Andrew D. Racine, M.D., Ph.D.

Bronx, N.Y.

Position sought

President-Elect

City and state of residence

Bronx, N.Y.

Professional titles

  • System senior vice president and chief medical officer, Montefiore Health System, Bronx, N.Y.
  • Executive director, Montefiore Medical Group, Bronx, N.Y.
  • Medical school and post-graduate education
  • M.D., New York University School of Medicine, New York City
  • Ph.D. (economics), New York University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Residency program and fellowship

  • Boston Children’s Hospital

Involvement in AAP and other organizations

  • AAP New York Chapter 3 vice president and president
  • AAP District II Advocacy Committee chair
  • AAP Committee on Child Health Financing
  • Foundation for Child Development Board of Directors, member and vice chair
  • National Bureau of Economic Research Board of Directors
  • New York Academy of Medicine Board of Trustees
  • Organization for Medical and Psychological Assistance for Children Overseas Board of Trustees

Position statement

For years, the United States has chronically underinvested in the major drivers of child health: education, nutrition, access to clean air and water, decent housing, safe communities, and the education and health status of children’s caregivers. It is an unpaid promissory note this country owes to its children. At the same time, pediatricians are expected to rectify these deficiencies in our practices, which are becoming more burdensome with electronic medical record (EMR) documentation demands, practice consolidations and struggles for payment.

The health of America’s children and the satisfaction we receive from pediatric practice are both under threat. The good news is that this country has the wherewithal to rectify this, and no entity is better suited to remind the country of the promissory note it owes to its children than the AAP.

Federalizing Medicaid, reinstituting the refundable child tax credit and guaranteeing universal free preschool for all should be the three pillars of a comprehensive legislative platform. We in the AAP can also pioneer technologies that ease the use of the EMR while simplifying billing and enhancing payment for pediatric services.

The AAP must resolve to be the drum major for child health, marshaling forces beyond our Academy: industry, government, labor, media and faith groups in a united effort to reorient the nation’s priorities, repurpose its resources and establish a child health agenda worthy of this nation.

As a health economist and general pediatrician, I would welcome the opportunity to work with the AAP membership to craft and lead such an agenda.