herd immunity and can be a factor in outbreaks in the state.
The Bureau of Immunizations for the Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to stress that vaccination is the best and proven method to prevent measles. It is safe, effective, and provides lasting protection. The Bureau of Immunizations has created resources on how to locate vaccine providers within Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia County) that are enrolled in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program or State Health Centers who offer vaccines under VFC. Philadelphia's VFC program information can be found here.
Educational Resources and Webinars:
To support our members during this time, we have compiled a list of resources to support your efforts to combat misinformation and increase vaccination rates to curb the spread of this preventable disease.
- AAP Redbook Hot Topics Webinar: Measles- Meeting the Moment- This webinar features an expert panel of physicians discussing the current outbreak including a clinical overview, what to do if you have a suspected case, infection prevention and control, how to prevent measles, and practical applications.
- AAP Redbook- Measles Chapter - In addition to the AAP Redbook Webinar on Measles, the Redbook contains a 16 page chapter on measles linked here.
- AAP Measles Toolkit- Use the tools and resources in this toolkit to join the AAP in promoting timely measles vaccination and combating misinformation.
- CDC Project Firstline Webinar, Measles on the Rise: How to Prepare and Respond in Your Clinic - This webinar will be held on Thursday May 15, 2025 at 11 AM ET. The goal of this webinar will be to describe current trends in measles epidemiology, recognize, identify, and appropriately test for measles in patients presenting with symptoms, explain how vaccination protects against measles and prevents transmission, learn how to prepare your clicnic for a case of measles, and describe infection prevention strategies in health care settings. To register click here.
- CDC Measles Treatment Overview: Information for Healthcare Providers- This two-page document gives an overview of some of the common misconceptions regarding measles treatments.
- CDC "Be Ready for Measles" Toolkit- This toolkit provides outbreak response tools and communication materials to communicate with the public, other clinicians, and partners.
- CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks- This website is updated weekly on Fridays with the newest case and outbreak information nationally and by state.
- CDC Clinical Overview of Measles- This page gives the clinical features, disease rates, prevention, patient management, outbreak information, and additional resources and tools for providers.
- Pennsylvania Department of Health Measles Fact Sheet (for Providers)
- Pennsylvania Department of Health Measles Fact Sheet (for Parents)