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Children's Hospital Boston is proud to announce that physician Judith Palfrey, MD, has been elected president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She will serve from 2008-2009 as president-elect and take office as president for 2009-2010. The AAP is the nation's largest pediatric organization with over 60,000 members consisting of primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists. As president-elect, Dr. Palfrey will oversee the organization's infrastructure, and work with the academy's office on publications and health guidelines. She will be sworn in at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition being held in Boston from October 10 to 14.
"The Academy is the national voice for children and their health care needs. It is also the home for continuing medical education, and making sure all physicians are practicing state of the art pediatrics," says Dr. Palfrey. "To serve and represent my fellow pediatricians is truly an honor."
The elected position is yet another accolade in Dr. Palfrey's already distinguished career. She served as the chief of the Division of General Pediatrics at Children's for 22 years, has been the national director of Building Bright Futures, the director of the national program office of the Anne E. Dyson Pediatric Training in the Community Initiative and is a past president of the Ambulatory Pediatrics Association.
A committed advocate for universal health care for children, Dr. Palfrey has testified for the passing of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and has worked in designing and evaluating programs for children with special needs. Having recently conducted the Pediatric Alliance for Coordinated Care, she demonstrated the feasibility and importance of the medical home for children with special health care needs.
"Dr. Palfrey has advocated fiercely on behalf of children, particularly those most in need of help," says Gary Fleisher, MD, pediatrician-in-chief at Children's. "Being selected by her peers for this prestigious office is a wonderful tribute to her accomplishments in pediatrics and her leadership role around the country."
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