The British Columbia Pediatric Society serves as the British Columbia Chapter Office for the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics. The President of the Chapter is Dr. Bill Abelson (who also serves as President of the BCPS), and the Vice-President is Dr. Tom Warshawski.

The American Academy of Pediatrics 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 mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to attain optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. To accomplish this mission, the Academy shall support the professional needs of its members.

One of the AAP’s major activities is to further the professional education of its members. The Department of Education houses PediaLink® —the pediatrician’s home for CME and professional development. Create a learning plan, view offerings through the CME Finder tool, manage transcripts, or register for an online or live, self-paced, or joint CME activity. The annual AAP National Conference & Exhibition (NCE) features the largest variety of educational sessions in over 60 topic areas to suit a variety of learning styles, is home to the largest pediatric technical exhibit, which also showcases the latest pediatric products and services, as well as AAP educational and professional resources and programs. There are also many educational opportunities through AAP seminars, publications, and statements from committees and sections, which form the basis of a continuing postgraduate educational program. View all AAP Professional and Educational Resources.

More than 30 committees develop many of the AAP’s positions and programs. Committees have interests as varied as injury and poison prevention, disabled children, sports medicine, nutrition and child health financing.

The AAP currently has 5 councils and 47 sections consisting of more than 40,000 members with interest in specialized areas of pediatrics. This includes a section for resident physicians with more than 9,000 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; and its membership newspaper 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 on a variety of topics and a series of child care books written by AAP members.

The AAP executes original research in social, economic and behavioral areas and promotes funding of research. It maintains a Washington, D.C. 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.

To learn more about the AAP, please visit http://aap.org/.