March 2020

Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP

Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,

As we all adjust to the changes in our lives brought about by COVID-19, I wanted to update you on what our Chapter, the National American Academy of Pediatrics, and the state and local government have been doing to assist patients and pediatricians during this time.  Like you, we are learning as we go and dealing with an ever-shifting array of regulations in both our personal and professional lives.  However, this is what has been done so far.
  • The New York State Department of Health has created a single website for all information related to COVID-19:  https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicablecoronavirus/providers.htm The website includes medical information for healthcare providers.
  • For more pediatric-specific information, the National AAP has created a web resource for members: https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/ and established an email address COVID-19@aap.org for questions related to pediatrics.
  • Dr. Lenny Krilov, Chairman of Pediatrics and New York University Winthrop Hospital at a Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist, recorded a short video about the importance of social distancing and handwashing which is available from multiple sources in Nassau County.
  • Both AAP Chapters 2 and 3 were consulted about the decision and timing of closing New York City Public Schools. Advocacy by senior NYS and Chapter leaders, particularly Drs. Lisa Handwerker (President, NYS AAP – Chapter 3) and Warren Seigel (Chair, NYS AAP District II), helped assure that the city implemented a plan to make school meals available to eligible students prior to closing until April 20th.
  • New York State released a downloadable PDF of a sign to assist triage of patients who enter a healthcare setting and may be exhibiting possible symptoms of COVID-19: https://health.ny.gov/publications/13076.pdf
  • Within hours of the announcement that schools in Nassau and Suffolk County would be closed for 2 weeks, Chapter 2 submitted a list of questions/concerns to the County Legislatures concerning the need to ensure healthcare workers receive priority for childcare and school services. As of this writing, that plan is currently being created.
  • The Chapter has reached out to the Departments of Health of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and New York City, on behalf of its members in an attempt to secure Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), particularly gowns and N-95 masks – which many private pediatric offices do not stock and are unable to obtain.  All 3 departments have relayed that the shortage of PPE requires prioritizing ERs and hospitals, particularly intensive care units and therefore no other PPE is available.  In fact, conservation of PPE is actively occurring within hospitals due to concerns of a potential future shortage.  That said, all of these departments are aware of the critical role pediatricians will play in assessing the status of children, particularly those with primary caretakers in higher risk groups.
  • New York City recently announced that small businesses may be eligible for no-interest loans or grants if they can demonstrate significant financial losses from COVID-19.  The Chapter is working with officials in New York City to ensure that small pediatric practices which voluntarily reduced well-child visits during the pandemic as a means of reducing community spread are eligible. More information on these programs is available here:https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/businesses/covid19-business-outreach.page
  • As Nassau and Suffolk Counties consider similar programs, the Chapter is working to ensure that small medical practices are also included.
It’s now been another week that we’ve been living and dealing with COVID-19 24 hours a day.  As always, we at the NYS AAP – Chapter 2 are inspired by the efforts of all our pediatric members to keep children safe during this pandemic.
As I reiterated a few weeks ago, I know you are getting deluged with emails, and that hospital regulations are changing (sometimes dramatically) daily.  Keeping up with all the information for yourself and your patients, adapting to new ways to delivering care, and just keeping our families together (and our kids from killing each other) is exhausting.  This is what your local AAP Chapter and the National AAP have been doing:
  • National AAP issued a “CALL TO ACTION” on behalf of pediatricians and other physicians to increase the availability/supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  The Chapter has partnered with Nassau County’s Office of Emergency Management to assist with distribution of Personal Protective Equipment.  The Chapter has already distributed ~300 masks and other PPE to pediatricians across Long Island.  Through our strong partnership with legislators across New York, the Chapter obtained a small amount of standard (non-N95) facemasks for outpatient, private pediatric practices.  The Chapter has stepped in to distribute about ~100 masks which general pediatricians can use to see children who require in-person visits in the office, thereby reducing the burden on emergency rooms.  Contact Jessica Geslani if you require a portion of this allotment.  Pediatricians that provide care in Nassau can complete the short online form available here: https://app.nassaucountyny.gov/OEM/supply-request/ to request equipment.  As we receive more, we will be distributing it accordingly.
  • The Chapter has also sent letters to all 11 of the Chapter’s federal representatives outlining the dire need for personal protective equipment, faster roll-out of point-of-care testing for COVID-19, a national stay-at-home order, and increased enforcement of current regulations.
  • At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatricians in Chapter 2 realized that health plans covered under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) were NOT uniformly paying for telehealth visits, financially impacting pediatricians and reducing healthcare access during a time of public health crisis for up 5-8% of children in our Chapter.  Within TWO WEEKS, Chapter leaders brought this to the attention of Representative Tom Suozzi of New York 3rd Congressional District.  As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, he was closely involved in reviewing pending COVID legislation. Based on discussions with Chapter 2, Rep. Suozzi urged members of the House Education and Labor Committee to ensure that federal legislation REQUIRED these plans to cover telehealth services for both adults and children. The measure passed into law on March 27, 2020 as part of the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” or CARES Act. Chapter members should be proud of our role in detecting a loophole in federal policy and working expeditiously to close it in close partnership with our legislators.  Read the letter congratulating our Chapter on influencing national policy.
  • We are in contact with Tanuja Mohapatra of the New York State Department of Financial Services to ensure compliance of state-regulated health plans with telehealth.  If you are denied payment for a telehealth visit during the pandemic, please contact us.
  • Chapter 2 member and Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr. Melodi Pirzada from NYU Winthrop Hospital has answered questions from the public live on News 12 Long Island.
  • Dr. Eve Krief also participated in a “VIRTUAL TOWN HALL” on COVID-19 via Facebook LIVE.
  • Immediate Past President of New York Chapter 2, Dr. Steve Goldstein, made an appearance on MSNBC as one of several physicians calling for increased access to PPE.
  • Through our partnership with State Senator Jim Gaughran, our Chapter was THE STATE LEADER in ensuring that pediatric outpatient offices will qualify for Empire State Development and state Small Business Administration loans in New York. Until we brought this to the state’s attention, there was no consideration given to whether outpatient medical practices (themselves small businesses) would qualify.  Pediatric practices will be treated no differently than any other business and will be able to receive grants/loans based on their number of employees.
  • The Chapter partnered with local Girl Scout Troops and received donations of unsold Girls Scout Cookies which have been delivered to children’s hospitals within the Chapter.
  • We are considering starting a listserv, similar to the popular listserv on the National AAP’s Section on Practice Management, to help area pediatricians dealing with any COVID-19 issues.  If you are interested in having the Chapter pursue this, please contact me or Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org
  • Don’t forget to read our Pediatric Blog on COVID-19 by Dr. Asif Noor, available at: http://ny2aap.org/category/blog/
  • The NYS DOH’s COVID-19 Weekly Healthcare Provider Update Compilation provides healthcare providers in New York State with a consolidated update of guidance released by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) related to the COVID-19 pandemic response.  Click Here for this week’s update.
  • Raise the Age NY put out a call for help in urging NY Governor Cuomo and NYC Mayor de Blasio to act quickly to reduce the risks to young people and families posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Learn more and spread the word by using their social media toolkit.
In the past few weeks, I’ve felt like the world is going crazy and tilting off its axis.  Then I think about the vital role we play in the lives of our patients and families as we show up each day to care for children, all of whom – either directly or indirectly – have been impacted by this virus.  It’s a quick way to rejuvenate yourself before the next encyclopedia of regulations/policies/procedures arrives in your inbox.
As always, if there is anything more the Chapter could be doing to help pediatricians in this demanding time, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Sincerely,
Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2

June 2019

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,

Thank you all for the honor and opportunity to serve the Chapter as President these past two years. Working for the Chapter has reinforced my sense that pediatricians have the power to create conversations and advocate in a way that will affect this and future generations in a profoundly positive way. I urge all of you to get involved and contribute to this vital dialogue.
Please see below for valuable resources, upcoming events, and updates on our Chapter’s activities.

