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.
|
Congratulations to PA AAP's 2024 Chapter Award Recipients!
|
2024 Pediatrician of the Year
Kenneth Keppel, MD, FAAP 
|
2024 DEI Champion
Lynne Williams, MD, PhD 
|
Read more about Dr. Kenneth Keppel and Dr. Lynne Williams here.
President's Message, February 2024
Mary Ann Rigas, MD, FAAP
Dear fellow PA AAP members,
Eli is a healthy 18-year-old patient of mine who did well academically and in sports in high school. A few months after he started college, Eli’s parents brought him to the office on a Monday morning after he spent a long weekend at home. They were alarmed and concerned because over the course of the weekend, Eli had expressed increasingly bizarre behavior. He had very little appetite and struggled to sleep; in fact, he had been awake all Sunday night despite taking Benadryl in an attempt to induce drowsiness. Eli seemed restless, anxious, irritable, and almost paranoid, accusing his parents and younger brother of “trying to get at him.” In the office, Eli had normal vital signs but appeared quite distressed. During a confidential conversation, Eli endorsed using marijuana at least three times daily since he started college. He stopped using it when he came home for the weekend and his current symptoms began about a day later. Not surprisingly, Eli’s urine drug screen was positive for cannabinoids.
This month, Governor Shapiro revealed his budget proposal for 2024, which includes legalization of adult-use cannabis beyond the current Medical Marijuana Program. While proponents argue for the potential economic benefits and social justice implications of this action, we pediatricians are concerned about its impact on our young patient population.
Eli is a healthy 18-year-old patient of mine who did well academically and in sports in high school. A few months after he started college, Eli’s parents brought him to the office on a Monday morning after he spent a long weekend at home. They were alarmed and concerned because over the course of the weekend, Eli had expressed increasingly bizarre behavior. He had very little appetite and struggled to sleep; in fact, he had been awake all Sunday night despite taking Benadryl in an attempt to induce drowsiness. Eli seemed restless, anxious, irritable, and almost paranoid, accusing his parents and younger brother of “trying to get at him.” In the office, Eli had normal vital signs but appeared quite distressed. During a confidential conversation, Eli endorsed using marijuana at least three times daily since he started college. He stopped using it when he came home for the weekend and his current symptoms began about a day later. Not surprisingly, Eli’s urine drug screen was positive for cannabinoids.
This month, Governor Shapiro revealed his budget proposal for 2024, which includes legalization of adult-use cannabis beyond the current Medical Marijuana Program. While proponents argue for the potential economic benefits and social justice implications of this action, we pediatricians are concerned about its impact on our young patient population.
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
|