AAP Letter from the Chair

Author: Tommy Cross, MD, Chair of the AAP Section on Med-Peds

ow, summer is drawing to a close as I write this. Our youngest child is heading off to college and we’re joining the growing number of my generation with “empty nests.” For some, you’re just starting on your nest and for others you’re still trying to figure out how to leave your parent’s nest. This is a time of year for me where I tend to reflect on how fortunate I am and try to take stock of what I view to be a truly wonderful existence.

Hopefully this summer you have had some time to relax and enjoy life in the midst of all of your clinical and home demands. We are a very diverse group and I expect many of you have varying expectations and concerns about what lies ahead with the next election cycle upon us. I do think Med-Peds is situated to ride the waves of “whatever happens” pretty well. We’ve always been a very unique and diverse group from the day we chose to learn and succeed in two very different disciplines. Most of us are very good at “adapting” and learning how to navigate through new experiences and obstacles. Most of us have learned to persevere against some pretty good odds. Hang in there! Here’s a big pat on the back for doing such a great job when many times you felt unappreciated or overwhelmed. I hope many of you can take a Fall break and make it to the AAP’s National Conference and Expedition in my old stomping grounds, New Orleans. The city is thriving, vibrant, and certainly knows how to throw a good party. Allen Friedland has put together a great program again for this year that you can read more about in this newsletter. Also, please plan to attend our annual reception as well and meet up with old and new friends.

My term as Chair of the Section ends with this upcomingAAP meeting so this is my last newsletter article from the “Chair in the Corner.” It has been a great honor for me to serve you in this capacity for the last 4 years. I have met some amazing people and developed deep friendships over the last 10 years on this committee and I look forward to continue to see you at future AAP and ACP meetings as our paths cross again. I am so excited to leave the Chair in the outstanding hands of Allen Friedland. Allen is indeed one of those great friends that I speak of. I must acknowledge Katy Lerman and Jackie Burke—both amazing women on the AAP staff—who somehow managed to keep me in line the last 4 years as our Section managers (although it seems that 1 year with me, led Jackie to bail to other committees!). I cherish those relationships greatly and am truly a much better human being because of my interactions with all of you out there that have helped grow the Section to be the 2nd largest section in the AAP.

I hope you have a prosperous Fall and can reacquaint yourself with what is meaningful and important in your life,
Tommy