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2
SJG34@Cornell.edu

 

Call for Participants: HPV Quality Improvement Project

The New York State American Academy of Pediatrics (NYS AAP) – Chapters 2 and 3 have been awarded an HPV Quality Improvement grant to improve HPV vaccination rates in practices.
We are currently seeking practices to participate in a 6-month HPV series completion project for patients aged 11.00 – 17.99 years old.  Physicians will receive MOC part IV credit for their participation.  NO prior Quality Improvement experience is required, and we do everything we can to make the project seamless and easy to complete!
What is involved:
  • Identify a physician champion from your practice who will:
  • Attend one face-to-face Plan-Do-Study-Act and Quality Improvement training
  • Oversee monthly physician/staff meetings to identify, implement, and evaluate specific interventions to increase series completion rates
  • Call into two 30-minute calls, at the midpoint and end of the project, to review progress, share successes and challenges with other practices
  • Coordinate MOC completion forms for all participating physicians in practice
  • Identify someone in your practice who will:
  • Review 20 charts of 11.00-17.99 old patients per month
  • Enter high level data into the AAP’s Quality Improvement Data Aggregator (QIDA) each month (~10 quick questions/chart)
If you are interested in participating, please submit your information via the link below no later than Friday, June 21st.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Sheila Palevsky, MD, MPH, FAAP
212-865-0216

 

May 2019 Events: CME Dinner Program & Networking Event

May was a successful month for Chapter 2 with two outstanding events:
On May 9th, Dr. Andy Garner, co-author (with Dr. Robert Saul) of “Thinking Developmentally: Nurturing Wellness in Childhood to Promote Lifelong Health,” spoke at a dinner meeting at NYU Winthrop about how the basis for adult disease can begin with toxic stress and adversity in childhood.  A panel of experts with various backgrounds in child development commented and answered questions.  Andy’s book is well worth reading, containing much that can be incorporated into pediatric practice.  It’s available in the AAP Bookstore.
For those interested in learning even more about this topic, Dr. Kimberly Noble, a Board Member at Docs For Tots, recently gave a TED Talk: “How Does Income Affect Childhood Brain Development?”  Her work was also featured in articles in The Wall Street Journal and The Economist.
On May 22nd, Chapters 2 and 3 hosted “Pediatrics on the Rooftop: A Networking Event” at the Tillary Hotel.  Don’t despair if you couldn’t make it down to Brooklyn to hear from leadership about opportunities and initiatives, as future events will be scheduled at other venues in the Chapters’ geographic area.

 

Advocate to Move the Medical Exemptions Only to Vaccination Bill from the Assembly Health Committee to Open Debate

Those of you that have seen the emails from the Chapter and the NYS AAP requesting help with this issue know that, as I write this, the bill is still stuck in Committee.
This bill would eliminate all exemptions to vaccination in New York State with the exception of medical.  Unimmunized individuals would be excluded from schools, licensed day care and camps in an attempt to protect those unable to be immunized.  The push to get this bill out of committee has energized the anti-vaccine community and they are calling NY State legislators from all over the country.  Calls in favor are largely coming from NY State.
Your help is urgently needed if we are to join California, Mississippi, West Virginia and the other states that are working to protect their most vulnerable.
It will only take a few minutes of your time to make a difference.

 

The Return of Measles: What We are Reading, Writing, and Watching

The return of measles has the potential to disrupt healthcare and society. Here are some very relevant recent editorials and publications (some by or including Chapter members) related to measles and vaccination:
10 Measles Facts to Share With Parents
Contemporary Pediatrics, May 2019
What Is Your Protocol to Stop Measles Before Kids in Your Office Get Exposed?
Infecting People Isn’t a Religious Right
NY Times Editorial Board. Published on May 21
Commentary: Believe the science that vaccinations protect children
by Eve Krief. Published in the Albany Times-Union on May 19
AAP Voices Blog: The Return of Measles to a Neighborhood Near Yours
by Steve Goldstein. Published by the AAP on April 30
Measles: Coming Soon to Your Practice
MedPage Today. Published May 16
How to Respond to Anti-Vaxxers
Published May 1 on ScienceBasedMedicine.org
The Centers for Disease Control Wants to Hear From You
The CDC is interested in meeting the needs of pediatricians regarding measles and other vaccine issues. If you have questions or thoughts about how they can help you, please send an email to me at SJG34@Cornell.edu.

 

Provider Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes, & Behaviors Regarding Sexual Health & Reproductive Care for Adolescent Patients

The NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Committee on Youth and Adolescence is interested in learning more about pediatric providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the sexual and reproductive health care of adolescents.
We are conducting a brief survey as part of a research study to obtain more information on this important topic.  Your participation would be greatly appreciated, as it will help us learn more about the sexual and reproductive health care being provided to adolescents in our community.
Your participation in the survey is completely voluntary.  It is also an anonymous and confidential survey.  The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.  Research participation consent is implied by completion of the survey.
Please click on the link below to access the survey:

 

Threats to Environmental Health and Migrant Families

How a New White House Memo Could Undermine Science in U.S. Policy
The Trump administration’s move, similar to EPA’s ‘secret science’ effort, offers new ways for fossil fuel and other industries to challenge science-based policies.
Published Apr 25, 2019 on InsideClimateNews.org
Trump Administration Separates Some Migrant Mothers From Their Newborns Before Returning Them to Detention
Published on Rewire.news on May 28

 

Educational Resources for Pediatricians:  Webinars, In-Person Events, Guide & Toolkit

Immunization Information Technology:
A Guide for Pediatricians on Immunization Information Systems and Two-Dimensional Barcoding
Pediatric Antibiotic Stewardship Toolkit
Webinar on Electronic Cigarettes
Below is a link to the recording of a recent American Thoracic Society webinar on electronic cigarettes, from a toxicologist and mother’s perspective, featuring Ilona Jaspers, PhD, from the University of North Carolina.  She presents important and compelling information.
AAP Live Webinar:
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Respiratory and Cardiac Care
Date/Time: June 11, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
NYSDOH Commissioner’s Medical Grand Rounds: Vaccine Hesitancy: An Evolving Public Health Threat
Attend in-person or via the live webinar
Date/Time: June 13, 9:00 – 11:00 am
Annenberg Building, Room 13-01
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029
NYSDOH Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Recorded Webinar:  The Role of the Medical Home Provider in Newborn Hearing Screening
Presenters from the NYSDOH Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (NYEHDI) program discuss the role of the medical home provider in the newborn hearing screening program. Link to Recorded Webinar
Save the Date: 18th Annual Regional Perinatal Public Health Conference
Resilience – Supporting Individuals, Families and Communities to Improve Health Across the Lifecourse
Date/Time: Nov. 13, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
DoubleTree Hotel, Tarrytown, NY

 

Awards & Honors

Award of Chapter Excellence
We are pleased to announce that the Chapter has received the AAP Award of Chapter Excellence in the Large Chapter Category for the second year running.
2019 Special Achievement Award Winners
Special Achievement Awards recognize outstanding AAP work of individuals or chapter achievements. Congratulations to our well-deserving winners.
  • Eve Meltzer-Krief, MD, FAAP, for her commitment to and effective advocacy on multiple issues that affect the health and well-being of children and families.
  • Juan Kupferman, MD, MPH, FAAP, for his ongoing efforts to promote chapter membership and involvement and for fostering inclusion and diversity as we move forward.
  • Jeffrey Oestreicher, MD, FAAP, for his ongoing work and commitment to change the local and national conversation about gun violence and bring science into the equation.

 

Calling All Early Career Physicians! (ECPs are physicians < 10 years out from final post-graduate training)

Your Chapter needs YOU to serve as our ECP Representative to the Chapter executive board.  Looking for talented, passionate, ECPs who want to have a voice in their local Chapter.  This is a great introduction to local leadership.  Take YOUR seat at the table and represent local ECPs!
In addition to local activity, one chapter ECP rep will be chosen to represent District II at the Annual District Meeting at AAP Headquarters in Itasca Illinois July 25-28.  Ability to attend the District meeting is not a requirement of chapter representative.
Click here for the position description.  If you have any questions, please contact your ECP District Rep (Vanessa Salcedo, MD Vanessa.Salcedo.md@gmail.com) and Assistant District Rep (Lauren Jen, MD lauren.ciminello@gmail.com).
As time is short before the district meeting please complete the application linked below and return it to Vanessa and Lauren no later than June 10, 2019.

 

Chapter 2 Committee Openings

Our Committees are actively seeking your involvement and ideas!  There are openings and opportunities to make a difference in the following committees:

  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Environmental Health
  • Legislative
  • Membership and Diversity
  • Mentoring Committee (Mentors and Mentees wanted)
  • Parents (suggest a parent to work with us)
  • Pediatric Council
  • Prevention of Family Violence
  • Quality Improvement

View our full list of committees and contact information here.  Still don’t see your interest?  Talk to us about starting a new committee!

