LIAISONS

Liaisons Broaden the Scope of Perinatal Section Activities

The Section on Perinatal Pediatrics works with a number of vibrant liaison organizations both within the American Academy of Pediatrics and beyond Academy walls. These valued relationships broaden the scope of Section activities and enrich the experience and knowledge of Section members.

AAP LIAISONS

Committee on the Fetus and Newborn (Liaison: Vinod Bhutani)

The Committee on the Fetus and Newborn studies issues and current advances in fetal and neonatal care; makes recommendations regarding neonatal practice; collaborates with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to consider perinatal issues on which the practices of obstetrics and pediatrics merge; and works cooperatively with ACOG on new editions of Guidelines for Perinatal Care.

Neonatal Resuscitation Program (Liaison: Marilyn Escobedo)

Established more than 25 years ago in collaboration with the American Heart Association, the Neonatal Resuscitation Program has reached out around the world and has now trained greater than 2 million providers in the basics of newborn reusucitation.

View the NRP 20th Anniversary Video >>

Section on Breastfeeding (Liaison: Susan Landers)

From its inception, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been a staunch advocate of breastfeeding as the optimal form of nutrition for infants. The Section on Breastfeeding is a group of 650 members that maintain a permanent body for the development of AAP policy recommendations on breastfeeding, enhance and expand educational efforts of the Academy in the area of breastfeeding, including the presentation of educational sessions at AAP national meetings, coordination of national Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences, development of educational publications and curricula, provision of materials and technical assistance to practitioners, and other educational initiatives, and develop liaison and collaborative relationships with other AAP sections and committees and with outside organizations.

Section on Genetics and Birth Defects (Liaison: Kenneth Kupke)

The AAP Section on Genetics and Birth Defects (SOGBD) is the Academy home for AAP Fellows who are interested in pediatric genetics. The principal mission and activities of the section include education of primary care pediatricians regarding the role of genetics in their practices, development of genetics related educational programming for the AAP NCE, development of programs and projects that will improve the care of infants and children with genetic disorders and birth defects, close collaboration with the AAP Committee on Genetics to assist in development of policies and statements, support for genetics-related advocacy at federal, state and local levels, and advocacy for appropriate reimbursement of pediatric subspecialists for case management of children with special healthcare needs.

Section on Home Care (Liaison: Sonia Imaizumi)

The Section is dedicated to providing general pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists with an understanding of the basic principles and emerging developments in pediatric home care, with an emphasis on family-centered care.

Section on International Child Health (Liaison: Jonathan Spector)

Since its formation in 1996, the Section on International Child Health (SOICH) has grown steadily to become one of the Academy's largest sections. SOICH members share a common interest in working to improve the well-being of children all over the world, particularly those living where access to essential health resources are limited.

Learn more about SOICH >>

Section on Bioethics (Liaison: Mark Mercurio)

The Section on Bioethics was founded in 1988 and is dedicated to providing the general pediatrician and pediatric sub specialist with an understanding of the basic principles of bioethics and to help promote the importance of compassion, sensitivity, commitment, and high moral standards in the delivery of health care. In addition, the Section offers input to the AAP Board of Directors on bioethical issues and works with the AAP Committee on Bioethics to provide input to official Academy policy in this area.

Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (Liaison: Cheryl Naulty)

This group consists of professionals interested in child development and behavior, especially in the medical setting, with an emphasis on primary care development and behavior, especially early identification and screening.

Section on Transport Medicine (Liaison: Sherrie Hauft)

The Section facilitates interactions between members involved in pediatric interfacility transport for the purpose of improving care of infants, children, and adolescents who require interfacility transport. Issues of clinical care, service delivery, access to care, education, research and administration are all included in the mission of the Section.

Committee on Child Health Financing (Liaison: Beverly Koops-Jones)

The Committee on Child Health Financing monitors and makes policy recommendations to the Board of Directors on various aspects and sources for financing health care for children, both private and public, and in all modes of delivery. The Committee also develops resources and information services on managed care for pediatricians. It also collaborates with other Committees in informing chapters of federal and state financing activities to assist chapters in their efforts to influence the monies involved in state determination of Medicaid, MCH, and other government, or private, health care financing programs.

LIAISON ORGANIZATIONS

Organization of Neonatal Training Program Directors (Liaison: Joseph Neu)

The ONTPD was formed in 1991 to provide an annual forum for neonatal-perinatal training program directors to identify and address issues relevant to Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) Fellowship Training. Its membership consists of the program directors from all accredited NPM training programs in the US and Puerto Rico, which in 2008 numbered 97.

Canadian Pediatric Society (Liaison: Michael Dunn)

The Canadian Paediatric Society is the national association of paediatricians, committed to working together and with others to advance the health of children and youth by promoting excellence in health care, advocacy, education, research and support of its membership.

March of Dimes (Liaison: Scott Berns)

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight.

National Association of Neonatal Nurses (Liaison: Debra Sansoucie)

The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) was formed in 1984 with the purpose of addressing the educational and practice needs within the evolving specialty of neonatal nursing, while giving all neonatal nurses national representation. Its core purpose is to support the professional needs of neonatal nurses throughout their careers. NANN is the professional voice that shapes neonatal nursing through excellence in practice, education, research and professional development.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development (Liaison: Tonse Raju)

The NICHD was initially established to investigate the broad aspects of human development as a means of understanding developmental disabilities, including mental retardation, and the events that occur during pregnancy. Today, the Institute conducts and supports research on all stages of human development, from preconception to adulthood, to better understand the health of children, adults, families, and communities.

National Perinatal Association (Liaison: Sharon Chesna)

NPA provides a forum for nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives, pediatricians, obstetricians, family physicians, social workers, nutritionists, clinical geneticists, genetic counselors, developmental specialists, respiratory therapists, out-reach workers, consumers, administrators, educators, legislators, and all others interested in perinatal health.

Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Liaison: Michael Foley)

Established in 1977, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) is a not-for-profit organization of over 2,000 members that are dedicated to improving perinatal care. The Society's primary objectives are to promote and expand education in Maternal-Fetal medicine and to encourage the exchange of new ideas and research concerning the most recent approaches and treatments for obstetrical problems.

A Maternal-Fetal medicine sub-specialist is an obstetrician/gynecologist who has completed two to three years of additional formal education and clinical experience within the an American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) approved Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program. Members of the Society have advanced knowledge of the obstetrical, medical, genetic, and surgical complications of pregnancy and their effects on both the mother and fetus.