The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to
the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and
young adults. The AAP has approximately 60,000 members in the United
States, Canada and Latin America. Members include pediatricians, pediatric
medical sub specialists and pediatric surgical specialists. More than
34,000 members are board-certified and called Fellows of the American
Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).
HISTORY
The American Academy of
Pediatrics was founded in June 1930 by 35 pediatricians who met in Detroit
in response to the need for an independent pediatric forum to address
children's needs. When the AAP was established, the idea that children
have special developmental and health needs was a new one. Preventive
health practices now associated with child care - such as immunizations
and regular health exams - were only just beginning to change the custom
of treating children as "miniature adults."
MISSION
STATEMENT (See AAP
At-A-Glance)
The mission of the American Academy
of Pediatrics is to attain optimal physical, mental and social health and
well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. To
accomplish this mission, the Academy shall support the professional needs
of its members.
STRUCTURE AND
GOVERNANCE
The AAP is governed by a Board of
Directors consisting of ten members who are elected by members in their
regional districts and thus also serve as district
chairpersons.
Members vote each year for a national vice president, who
also serves as president-elect. The Executive Committee, which conducts
AAP business on a daily basis, consists of the president, president-elect,
vice president and executive director as ex-officio member. Current
Executive Committee members are:
PRESIDENT: Eileen Ouellette, MD, JD, FAAP
PRESIDENT-ELECT: Jay Berkelhamer, MD, FAAP
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Errol Alden, MD, FAAP, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Members
also elect officers for their chapters, which serve states and territories
in the U.S. and Canadian provinces. Chapters are individually
incorporated, have their own bylaws, and further the aims of the national
organization as well as local priorities.
The AAP is a not-for-profit
Illinois corporation organized for scientific and educational purposes,
exempt from income tax under Section 501(c) (3) of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code. The AAP has been classified as an organization that is not a
private foundation as defined in Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
ACTIVITIES
One of the AAP's major
activities is to further the professional education of its members.
Continuing education courses, annual scientific meetings, seminars,
publications and statements from committees and sections form the basis of
a continuing postgraduate educational program.
More than 30 committees develop many of the AAP's positions and programs. Committees have
interests as varied as injury and poison prevention, disabled children,
sports medicine, nutrition and child health financing.
The AAP
currently has 5 councils and 47 sections consisting of more than
40,000 members with interest in specialized areas of pediatrics. This
includes a section for resident physicians with more than 9,000 members.
Sections and councils present educational programs for both their members
and the general membership of the AAP in order to highlight current
research and practical knowledge in their respective subspecialties.
The AAP publishes Pediatrics, its monthly scientific journal; Pediatrics in
Review, its continuing education journal; and its membership
newspaper AAP
News. It also publishes manuals on such topics as infectious
diseases and school health. In its public education efforts, the AAP
produces patient education brochures on a variety of topics and a
series of child care books written by AAP members.
The AAP
executes original research in social, economic and behavioral areas and
promotes funding of research. It maintains a Washington, D.C. office to ensure that children's health
needs are taken into consideration as legislation and public policy are
developed. The AAP's state advocacy staff provides assistance to chapters,
promoting issues such as child safety legislation and Medicaid policies
that increase access to care for low-income children.
SOURCES OF FUNDING
The AAP's
activities and programs are funded through a wide variety of sources
including membership dues, revenues from continuing medical education
activities and publications, and unrestricted educational grants from
individuals, foundations, corporations, and government. Grants and
contributions support more than 200 programs each year. Individuals may donate to
the Friends of Children
Fund Annual Campaign or through major or planned gifts to the
Tomorrow's Children Endowment.
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