 

NATIONAL AAP NEWS – Presidential Elect Candidates

The National AAP National Nominating Committee has selected Dr. Lee Savio Beers of Washington, D.C., and Dr. Pamela K. Shaw of Kansas City, Kan., as candidates for AAP president-elect.

Additional information about the candidates, including profiles and position statements, will be published in upcoming issues of AAP News and online at www.aap.org/election.  Voting will begin September 7 and ends September 21, 2019.

Voting Chapter members should have received an email with a link to the Chapter election.  Please take a moment to vote and read the statements of the incoming Officers for July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2021.
The Chapter will be in good hands going forward.

 

We’ll help you pursue your passion within Pediatrics!

Send us an email describing your interest and we will connect you with the right people to get you involved.

Please contact me or our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org

Follow Chapter 2 on Twitter: @NYSAAPCh2

My best,
Steve Goldstein, Chapter President SJG34@Cornell.edu | Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10

and the Officers:
Shetal Shah, Vice President shetaldoc@hotmail.com | Twitter @NICUBatman
Robert Lee, Secretary rlee@aap.net
Sanjivan Patel, Treasurer sapatel@wyckoffhospital.org

April 2019

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,

There is a lot going on in Pediatrics in New York State, around the world, and in the Chapter. This month’s newsletter highlights issues and events that should be of interest to you. We especially need your help and attention in dealing with the measles epidemic and in helping to pass our legislative priorities in Albany. One of our legislative goals is to end all vaccine exemptions except for legitimate medical reasons. Three other states have already accomplished this, and NY can as well, with your advocacy. Please read on, advocate, and join us for our upcoming events.

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2
SJG34@Cornell.edu

Measles Grows in Brooklyn

The number of measles cases in Brooklyn has increased dramatically in the past few weeks and some of us have been dealing with this in our offices, clinics, and ED’s. Chapter 2 has been in contact with the NYC DOH and a link to their measles page is posted on the Chapter’s home page.

An MMR vaccine should be given at 6 months of age in affected communities to offer early protection, but does not count towards the doses needed for school attendance. Any child with one MMR given on or after their first birthday may get a second dose 28 or more days later. This second dose will complete the series and is to capture the 3-5% of children who did not develop immunity with their first injection. I personally have seen measles in the office in the past weeks and the problem is compounded by not knowing who is in the 4-5 days pre-rash phase but nevertheless spreading disease in the office. The city has guidelines posted for post-exposure prophylaxis and the DOH will pick up swabs and blood for testing. Recommendations are to close the office/exam rooms for 2 hours after someone with measles has visited. We now prescreen our visits so that anyone with fever and rash is met outside the office so as not to expose others. There is a lot to say about this issue. For those of you in other communities, keep your eyes open. There were 2 cases in Queens last week.

Here are some good resources for dealing with the anti-vax/hesitancy issue and measles:

Pending Vaccine Legislation in New York State Worthy of Your Support

The bills listed below are a priority for us and we may have more influence in view of the measles issue.  The newly elected legislature is sympathetic to pediatric issues, so please express your opinion to your representatives by phone, letter, email, or even better, in person at their local office.  Click the links below to view the NYS AAP’s Memo of Support for each one:

Free CME Dinner Program – May 9th
“What Happens in Childhood Does Not Stay in Childhood: Why this is true and what we should do!

EVENT: “What Happens in Childhood Does Not Stay in Childhood: Why this is true and what we should do!”
PRESENTED BY: NYS AAP – Chapter 2
WHEN: May 9, 2019 from 6:30pm – 9:00pm
WHERE: NYU Winthrop Hospital | 101 Mineola Blvd. | Research and Academic Center, Conference Room G-18, Section A | Mineola, NY 11501

OVERVIEW:
At this CME dinner program for Chapter members, Dr. Andy Garner, co-author of “Thinking Developmentally: Nurturing Wellness in Childhood to Promote Lifelong Health,” will discuss the lifelong effects of childhood adversity/toxic stress and give pediatricians an evidence-based road map for building a healthier future for the next generation.

Register HereREGISTRATION FEE:

$10 Refundable Fee: NYS AAP – Chapter 2 or 3 Members (this fee will be refunded to Chapter members who attend)
$40: Non Member Pediatricians (this fee can be applied to Chapter dues)

AGENDA:

6:30pm Reception/Exhibit Hour

7:30pm Welcome and Introductions
Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2

7:35pm What Happens in Childhood Does Not Stay in Childhood: Why this is true and what we should do!
Andrew Garner, MD, PhD, FAAP
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
CWRU School of Medicine
Cleveland, OH

Objectives:

  • Explain the significance of recent advances in the basic sciences of development (e.g., epigenetics, developmental neuroscience)
  • Describe the ecobiodevelopmental model of disease and wellness, some of its advantages, and a few of the implications for medicine
  • Define relational health and at least three components of a public health approach to build relational health

8:30pm Questions & Answers with Panelists
Moderator: Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2

Ellen J. Feldman, LCSW-R, CCTP
Supervisor of Education and Training
Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS)
Roslyn, NY

Andrew Garner, MD, PhD, FAAP
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
CWRU School of Medicine
Cleveland, OH

Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IMH-E® (IV-C)
Director, Institute for Parenting
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY

Jack M. Levine, MD, FAAP
Executive Committee, AAP Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Chair, NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Committee on Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics/Children with Disabilities

Sandra Pensak, MA
Adjunct Lecturer and Field Supervisor
Queens College, CUNY
Flushing, NY

9:00pm Adjourn

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT:
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Accreditation Requirements and Policies of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) through the joint providership of the Westchester Academy of Medicine and the NYS American Academy of Pediatrics Chapter 2. The Westchester Academy of Medicine is accredited by MSSNY to provide Continuing Medical Education for physicians.

The Westchester Academy of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category I Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Jessica Geslani, Executive Director, at jgeslani@aap.org or 516-326-0310

Are You an Early Career Physician Looking for a Mentor?

We are excited to announce the launch of our Early Career Physician Mentoring project. We will be pairing our Early Career Physicians (<10 years out of training) with seasoned pediatricians in our area. We have amazing mentors including AAP local and national leadership who are ready to be paired with YOU for one on one mentoring!

Sign up online to be a Mentee.  Any questions? Contact: Dr. David Fagan, Chapter 2’s Mentoring Committee Chair, at dfagan@northwell.edu, or our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org.

The 2020 Census

As the Census approaches, please keep in mind that counting every child is important. More about this issue will be coming from the National AAP.

The Casey Foundation’s 2018 KIDS COUNT® Data Book warns that the 2020 census is mired in challenges that could shortchange the official census count by at least 1 million kids younger than age 5.  This discrepancy would put hundreds of millions of federal dollars at risk and, in doing so, underfund programs that are critical for family stability and opportunity.

To help spread the word, Nassau and Suffolk County high school students can participate in the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island’s 2020 Census Logo Design Contest. Entries are due by May 15th.

Wellness Radio Show

Tune into a VoiceAmerica.com radio show on wellness topics by Dr. Vidisha Patel, daughter of our Wellness Committee Co-Chair, Dr. Ishvar Patel.

RESOURCE: New York State Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) Pharmacy Benefit Information Center.

 

Having trouble figuring out which ADHD drug or inhaled steroid is covered for your patient?

The New York State Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) Pharmacy Benefit Information Center is a website that is designed to provide easy access for members and providers looking for information on the drugs and supplies covered by different Medicaid health care plans. While pharmacy benefits and participating pharmacies vary among health plans, all plans maintain their own web sites and customer service call centers.

Visit the website here: https://mmcdruginformation.nysdoh.suny.edu/

Chapter 2 Committee Openings

Our Committees are actively seeking your involvement and ideas!  There are openings and opportunities to make a difference in the following committees:

  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Environmental Health
  • Legislative
  • Membership and Diversity
  • Mentoring Committee (Mentors and Mentees wanted)
  • Parents (suggest a parent to work with us)
  • Pediatric Council
  • Prevention of Family Violence
  • Quality Improvement

View our full list of committees and contact information here.  Still don’t see your interest?  Talk to us about starting a new committee!

NATIONAL AAP NEWS – Presidential Elect Candidates

The National AAP National Nominating Committee has selected Dr. Lee Savio Beers of Washington, D.C., and Dr. Pamela K. Shaw of Kansas City, Kan., as candidates for AAP president-elect.

Additional information about the candidates, including profiles and position statements, will be published in upcoming issues of AAP News and online at www.aap.org/election.  Voting will begin September 7 and ends September 21, 2019.

 

We’ll help you pursue your passion within Pediatrics!

