The Section on Perinatal Pediatrics was founded in 1974 for the purpose of improving the care of pregnant women, fetuses, and newborn infants by providing an educational forum for the discussion of problems relating to pregnancy, parturition, and perinatal/neonatal medicine. Additionally, the Section was formed to stimulate research in, and the teaching of, perinatal/neonatal pediatrics. The Section serves in a consulting capacity to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Pediatrics to make recommendations for programs, policy statements and other actions on matters relating to the fetus and newborn infant.

Membership in the Section is open to all Fellows of the Academy with an interest in Perinatal/Neonatal Medicine. The Section has a total membership of 3,000. An affiliate category is open to physicians who are not otherwise eligible for membership in the Academy, but who have a special interest in practicing in the fields associated with or related to perinatal pediatrics. Affiliate membership is also open to nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, social workers, and respiratory therapists. Section affiliate membership totals 145. Dues for the Section on Perinatal Pediatrics are assessed annually at $75, and membership includes a subscription to the Section's newsletter and to the Journal of Perinatology.

The Section on Perinatal Pediatrics holds two organizational meetings each year - one in conjunction with the Academy's National Conference & Exhibition each fall, and one in conjunction with the Perinatal Spring Workshop CME course in the spring. The educational meetings are held at the National Conference & Exhibition and include a scientific abstract presentation as well as a "state of the art" lecture series. In addition to the education provided during the National Conference & Exhibition, the Section sponsors a spring workshop in Scottsdale, Arizona on perinatal strategies. This workshop centers around organizational issues such as workforce issues, reimbursement issues, managed care, practice alignment, and practice guidelines. Attendees of this workshop include neonatologists, pediatricians, nurses, and administrators.

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