About the American Academy of Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

The AAP has approximately 67,000 members in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and many other countries. Members include pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists. To be a full Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP), a member must be board-certified. This means they have passed the American Board of Pediatrics certifying examination.

The AAP was founded in June 1930 by 35 pediatricians who met in Detroit in response to the need for an independent pediatric forum to address children's needs. When the AAP was established, the idea that children have special developmental and health needs was a new one. Preventive health practices now associated with child care—such as immunizations and regular health exams—were only just beginning to change the custom of treating children as "miniature adults."

The AAP is governed by a board of directors. The executive committee, which conducts AAP business on a daily basis, consists of the president, president-elect, immediate past president, secretary/treasurer, and CEO/executive vice president. Members vote each year for a national president-elect.

President: Susan Kressly, MD, FAAP

President-Elect: Andrew Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP

Immediate Past President: Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP

Secretary/Treasurer: Patricia Flanagan, MD, FAAP

CEO/Executive Vice President: Mark Del Monte, JD

The AAP board of directors also consists of 10 members who serve as District Chairpersons, elected by members from a specific geographic area. In addition, there are three at-large members with leadership experience in AAP committees, councils and sections who are elected nationally by all members.

Members also elect officers for their chapters, which serve states and territories in the U.S. and Canadian provinces. Chapters are individually incorporated, have their own bylaws, and further the aims of the national organization as well as local priorities.

One of the AAP's major activities is to further the professional education of its members. Continuing education courses, annual scientific meetings, seminars, publications and statements from committees, councils, and sections form the basis of a continuing postgraduate educational program.

Dozens of national committees, work groups and task forces develop many of the AAP's positions and programs. These groups have interests as varied as injury and poison prevention, children with disabilities, sports medicine, nutrition and child health financing.

The AAP currently has 17 councils and 52 sections, which have a combined membership of more than 84,000 members with interest in specialized areas of pediatrics. This includes a section for medical students, residents and fellowship trainees with more than 18,000 members. Sections and councils present educational programs for both their members and the general membership of the AAP in order to highlight current research and practical knowledge in their respective subspecialties.

The AAP publishes Pediatrics, its monthly scientific journal; Pediatrics in Review, its continuing education journal; Hospital Pediatrics, its journal for research on inpatient care, and its membership news magazine, AAP News. It also publishes manuals on such topics as infectious diseases and school health. In its public education efforts, the AAP produces patient education brochures and a series of child care books written by AAP members, in addition to the HealthyChildren.org parenting website. The AAP also produces the Healthy Children Podcast.

The AAP executes original research in social, economic and behavioral areas and promotes funding of research. It maintains a Washington, DC office to ensure that children's health needs are taken into consideration as legislation and public policy are developed. The AAP's state advocacy staff provides assistance to chapters, promoting issues such as child safety legislation and Medicaid policies that increase access to care for low-income children.

The AAP's activities and programs are funded through a wide variety of sources including membership dues, revenues from continuing medical education activities and publications, and unrestricted support from individuals, foundations, corporations and government agencies. Grants and contributions support more than 200 programs each year. Individuals and organizations may donate to the Friends of Children Fund annual campaign or through major or planned gifts to the Tomorrow's Children Endowment.

For more information on the AAP, please visit www.aap.org.