Send us an email describing your interest and we will connect you with the right people to get you involved.

Please contact me or our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org

Follow Chapter 2 on Twitter: @NYSAAPCh2

My best,
Steve Goldstein, Chapter President SJG34@Cornell.edu | Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10

and the Officers:
Shetal Shah, Vice President shetaldoc@hotmail.com | Twitter @NICUBatman
Robert Lee, Secretary rlee@aap.net
Sanjivan Patel, Treasurer sapatel@wyckoffhospital.org

March 2019

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,

As a Chapter, and in cooperation with Chapters 1 and 3 as the NYS AAP (District II), we have been involved in governmental affairs and initiatives in New York City, Long Island, Albany, and in Washington that will benefit the children we serve and society as a whole. We are proud to share these efforts, and other important information with you.  Please see below for details.

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2
SJG34@Cornell.edu

 

DON’T MISS THE NYS AAP’S ANNUAL ADVOCACY DAY!

REGISTER ONLINE here!

 

WHEN:

 

 

 

Tuesday, March 19, 20198:00am Breakfast
9:00am Morning Session Begins
12:00pm Lunch, followed by Scheduled Visits with Legislators
3:30pm Adjourn

WHERE:

 

University Club
151 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210
WHO: This event is for members of the NYS AAP – Chapters 1, 2 & 3.  There is no charge to attend.

WHY:

 

Come to the State Capitol and Advocate for Kids and Pediatricians! Meet Key Legislators and State Agency Decision Makers. Meet with Your Assemblymember & Your Senator to educate them about the important issues in children’s health and well being.

 

Advocacy for Gun Violence Prevention

On February 25th in New York City, Governor Andrew Cuomo, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at his side, signed landmark legislation known as the “Red Flag Bill” creating a mechanism for ERPO, Extreme Risk Protection Orders in New York State.  This bill allows teachers and administrators to request that guns belonging to individuals seen as unstable or as a threat be confiscated pending a hearing in order to protect students and society.  The Chapter has been advocating for ERPO legislation for years.  Members of Chapters 2 and 3 were in attendance at this historic signing.

On March 4th we received word that the NY State Senate and Assembly passed Gun Safe Storage legislation.  Elie Ward, our Director of Policy, Advocacy & External Relations, played a role in crafting this landmark achievement, which was bolstered by the unceasing advocacy efforts of Chapter members.

But there is more to be done!  Our advocacy on Funding for Research about gun violence prevention at the state and federal levels is ongoing.  We need your voice!

Chapters 2 and 3 recently joined with Chapter 1 to create a statewide committee to address gun violence prevention in New York. If you would like to get involved, please email our Executive Directors: Chapters 2 & 3, Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org, and Chapter 1, Chris Bell at cbell@mcms.org.

Chapter 2 Legislative Committee Member Dr. Eve Krief is in the white coat and to the right of Governor Cuomo

Chapter 3 Member and Co-Chair of the joint Chapters Gun Violence Prevention Committee, Dr. Nina Agrawal, is in the white coat to the left of the Governor, pictured with members of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.

 

National AAP President Dr. Kyle Yasuda (left) and Chapter 2 VP Dr. Shetal Shah (right) flanking Senator Charles Schumer’s Legislative Aides at appointment in February advocating for gun violence prevention legislation.

Vaccine Exemptions

Sometimes the work that you don’t see is important.  Vice President Shetal Shah and Legislative Committee Member Eve Krief visited NY State Senator Monica Martinez to discuss her bill to streamline applications for vaccine exemptions.  Subsequently, she agreed to rewrite the bill and have us review it.  The Chapters and National AAP believe that the only vaccine exemption should be for legitimate medical reasons.

Drs. Shah and Krief with aides of State Senator Martinez

Updates on Immigration Issues

  • Decision Reversed to Move an ICE Facility to the Nassau University Medical Center – Nassau County Executive Laura Curran reversed her decision to move an ICE facility to the Nassau University Medical Center, a move that could inhibit families from seeking healthcare for their children.  The Chapter sent a strongly worded protest within 24 hours of her initial decision, contributing to her reversal.
  • Congressman Jerry Nadler Opens Hearings on Family Separation – “In our first immigration-related hearing this Congress, the Judiciary Committee will finally hold this Administration accountable for its indefensible and repugnant family separation policy, and for the injuries it has inflicted on thousands of children and families.”
    Congressman Nadler’s remarks linked here are worth reading.  He refers to the AAP’s work on family separation.
  • Kids on the Line – An ongoing investigation into family separation and the treatment of migrant children.

 

Chapter 2 Membership Committee – Call for Members!

Juan C. Kupferman, MD

Juan C. Kupferman, MD

 

As Membership Committee Chair, I would like to invite you to join the Committee to brainstorm about new ideas to increase our membership and improve the experience of our current members. Plans for a first dinner meeting at a restaurant are underway.

I am a strong believer in teamwork and look forward to collaborating with you and hearing your ideas! Please join me!

My best regards,
Juan C. Kupferman
JKupferman@maimonidesmed.org

 

RECORDED WEBINAR – “Don’t Be Lost in Transition:
Prepare & Efficiently Transfer Youth With and Without Special Health Care Needs to Adult Medical Care”

Many pediatricians feel unprepared to help their patients transition to adult medical care.  Click this link to watch an excellent introduction to the issue with valuable resources from Drs. Sophia Jan of Chapter 2 and Lynn Davidson of Chapter 3.  The webinar took place on February 28th and is worthy of your attention.

Annual Leadership Forum

The AAP Annual Leadership Forum, where resolutions and policy suggestions from AAP members are discussed and voted on, takes place in mid-March at AAP headquarters in Itasca, Illinois.  Chapter 2 has a number of resolutions that will be considered and has been nominated for the Outstanding Chapter Award in the Large Chapter category.  We’ll keep you posted as the ALF progresses.

Here is a link to the entire roster of ALF Resolutions.
Chapter 2 initiated resolutions may be found here and are listed below:

  • “Public Education About Intramuscular Vitamin K Administration at Birth” by Shetal Shah
  • “Revising the AAP Bright Futures Guidelines on Gun Safety Anticipatory Guidance” by Jennifer Grad, Dani Holmes and Christian Pulcini
  • “Expansion of Options for Publications as Membership Benefits” by Jack Levine
  • “Chapter Membership for Executive Committee Members of AAP National Sections, Councils, and Committees” by Steve Goldstein

 

New NYS School Health Examination Form Implementation Update

  • New NYS School Health Examination Form Implementation Year Memo – The memo linked here communicated that the NYSED is working with medical providers through their professional organizations (such as the NYS AAP) to develop a format that can be utilized in electronic health record systems.  Until further notice you should continue to accept any health exam form received.  The NYSED will disseminate information in the coming months regarding changes to the form along with when it will be required.  Stay tuned for updates!

 

CDC Request for Measles Outbreak Support

From January 1 to February 21, 2019, 159* people from 10 states (CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, NJ, NY, OR, TX, and WA) have been reported as having measles.  Five outbreaks (defined as 3 or more linked cases) have been reported, in Rockland County, New York; Monroe County, New York; New York City; Washington; Texas; and Illinois.  Of these outbreaks, 2 outbreaks are ongoing from 2018.  CDC urges healthcare professionals to ensure that all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine, including before international travel.

What Should Clinicians Do?

  • Discuss the importance of MMR vaccine with parents.  Listen and respond to parents’ questions.  When parents have questions, it does not necessarily mean they won’t accept vaccines.  Sometimes, they simply want your answers to their questions.
  • Ensure all patients are up to date on measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine: 1) – Children need 2 doses of MMR: one dose at 12-15 months and another dose at 4-6 years. 2). Before any international travel, infants 6-11 months need 1 dose of MMR vaccine, children 12 months and older need 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, and teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles need 2 doses separated by at least 28 days.
  • Consider measles in patients presenting with febrile rash illness and clinically compatible measles symptoms (cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis), and ask patients about recent travel internationally or to domestic venues frequented by international travelers, as well as a history of measles exposures in their communities.
  • Promptly isolate patients with suspected measles to avoid disease transmission and immediately report the suspect measles case to the health department.
  • Obtain specimens for testing from patients with suspected measles, including viral specimens for genotyping, which can help determine the source of the virus.  Contact the local health department with questions about submitting specimens for testing.

