It is my pleasure to welcome you to the AAP Section on Med-Peds Web site.  I am Tommy Cross and I have just assumed the Chair of the Section in October 2008. The history of Med-Peds is rich and now over 40 years old.

It is humbling to be following in the footsteps of John Chamberlain, our inaugural Chair, and Brian Kan, our 2nd and most recent Chair. Even though Med-Peds has been around since 1967, our Section is relatively new within the AAP, having just finished our first decade. Based on John and Brian’s leadership, the Section has grown and has become one of the largest Sections within the AAP.

I think you will find that the Med-Peds Section has a lot to offer you, and hopefully you can help us as well. Currently we have 6 active committees that focus on various areas within the Section. Each committee is actively seeking new membership and ideas. I invite you to peruse the information on this web site and see if there might be a niche for you to offer expertise or an area that interests you enough to become involved. Here’s a brief synopsis of the 6 committees:

(1) The Med-Peds Practice committee, which focuses on issues relevant to the practice of both internal medicine and pediatrics. These include career paths, practice administration, group practice and partnering, managed care, and regulatory & legal issues.  (2) The Membership and Advocacy committee is responsible for membership issues and advocacy activities for the Section. Advocacy and membership are two sides of the same coin. A large membership enhances advocacy efforts, and successful advocacy can enhance membership. (3) The Programming committee plans educational activities and events at our meetings. This includes preparing and submitting proposals for section programs and planning section events at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) and the ACP’s annual Internal Medicine meeting.

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(4) The Communications and Publications committee is responsible for the publications of the Section. This includes the Section’s newsletter, web site, and brochures. (5) The Student, Resident and Young Physician committee focuses on resources, opportunities and issues related to students, residents and young physicians. These include our job search guide, a newsletter for medical students and collaboration with their colleagues in the AAP Resident Section, AAP Young Physician Section, ACP Council of Associates (residents and fellows), and ACP Young Physicians Council.  (6) The Academics committee focuses on issues related to academic medicine. This includes medical education and research. 

Other resources found on this web site include a repository of the Section’s newsletters, section brochures (What is a Med-Peds Doctor? and How Can a Med-Peds Physician Work for Your Organization?), and the Section’s Med-Peds Job Search Frequently Asked Questions. In the links section, you’ll find web links to other Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Med-Peds organizations.

Finally, I’d like to highlight a new initiative from the Practice committee. Mike Tracy has spearheaded development of a listserv for those in different practice environments: primary care, hospitalists, and specialists/special niche groups. These interactions are just beginning and we invite you to join these listserv—you can contact me or Jackie Burke if you are interested in these or if you have any questions about the Med-Peds Section. 

J. Thomas Cross, MD Chairperson Section on Med-Peds