- AMSPDC Division Directors Academy
- Now Accepting Applications: Pediatric Leadership Development Program
- Save the Date: 2023 AMSPDC Annual Meeting! March 2-5, 2023 at Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Clearwater, FL.
- AMSPDC 2022 Virtual Annual Meeting, March 2-6: Thanks for Attending!
- Make a Difference for Kids: Become a Pediatric Scientist! Research Committee Webinar Series
- APPD/COMSEP/AMSPDC/FuturePedsRes/NextGenPediatricians Letter to Our Pediatrics Community About the Residency Recruitment Process
- APPD/CoPS/AMSPDC Letter to Our Pediatrics Community About the Fellowship Recruitment Process
- Pediatrics 2025: AMSPDC Workforce Initiative
- AMSPDC Statement on Vaccines for Kids
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, acknowledge those in our community affected by suicide, and connect youth with suicidal ideation to treatment services. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24 and in 2021 there was an over 50% increase in emergency room visits for attempted suicide among girls as comp are to 2020. Suicide attempts also increased across a range of groups including youth who identify as LGBTQ+, African American and Native American youth, among others.
This past year has seen a recognition of the pediatric behavioral health crisis with the release of a report on youth mental health by the Surgeon General and the declaration of a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health by the American Academy of Pediatrics in partnership with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists and Children’s Hospital Association. AAP-AACAP-CHA Declaration of a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Resources are available to support pediatricians around suicide prevention. The National Child Traumatic Stress network has parent and youth facing materials, National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month | The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (nctsn.org) and the AAP has a Suicide: Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention (aap.org) created in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In addition, the surgeon general’s report includes guidance for youth, family members, schools, and pediatricians from pages 12-22 that can be shared. surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf (hhs.gov)
Suicide prevention efforts are intrinsically tied to other advocacy priorities of pediatricians including access to care for all children , depression identification and treatment, and gun violence prevention. In July 2022 the new National 9-8-8 line became available and this information can be shared with children and their caregivers across the country.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Vision: Academic Pediatric Departments lead in care delivery, research, training, and advocacy that improves the health and wellbeing of children in their communities and throughout the world.
Values Statement:
- Integrity
We are professional and honest in our working relationships and strive for equity and fairness in our decision making. We honor our commitments and hold ourselves accountable to the highest ethical and performance standards. - Collaboration
We are committed to working together with each other, patient groups, and relevant professional organizations. We support a culture of participation and inclusion, including the formation of partnerships, and advocacy designed to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions that impact children’s health. We respect differences among our members and their organizations, recognizing they are part of our strength, and freely share ideas to inspire and learn from one another. - Compassion
We care about children and families and each other. - Innovation
We support an organizational culture that values change and innovation. - Leadership
As the leaders in academic pediatrics we model the values of our organization and help to develop the leaders of tomorrow. - Excellence
We pursue excellence in all our core missions: clinical care, research, education and advocacy. - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
We are committed to proactively engaging, understanding and addressing equity, diversity and inclusion.
The American Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs stand behind our providers and pediatric leaders who are working to give the needed care to an underserved population of youth who identify as transgender and gender dysphoric who face significant health disparities.