For more information, including guidelines for patient evaluation, diagnosis and management, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html

We’ll help you pursue your passion within Pediatrics!  Send us an email describing your interest and we will connect you with the right people to get you involved.  Please contact me or our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org

Follow Chapter 2 on Twitter: @NYSAAPCh2

My best,
Steve Goldstein, Chapter President  SJG34@Cornell.edu | Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10

and the Officers:
Shetal Shah, Vice President  shetaldoc@hotmail.com | Twitter @NICUBatman
Robert Lee, Secretary  rlee@aap.net
Sanjivan Patel, Treasurer  sapatel@wyckoffhospital.org


 

January 2019

NYS AAP – Chapter 2
President’s Message – January 2019

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,
     Happy New Year!
     Our best wishes for the New Year to each of our members and readers. 2018 was a successful year for the Chapter and we hope that your continued support and engagement in 2019 will help us to accomplish more to advance the health of the children in our care and support the practice of Pediatrics.
     Please see below for information about recent and upcoming events, and other updates.
Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2
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December Chapter Executive Committee Meeting

On December 13th we held our quarterly Chapter business meeting at NYU Winthrop Hospital. In addition to regular business, a representative from the American Dairy Association spoke about the role of dairy in pediatric nutrition, the director of NYC Early Intervention educated us about accessing EI, and the NYS AAP Director of Policy, Advocacy & External Relations, Elie Ward, discussed the NY State Patient Centered Medical Home.  Important information about the NY State PCMH will be posted soon, so please visit our website for updates.  Value Based Payment is coming and all practices need to know about new payment paradigms and requirements.  If you would like to attend an upcoming Chapter meeting, please email our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org.
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E-Cigarettes in Suffolk County

Earlier in the day on December 13th Chapter Legislative Committee members, Dr. Eve Krief and Chapter V.P. Dr. Shetal Shah, and I had the opportunity to speak before the Suffolk County Legislature Health Committee to advocate for a ban on flavored e-cigarettes.  Flavored e-cigarettes are very appealing to young people and there is little awareness that the products contain nicotine and are addicting. There was a huge turnout from every vaping establishment in the county and the measure was tabled by the committee.  A week later the county unanimously passed a resolution to raise the fines for selling e-cigarettes to those under 21.  Work on this important issue also offered the Chapter a unique opportunity to partner with other community-minded organizations, such as the Suffolk County Principals Association and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
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Healthy People 2020 Grant Program

The topic of the 2019 Healthy People 2020 Grant Program for Chapters is School Success: Health and Safety.  Five chapters will be selected by May 31st and awarded $20,000 each, supported by the AAP Friends of Children Fund, to develop and implement innovative programs.  View the Request for Proposals and Application via the link above.  Applications are due March 29th.  If you have an idea for a Grant Program, please contact Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org.  The Chapter may only support one grant application each year.
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AAP Election Results and Changes in Bylaws

Dr. Kyle Yasuda is our new AAP President and Dr. Sally Goza is President-Elect.  Immediate Past President Dr. Colleen Kraft was a great role model for us all as she advocated with great energy and conviction for kids at the border (and everywhere else) during her tenure.  We look forward to hearing more from our new AAP leadership. (Follow them on Twitter! Kyle: @kyleyasuda and Sally: @sallygoza.)
The AAP National Bylaws were amended to change the structure of the National Board to include Members-at-Large.  More information is available on the AAP website and in Pediatric News.
.

Call for Mentors!

We are pleased to announce that the NYS AAP – Chapter 2 is launching a new Mentoring Program!  If you are a pediatrician who completed training 10+ years ago and are interested in mentoring early career physicians in the Chapter 2 area, please consider signing up.
  • The time commitment is approximately 1 hour per month, (this can be in person or via phone, facetime, skype, etc.)
  • We are seeking a diverse group of individuals who want to make a difference in the careers of our early career pediatricians.
Any questions? Contact:
Dr. David Fagan, Mentoring Committee Chair, at dfagan@northwell.edu or Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org
.

NYS AAP – Chapter 2 & 3 Gun Violence Prevention Committee

The NYS AAP – Chapter 2 & 3 Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) Committee, co-chaired by Drs. Jeff Oestreicher and Nina Agrawal, will focus on two goals for the first six months of 2019, their “30 & 30.” GVP Committee members will hold 30 in-district meetings with state and federal legislators to push for policies including Extreme Risk Protection Orders, Safe Storage and state and federal research funding.  During this time the committee will also host 30 educational forums across the state (noon conferences and ground rounds, for example) in order to galvanize the health care community in sounding the alarm on the need for evidence-based solutions to the epidemic of pediatric gun violence.
Join the monthly meetings (Jan 28, Feb 25, March 25, April 29, May 20, and June 24) to learn more, with locations to be announced soon!  The first half of each meeting will also include a wide variety of experts (writers, policy makers, public health professionals) who will teach and provide us with tools to become better, more effective advocates.  For more information about the committee, or to join, contact Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org.
.

NYS AAP – Chapter 2 & 3 Opioid Crisis Committee

The NYS AAP – Chapter 2 & 3 Opioid Crisis Committee is devoted to finding solutions and implementing standardized measures to help pediatricians navigate this crisis.  It is essential to identify substance abuse in adolescents early and to implement prevention strategies immediately.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends using the Universal Screening for Substance Use, Brief Intervention, and/or Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) as a part of routine health care.  The AAP recommends screening all adolescents for tobacco, alcohol and other substance use using a validated tool such as the CRAFFT.
Opioids should only be prescribed when the benefit is seriously considered and outweighs the risks. If there is no alternative, short acting opioids, rather than long acting or extended release opioids, should be used for treating acute pain in opioid naïve patients.  Patients and families must be educated about opioid use, adverse effects, and disposal.
The Joint Commission, the CDC, and the FDA have recommended/mandated that non-pharmacologic modalities be offered to patients for pain.  We need to dramatically rethink opioid use in the world of Pediatrics.  If you would like to be part of this mission, please contact Dr. Richard Ancona at 1084e5@optonline.nett or Dr. Mirna Giordano at mg2267@columbia.edu.
.

NYS AAP Policy Statement on Marijuana

The mid-term elections changed the balance of political power not only nationally, but in New York State as well.  With a new legislature, many new initiatives will be considered by Albany.  In anticipation of the possibility of new marijuana laws in NY, a state-wide committee (NYS AAP – Chapters 1, 2, and 3) created a position paper that may be found here:
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National AAP Committee Members – Call for Nominations

The AAP Board of Directors is soliciting nominations to fill the following vacancies for Member positions on AAP National Committees for terms beginning July 1, 2019:
  • Committee on Adolescence (COA): 1 position
  • Committee on Child Health Financing: 2 positions
  • Committee on Coding and Nomenclature (COCN): 1 position
  • Committee on Drugs: 1 position
  • Committee on Fetus and Newborn (COFN): 2 positions
  • Committee on Medical Liability and Risk Management: 2 positions
  • Committee on Native American Child Health: 2 positions
  • Committee on Pediatric AIDS (COPA): 3 positions
  • Committee on Pediatric Research: 2 positions
  • Committee on Practice & Ambulatory Medicine (COPAM): 3 positions
  • Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health (COPACFH): 2 positions
You can find the requirements, the statements of needs for each position, and the application materials on AAP.org. To be considered complete, an application must include the following: (1) factsheet, (2) biographical summary, (3) letter of nomination, and (4) letter of support.  Upon receipt, a request for Conflict of Interest Disclosure will be sent to the candidate which will finalize the application process.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 22, 2019.  Nominees must submit the completed application materials to their Chapter President and the AAP Nominations Team (nominations@aap.org). If you are interested in obtaining a letter of support from the NYS AAP – Chapter 2 President, please email Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org as soon as possible. We can support one applicant per committee.
.

NYS AAP Annual Advocacy Day – March 19th

Mark your calendars because our Annual Advocacy Day in Albany is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19th at The University Club. This day highlights our pediatric advocacy agenda with a full day in Albany hearing from legislators, government officials, and NYS AAP leaders, and is followed by visits to the offices of members of the State Assembly and Senate. More details will be available soon. We look forward to welcoming all Chapter members, including medical students and pediatric trainees, to this event.
.
     The Officers of Chapter 2 welcome your feedback, thoughts, suggestions, and constructive criticism.  Please see our email addresses below to contact us.
Follow us on Twitter: @NYSAAPCh2
Follow Steve Goldstein on Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10
     With our best wishes for a healthy and productive autumn!
My best,
Steve Goldstein, Chapter President SJG34@Cornell.edu | Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10
and the Officers:
Shetal Shah, Vice President shetaldoc@hotmail.com | Twitter @NICUBatman
Robert Lee, Secretary rlee@aap.net
Sanjivan Patel, Treasurer sapatel@wyckoffhospital.org

October 2018

NYS AAP – Chapter 2
President’s Message – October 2018

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,

Please see below for information about recent and upcoming events, and other updates.  Also, don’t forget to vote for AAP President Elect! Voting begins Nov. 2nd and ends Dec. 2nd! The candidates are Sara “Sally” H. Goza, MD, FAAP from Fayetteville, GA, and George C. Phillips, MD, MBA, FAAP from Overland Park, Kansas.

