Press Statement
On
THE SURGEON GENERAL'S "YEAR OF THE HEALTHY CHILD"
By Carol Berkowitz, MD, AAP President

"The American Academy of Pediatrics appreciates and supports the U.S. Surgeon General's 2005 dedicated agenda, announced earlier this week, to ensure the health of all children and adolescents. While millions of children flourish in our country, Surgeon General Carmona knows millions of other children flounder. We need our collective efforts to help every child reach his or her full potential by taking action to solve the problems. These range from lack of quality health care and obesity to child abuse and mental health problems to name but a few.

"The Academy believes in a unified vision of the best life for children, and the Surgeon General is greatly contributing to that goal through his agenda. We're already working with Surgeon General Carmona on exercise for children through the Shaping America's Youth campaign, and look forward to helping him this year, our 75th anniversary. Given his dedication to child health and the enthusiasm and passion he has when interacting with children, I think he missed a calling to train as a pediatrician! We thank the Surgeon General for working to create an America fit for children."

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.