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Definition of a Pediatrician

Article  in  Pediatrics · April 2015

DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-0056

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 POLICY STATEMENT
Definition of a Pediatrician
COMMITTEE ON PEDIATRIC WORKFORCE
This document is copyrighted and is property of the American
Academy of Pediatrics and its Board of Directors. All authors have filed
conflict of interest statements with the American Academy of
Pediatrics. Any conflicts have been resolved through a process
approved by the Board of Directors. The American Academy of
Pediatrics has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial
involvement in the development of the content of this publication.
Policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics benefit
from expertise and resources of liaisons and internal (AAP) and
external reviewers. However, policy statements from the American
Academy of Pediatrics may not reflect the views of the liaisons or the
organizations or government agencies that they represent.
The guidance in this statement does not indicate an exclusive course
of treatment or serve as a standard of medical care. Variations, taking
into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate.
All policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics
automatically expire 5 years after publication unless reaffirmed,
revised, or retired at or before that time.
www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2015-0056
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-0056
PEDIATRICS (ISSN Numbers: Print, 0031-4005; Online, 1098-4275).
Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
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FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
Organizational Principles to Guide and Define the Child Health
Care System and/or Improve the Health of all Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed the following
definition of pediatrics and a pediatrician:
Pediatrics is the specialty of medical science concerned with the physical,
mental, and social health of children from birth to young adulthood.
Pediatric care encompasses a broad spectrum of health services ranging
from preventive health care to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and
chronic diseases.
Pediatrics is a discipline that deals with biological, social, and
environmental influences on the developing child and with the impact of
disease and dysfunction on development. Children differ from adults
anatomically, physiologically, immunologically, psychologically,
developmentally, and metabolically.
The pediatrician, a term that includes primary care pediatricians, pediatric
medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists, understands this
constantly changing functional status of his or her patients’ incident to
growth and development and the consequent changing standards of
“normal” for age. A pediatrician is a physician who is concerned primarily
with the health, welfare, and development of children and is uniquely
qualified for these endeavors by virtue of interest and initial training. This
training includes 4 years of medical school education, plus an additional
year or years (usually at least 3) of intensive training devoted solely to all
aspects of medical care for children, adolescents, and young adults.
Maintenance of these competencies is achieved by experience, training,
continuous education, self-assessment, and practice improvement.
A pediatrician is able to define accurately the child’s health status and to
serve as a consultant and make use of other specialists as consultants as
needed, ideally in the context of, or in conjunction with, the physician-led
medical home. Because the child’s welfare is heavily dependent on the
home and family, the pediatrician supports efforts to create a nurturing
environment. Such support includes education about healthful living and
anticipatory guidance for both patients and parents.
A pediatrician participates at the community level in preventing or solving
problems in child health care and publicly advocates the causes of
children.
PEDIATRICS Volume 135, number 4, April 2015
 Ted D. Sigrest, MD Gail A. McGuinness, MD, FAAP – American Board of
COMMITTEE ON PEDIATRIC WORKFORCE, Harold Kenneth Simon, MD, FAAP Pediatrics
2014–2015
Mary Ellen Rimsza, MD, FAAP, Chairperson
Andrew J. Hotaling, MD, FACS, FAAP LIAISONS STAFF
Mary Elizabeth Keown, MD, FAAP Christopher Endom Harris, MD, FAAP – Section Holly J. Mulvey, MA
James Paul Marcin, MD, MPH, FAAP Forum Management Committee Carrie Radabaugh
William Bernard Moskowitz, MD, FAAP

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PEDIATRICS Volume 135, number 4, April 2015 781
 Definition of a Pediatrician
COMMITTEE ON PEDIATRIC WORKFORCE
Pediatrics 2015;135;780
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-0056 originally published online March 30, 2015;

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 Definition of a Pediatrician
COMMITTEE ON PEDIATRIC WORKFORCE
Pediatrics 2015;135;780
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-0056 originally published online March 30, 2015;

The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is
located on the World Wide Web at:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/135/4/780

Pediatrics is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication, it
has been published continuously since 1948. Pediatrics is owned, published, and trademarked by
the American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois,
60007. Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print
ISSN: 1073-0397.

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