Vote online and get more information at: www.aap.org/vote.

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2
SJG34@Cornell.edu

Vote Kids on Nov. 6th!

Kids can’t vote, but their parents and pediatricians can. We can speak up for children and educate families about supporting candidates that work for the benefit of the next generation. Download materials from the AAP’s VoteKids Toolkit, including a Prescription to Vote that you can print and give to your patients’ parents as you speak about the importance of voting.

NY State Senate Candidate Forum

The League of Women Voters and Chapter 2 sponsored a Voter’s Forum in South Huntington on October 15th. Incumbent Carl Marcellino and challenger Jim Gaughran, candidates for the NY State Senate in District 5, answered questions about issues that affect children and families. We are hoping that this event will become a model for future elections and help us all to consider children when we make our choices at the polls. Thanks to Drs. Eve Krief and Jeff Oestreicher for their tireless work to make this happen. A video of the entire evening can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKqq35J8G44

Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds
Why This Should Concern YOU

Someone is currently considered a “public charge” for immigration purposes when they are primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. Earlier this month the Trump Administration published intended changes to the “Public Charge” rule that would affect the health and well-being of millions of children and families in the United States by factoring in use of federal programs when applying for “green cards” or permanent status. Under the proposed rules, an immigrant family that participates in Medicaid, the SNAP program, federal housing assistance programs, or Medicare Part D would be considered a “public charge,” making it more difficult to achieve permanent status. In anticipation of these rules, even though the new regulations are not yet in effect, immigrant families are not seeking healthcare and other forms of assistance so as not to prejudice their applications. Children are not receiving needed healthcare, medication, and food and housing assistance.

Here is a link to the Federal Register that details the new proposal:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/10/2018-21106/inadmissibility-on-public-charge-grounds utm_campaign=subscription%20mailing%20list&utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email

It is estimated that the new public charge rule, should it go into effect, will affect 24 million people including 9 million children nationwide. What this means for New York State, should this happen, can be found here:

http://fiscalpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NY-Impact-of-Public-Charge.pdf

Both the National AAP and the Chapter request that members post comments opposing the rule to the Federal Register by December 10th. The AAP is asking for 100,000 comments opposing the rule. Instructions for submitting your comment, guidelines and further information can be found here:

https://downloads.aap.org/DOFA/PublicChargeToolkit2018.pdf

Dinner Lecture: Novel Adventure in Human Milk Feeding – Nov. 8th

Event: Novel Adventure in Human Milk Feeding
Presented by: Committee on Fetus & Newborn, NYS AAP – Chapter 2
Date: Thursday, Nov. 8th from 5:45 – 9:00pm
Location: Akbar Restaurant, 2 South Street, Garden City, NY 11530
Tuition: No charge for Chapter members
Supported by: A generous grant from Prolacta Bioscience

TO REGISTER, CONTACT: 

Doreen Hunter 516-663-3853, Fax: 516-663-8955, doreen.hunter@nyulangone.org
Jessica Geslani, Exec. Director, NYS AAP – Chapter 2, 516-326-0310, jgeslani@aap.org 

Objectives:

  1. Importance of preterm nutrition for neonatal and long term “programmed” health outcomes
  2. Optimizing neuro-development through neonatal nutrition and lacto-engineering of EHM diet
  3. Research on EHM diet based on randomized control on short and long term outcomes trials
  4. Mechanistic aspects of EHM feeding and the adverse effects of cow’s milk
  5. Health Economics
  6. Future of preterm nutrition

Speaker:

Alan Lucas, MB, BChir., MA, MD, MRCP, FRCPCH, FMedSci
Medical Research Council Clinical Professor
Founder and Professor of Paediatric Nutrition,
Childhood Nutrition Research Centre
UCL Institute of Child Health, London

Social Event: Hops, Grapes & Pediatricians – Nov. 15th

Event: Hops, Grapes & Pediatricians
Presented by: Chapters 2 & 3 of the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics (NYS AAP)
Date: Thursday, November 15th from 7:00 – 9:00pm
Location: Black Door, 127 W. 26th Street, New York, NY 10001

REGISTER ONLINE

This social networking event is for current (and future!) Chapter 2 & 3 members. A light dinner and drinks will be served. We will be joined by special guest speaker, Honor Jones, Opinion Health Editor for the New York Times! Honor will give a brief talk about writing op eds.

In addition to hearing from Honor Jones, this event is a terrific opportunity to:

  • connect with fellow pediatricians
  • meet AAP leaders – hear about their careers in pediatrics, how they got involved with the AAP, and how being a part of the AAP has enriched their lives
  • learn about your local AAP Chapter and how you can get involved – advocacy, grant funding, committees, educational programs, etc.
  • share your thoughts, comments and concerns with the leadership

There is a $10 refundable deposit for Chapter members which will be refunded to you after you attend the event. The fee for non-members is $25 (which can be applied to membership dues if you decide to join).

Space is limited, so register today! We look forward to seeing you there!  For more information, contact Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org.

Resilience and Adverse Childhood Experiences

The Chapter, along with Docs For Tots, The Child Care Council of Nassau, and a host of other organizations sponsored a viewing of the movie “Resilience” at the Nassau County Legislative Offices on October 9th. Readers that would like access to the movie for their organizations at no cost should contact our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org. Here is an excellent short TED Talk by Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris that distills the main points of the movie: https://youtu.be/95ovIJ3dsNk

Environmental Health

Many of you are aware that Dr. Ruth Etzel, head of the EPA’s Office of Child Health Protection and co-editor of The AAP’s Green Book on Environmental Health, has been placed on administrative leave. This move prompted protests from the AAP and environmental organizations.

Read about this issue here.

See an interview with Dr. Etzel on CBS News here.

Committee Vacancies

Multiple Chapter Committees, including the committees on Opioid Crisis, Membership, Gun Violence Prevention and Parents are recruiting interested members to aid in their work. If you wish to help or if there is an issue you are passionate about and would like to get involved, please contact Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org. If you are interested in Mentorship (either as a mentor or mentee), there is a committee in formation.

Pediatric Council

Please periodically check the Pediatric Council section of our website to view new advisories from the National AAP. In addition, the Chapter can help you to address billing and practice management issues if you outline the problem in our Insurance Grievance Form.

Value Based Payment is coming. View a webinar on Value Based Payment from UnitedHealthCare.

For those of you going to the NCE in Orlando, there is a Pediatric Council Forum on Saturday, November 3rd, from 2:00-4:00 pm. If anyone is interested in attending, let us know by emailing Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org.

Strategic Planning

Chapter 2 is moving along in its strategic planning process. Members were asked to complete a Member Needs Assessment Survey over the summer, and were invited to a strategic planning brainstorming meeting on Sept. 13th at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, NY. Next, we will convene a small strategic plan work group to review the data and work out the details. We look forward to having a finished product by early 2019 that will reflect our Chapter’s priorities and our members’ needs.

The Officers of Chapter 2 welcome your feedback, thoughts, suggestions, and constructive criticism.  Please see our email addresses below to contact us.

Follow us on Twitter: @NYSAAPCh2
Follow Steve Goldstein on Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10

With our best wishes for a healthy and productive autumn!

My best,

Steve Goldstein, Chapter President SJG34@Cornell.edu

and the Officers:

Shetal Shah, Vice President shetaldoc@hotmail.com
Robert Lee, Secretary rlee@aap.net
Sanjivan Patel, Treasurer sapatel@wyckoffhospital.org

New York State American Academy of Pediatrics (NYS AAP) – Chapter 2
516-326-0310 | Follow us on Twitter |  www.ny2aap.org


 

June 2018

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,
May and June are busy months for our Chapter, with lots of important news to relate. Please check the Chapter 2 website frequently, as new events, initiatives, valuable practice management information, and links to articles are regularly posted.
Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2
Firearm Injury and Gun Violence Prevention Committee
On May 17th our newly formed Chapter 2 and 3 Firearm Injury and Gun Violence Prevention Committee met at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. There were over 30 attendees from both Chapters, including students, parents, residents, and attending physicians. Jeff Ostreicherfrom Chapter 2 and Nina Agrawal of Chapter 3 will co-chair this joint endeavor. Four working groups are planned: Legislative Advocacy, Research and Education, Grassroots, and Media Outreach. If you would like to help, click Jeff and Nina’s names above to email them.
Stress Reduction for Pediatricians – June 7th
On June 7th the Chapter is sponsoring an informal Wellness Event: Stress Reduction for Pediatricians, at the Douglaston Club in Little Neck. There will be a gourmet vegetarian dinner, an introduction to yoga led by Dr. Ron Marino, and a talk on stress reduction by Dr. Peter Nieman of Calgary, Alberta. I had the opportunity to hear Peter speak last year at the AAP District I & II Annual Meeting in Vermont – his advice is worth hearing. The evening is free for Chapter 2 members and Chapter 3 members can attend for a reduced fee thanks to a generous grant from MLMIC. It promises to be a great evening.
Immigrant Health
Another joint initiative for Chapters 2 and 3 will focus on Immigrant Health. We oppose separation of children from their parents at the border. We oppose losing 1,500 of those children.
We are working to create safe spaces for immigrant children to obtain quality pediatric healthcare and oppose the dehumanizing of any group. Take a look at the AAP’s stance on this issue: http://www.aappublications.org/news/2018/05/08/immigration050818
Please contact Laurie Gordon at lsg9004@nyp.org if you would like to work with the Chapters on this issue.
Families Belong Together March – June 14th
On June 14 there will be a Families Belong Together march and candlelight vigil in Huntington, Long Island to protest the separation of children from their parents at the US border. Chapter 2 is a sponsor of this event and invites all our members to attend this vigil or others planned for the metropolitan region. The Huntington location is the Northwest corner of Park Avenue and Main Street in Huntington Village at 7 pm on June 14.
AAP President Dr. Colleen Kraft’s op-ed on this subject can be found here.
Tobacco 21 Victory
Congratulations to Chapter 2 Vice President, Dr. Shetal Shah, and all who worked on and attended the May 23rd vote of the Nassau County Legislature, where a bill that we worked on for the last 10 years passed unanimously. This important bill raises the age to purchase tobacco and related products, including e-cigarettes, to 21. Nassau County will finally join Suffolk County and all of NYC in complying with Tobacco 21. This is a big win for our Chapter and the children we care for!
Vaping and E-Cigarettes Lecture – June 18th
Drs. Mary Cataletto and Robert Lee received a grant from the AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence for Dr. Karen Wilson to speak with NYU Winthrop Hospital, Chapter 2, and Nassau Pediatric Society attendees about e-cigarettes, secondhand smoke, vaping and JUULing and how to address these issues in the office.
A free dinner lecture will be held on June 18th at NYU Winthrop Hospital.
Chapter Needs Assessment Survey
You should have received a Chapter Needs Assessment Survey that will assist us in creating a new Chapter 2 Strategic Plan.  Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts, help us serve your needs, and enter our Amazon gift card giveaway.
Addressing the Opioid Crisis
If you are interested in joining a NY State multi-Chapter Committee to craft strategies to deal with the opioid crisis, help develop and make available educational materials for pediatricians, learn how to use SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment), and learn about other addiction related issues, please contact our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org.
Diversity and Inclusion
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Juan Kupferman, our Membership Chair, will head our new Diversity and Inclusion initiative. Juan is already working on this issue and if you would like to learn more or assist him, email him at kupferjc@gmail.com
Help with Billing & Practice Management Issues
Please periodically check the Pediatric Council section of our website to view new advisories from the National AAP. The most recent post deals with a billing problem at Anthem-Blue Cross.
In addition, the Chapter can help you in addressing your billing and practice management issues. Outline the problem in an email to us at jgeslani@aap.org.
The Officers of Chapter 2 welcome your feedback, thoughts, suggestions, and constructive criticism.  Please see our email addresses below to contact us.
Follow us on Twitter: @NYSAAPCh2
Follow Steve Goldstein on Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10
With our best wishes for a healthy and productive summer!
My best,
Steve Goldstein, Chapter President SJG34@Cornell.edu
and the Officers:
Shetal Shah, Vice President shetaldoc@hotmail.com
Robert Lee, Secretary rlee@aap.net
Sara Kopple, Treasurer sarakopple@gmail.com

May 2018

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,

Chapter leadership is a fulfilling role, with unlimited possibilities to aid the members and serve the children of New York State. It can be a full-time job for the officers. It is my pleasure to share some of what we are doing and plans for new initiatives.

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
President, NYS AAP – Chapter 2
SJG34@Cornell.edu

NYS AAP Annual Advocacy Day

On March 6th, Chapter members attended our Annual Advocacy Day in Albany.  125 pediatricians from across the state were in attendance and heard from the Chairs of the Senate and Assembly Health Committees and Medicaid.  Members met with their State Senators and Assemblymen to promote the AAP Agenda for Children in New York State.View our 2018 NYS AAP advocacy materials below:·     Priority Pediatric Policy, Budget and Practice Issues·     Legislative Priorities

NY Chapters 1, 2 and 3, and New York State AAP

March Executive Meeting: Focus on Gun Violence Prevention

Our last quarterly Chapter Executive Committee Meeting was held on March 8th at Winthrop University Hospital.

In response to the tragic events at Parkland, the majority of the meeting was devoted to the issue of gun violence prevention (GVP). The speakers included Young Nelson of Everytown for Gun Safety, long time GVP advocate Dr. Nina Agrawal from Chapter 3, and Dr. Jeff Ostreicher from Chapter 2, a Peds ED physician with a research interest in gun violence. Jeff will Chair Chapter 2’s new GVP Committee and will work with Nina. Parents, educators, and activists attended the meeting as well. Contact our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org if you would like to work on this issue. The first joint GVP Committee meeting will be scheduled for sometime in May.

Annual Leadership Forum

From March 15 -18th, Chapter leadership from around the state attended the AAP Annual Leadership Forum. There were educational sessions and the leadership voted on resolutions submitted by the AAP membership. All passed resolutions are addressed, and the Top Ten are given priority by the AAP Board of Directors. The resolutions can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/2GNfYIV (AAP login required).

At the ALF, I had the opportunity to defend our nomination for the 2018 Outstanding Large Chapter Award. Although we did not win, it was an honor to be nominated, and we will instead receive a Chapter of Excellence Award. The winning Large Chapter, the Minnesota Chapter, helped stop a measles epidemic within their local Muslim community. I agree that this initiative deserved special recognition.

March for Our Lives – Long Island

On March 24th, I had the privilege of speaking at the March For Our Lives-LI in Huntington, along with family members of those killed in Parkland, clergy, former Congressman Steve Israel, students, and a representative from the local NAACP.

There were about 3,000 people in attendance, including a good number of Chapter 2 members.  Pictures and my speech can be found on the Chapter website here:

http://ny2aap.org/march-for-our-lives-2018/

I was asked by the AAP to write a blog for AAP Voices on my experience with the students, and our new joint Chapter initiative to address gun safety and GVP. It can be found here: https://www.aap.org/en-us/aap-voices/Pages/Pediatricians-Advocating-for-Gun-Safety-Should-Be-No-Surprise.aspx

AAP Legislative Conference & Leadership Fly-In

On April 9th and 10th, Chapter leaders from around the country met in Washington at the AAP Legislative Conference where we improved our advocacy skills and learned a great deal about issues of concern to our profession, including healthcare, the environment/climate change, immigrant health, gun violence prevention, and many others.

On April 10th, the 350 pediatricians in attendance met with their Senators and Congressional representatives to discuss the gun safety and GVP issue. The 20 or so pediatricians from New York State were very well received by the offices visited and much information was shared. You should all know that the AAP committed $500,000 to a Gun Research Initiative to aid in bringing science into the discussion of how to address this problem.

Congressman Tom Suozzi (center) with Drs. Steven Goldstein (left) and Shetal Shah (right)

Rome CATCH Visiting Professorship: Immigrant Health

On April 11th, NY Presbyterian-Queens hosted Visiting Professor Julie M. Linton for a symposium on immigrant health issues. The program was supported by a grant from the AAP obtained by Drs. Laurie Gordon and Sara Kopple. Dr. Alan Shapiro of Terra Firma spoke about his experiences in the Bronx, along with Dr. Linton. Their presentations were followed by a panel discussion. If you are interested in working with the AAP on immigrant health issues, please email our Executive Director, Jessica Geslani, at jgeslani@aap.org.

Social Event: Networking, Art & Pediatricians

On April 18th, about 60 pediatricians and medical students attended a joint Chapter 2 and 3 evening networking event at The Flowers Gallery in Chelsea. Attendees had the opportunity to socialize and hear from the Chapter leadership as they sipped wine and ate gourmet pizza. We plan to continue to hold events such as this one to keep our members informed and involve new pediatricians in our work. Attendees included practicing pediatricians, residents, fellows, Department Chairs, first year medical students, and retired members.

Coming Up: Watch Your Email & the Chapter Website

May 16:
Joint Chapter 2 & 3 Executive Committee Meeting
The National AAP President-Elect Candidates will join us via Skype.

Early June:
We plan to hold a Wellness Event for Pediatricians: Yoga, Stress Reduction, and Avoiding Burnout
More details to follow.

June 18 – 19:
Julius B. Richmond Visiting Lectureship Program with Dr. Karen Wilson
“How to Address the Problem of E-cigarettes and Vaping”

The Officers of Chapter 2 are happy to hear from you. Let us know about your concerns, your needs, and your suggestions. We regularly post webinars, educational opportunities, resources, handouts, and videos on our website: ny2aap.org

Follow us on Twitter: @NYSAAPCh2
Follow Steve Goldstein on Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10

My best,

Steve Goldstein, Chapter President SJG34@Cornell.edu

and the Officers:
Shetal Shah, Vice President shetaldoc@hotmail.com
Robert Lee, Secretary rlee@aap.net
Sara Kopple, Treasurer sarakopple@gmail.com


September 2017

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,

The newly elected officers of the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics (NYS AAP) – Chapter 2 would like to introduce themselves, solicit your input, and involve you in promoting child (and pediatrician) health in our region.

We will serve in these offices until July of 2019 and hope to accomplish much during that time.  Even more important is the fact that chapter membership offers multiple opportunities to network, learn new skills, contribute opinions, suggest new initiatives, educate, and advocate.

As local pediatricians in a chapter almost 70-years old, your local AAP’s credibility, combined with the expertise of its members, is in a unique position to improve the care of children in our region.  With your help, we can have even more influence in shaping the policy and future of health care in New York State.

While most of the AAP’s 10 Districts are made up of multiple states, New York and California each comprise a District.  There are three Chapters within the NYS AAP (District II), and our Chapter 2 has approximately 1,400 members from the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, and the counties of Nassau and Suffolk.  Chapter 3 is composed of Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and the upstate counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester.  Chapter 1 covers the rest of New York State.

Because AAP members from New York City are split between Chapters 2 and 3, look for increased collaboration between the Chapters through our Committees and initiatives that further our agenda in New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Now a little about us:

NYS AAP – CHAPTER 2 OFFICERS & STAFF

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP

President
Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP
sjg34@cornell.edu
Follow Chapter 2 on Twitter @NYSAAPCH2
Follow me on Twitter @SteveGoldstei10I am a general pediatrician with offices in Brooklyn and Queens.  In my
work as Chair of the Pediatric Council I advocate for children’s
healthcare coverage and for fair payment for pediatric services.  I
believe that a healthy future for our nation and a competitive workforce
in the global marketplace depends on raising our children in safe
environments with adequate nutrition, educational opportunities, and
quality pediatric healthcare.

Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP

Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP

Vice President
Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP
shetaldoc@hotmail.comI am a practicing neonatologist and Professor of Neonatology and
Pediatrics at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital/New York Medical
College.  My interests include neonatal immunology (particularly
immunizations), stem cell therapy and neonatal healthcare policy.  My
work with the AAP started when I wanted to help pass a law in NYS to
promote influenza immunization.  My work with the local AAP Chapter
showed me the power of dedicated individuals to institute change.  We have had much success, but there is still work to do!

Robert Lee, DO, FAAP

Robert Lee, DO, FAAP

Secretary
Robert Lee, DO, FAAP
robertlee.do@gmail.comI am an academic pediatrician and Associate Residency Program
Director at NYU-Winthrop Hospital.  As Co-Chair of the new Foster
and Kinship Care Committee, I advocate for children exposed to toxic
stress.  I will help develop quality educational programs and work to
engage the members with the goal of improving children’s health
through policy, advocacy, and education.

Sara Kopple, MD, FAAP

Sara Kopple, MD, FAAP

Treasurer
Sara E. Kopple, MD, FAAP
SaraKopple@gmail.comI am a general pediatrician and Assistant Professor of Clinical
Medicine at The New York-Presbyterian/Queens Medical Center.  My
interests include early childhood development, legislative advocacy,
and medical education.  I believe our role as pediatricians in the
community is to advocate and provide a voice for children and
families on an individual and population level.

Jessical Geslani

Jessica Geslani

Executive Director
Jessica Geslani
jgeslani@aap.orgOn July 1, 2017, Jessica Geslani assumed her new position as
Executive Director of the Chapter.  She will also serve Chapter 3,
facilitating our joint initiatives.We welcome Jessica to her new responsibilities.

Elie Ward

Elie Ward

Director of Policy, Advocacy & External Relations
Elie Ward, MSW
eward@aap.netElie Ward also transitioned into a new position in July, and we
welcome her efforts to represent the members of the District both in
Albany and New York City.  She will also assist in Grant
Management for the Chapters.

GET INVOLVED IN THE NYS AAP – CHAPTER 2!

Do you have a particular interest, specialty or passion within Pediatrics?  Do you perceive the need for an educational program we have not addressed?  Our Committees welcome new members and new ideas.  The Committees, their Chairs, and contact information are listed here: http://ny2aap.org/chapter-committees/.

Send an introductory email to us or to a Committee Chair and join with us and pursue your interest or passion!

We will be publicizing a number of events of interest to our members in the coming weeks, and hope you will join in.  The AAP’s National Conference and Exhibition was in Chicago this year, from September 15 to 19, and fulfilled its promise to be a great way to network, learn, and develop our skills.  The NCE is in Orlando next year, and the NCE site can be reached here: http://aapexperience.org.

We are on social media.  Please sign up for Chapter 2’s Twitter account @NYSAAPCH2 to get a daily, 140-character dose of the work we do each day to make our region a healthier place for children and a more practice-friendly environment.  If you need help creating a Twitter account, contact Jessica Geslani at jgeslani@aap.org.

The Officers of the Chapter look forward to working with you in the coming years.  Please let us know what you need and how we can engage you in our vital work.

Sincerely,
Steve Goldstein
Shetal Shah
Robert Lee
Sara Kopple


 

Policy Agenda for Pediatricians & Children in Nassau County

Dear NYS AAP – Chapter 2 Member,
     As the Executive Officers of your local Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), we work to make life better for children and to support pediatrics in our region, across the state, and nationally. Our work often involves meeting with elected officials to advocate for initiatives that will impact the children we care for and the practice of Pediatrics.
     In January, Laura Curran will take office as the new Nassau County Executive. She is sympathetic to the causes we espouse and we reached out to her staff to develop a policy agenda for the pediatricians and children in Nassau County.  We are asking for your input in developing this policy agenda.  Your suggestions will be compiled and considered for this agenda.
     Please email Jessica Geslani, the Chapter Executive Director, at jgeslani@aap.org with your suggestions. They will be compiled and reviewed.
    As a member of your the local AAP Chapter (NYS AAP – Chapter 2), we hope you see opportunities such as this as providing additional value to your Chapter membership and as a means to impact your local practice.
     The Chapter, in conjunction with partners across Nassau County, has been successful in promoting the Tobacco 21 initiative to the individual towns to reduce exposure to first- and second-hand smoke and vapor. Only the Town of Oyster Bay still allows sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes to those under 21 and we are still working with them. Tobacco Free Kids estimates we can reduce the days of life lost in the U.S. by 4.2 million if the initiative is adopted nationwide. We care for the children of Nassau County and the Pediatricians we serve.
     The Chapter Officers are available to address your concerns and questions. We invite you to visit the Chapter website www.ny2aap.org and follow us on Twitter @NYSAAPCH2.
     Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Goldstein, MD, FAAP, President | SJG34@Cornell.edu | Twitter: @SteveGoldstei10
Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP, Vice-President | Shetaldoc@hotmail.com | Twitter: @NICUBatman
Rob Lee, DO, FAAP, Secretary | rlee@aap.org
Sara Kopple, MD, FAAP, Treasurer | SaraKopple@gmail.com