E-Newsletter

February 2010

In this Issue

Chapter News

• Spring Conference: Things You Need to Know Tomorrow to Take Care of Neonates, May 1-2, Sunday River...and the First Annual Family Fun Fest!!!
  Don't miss a great conference and opportunity to relax and have fun with your colleagues and family! NEW THIS YEAR: the Chapter will be organizing Family Fun Fest activities during the conference on Saturday and Sunday, Saturday afternoon, and at the dinner! Visit the conferences section of our website for more information on the conference and the Family Fun Fest or to for the early registration form!
  
  
• Promote the Profession of Pediatrics! Let a Med Student Shadow You!
  We need YOU to show medical students why they should consider pediatrics! The Chapter has received a grant to connect medical students at UNE with practicing pediatricians for 1/2 day career shadowing opportunities. There are also opportunities to host a medical student during their 4-week rural rotations. If you would like to host a medical student for either opportunity, please let us know by filling out our online form!

• Resident Mini-CATCH Grants of $500 Available! Deadline Rolling!
  The Chapter offers Mini-CATCH Grants of $500 to any pediatric or family practice resident in Maine to start a project that will impact child health in their community. The application is simple and the deadline is rolling. The Chapter hopes to award 1-2 Mini-CATCH grants per year. For more information, download the fact sheet. The application may be filled out online.
  

• Chapter Member Pediatric Topic Interest or Area of Expertise Database
  Is there a specific pediatric topic that you are an expert on or have a passion for? Do you have a particular area of expertise/interest that you would like to present on at Chapter CME or provide testimony at the legislature? If so, we want to know! The Chapter would like to keep a list of the areas of expertise for its members so we may ask you to present at a CME conference or at the legislature. Please fill out our online form to let us know more about your interests!
  
  
• AAP Seeks Medical Home Chapter Champion on Asthma
  Are you interested in facilitating the dissemination of best practices and advocacy related to the implementation of NHLBI asthma guidelines within medical homes in Maine? If so, we need you! Review the Job Description and let Aubrie know if you are interested in filling this role!
  
  
• 2010 Board of Directors
  The Chapter would like to thank the Board of Directors for their contributions to the Chapter. In January, two new members were added to the Board; we welcome Jennifer Jewell MD FAAP and Janice Pelletier MD FAAP. The Board recently said good-bye to long-term members Dick Aronson MD FAAP and Burtt Richardson MD FAAP. The Chapter thanks Drs. Aronson and Richardson for their years of dedication to the children of Maine and the pediatricians who care for them! The full list of Board Members is available in the About Us section of our website.

Healthy and Active Living

5-2-1-0 Let's Go!
If you haven't seen their website, you should! Let's Go has information for Healthcare, Parents, Child Care, Schools, and more! This is another great way to spread the 5-2-1-0 Every Day message created from the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative.

Maine Outdoor Activity Resources
If you are looking for resources to provide patients on outdoor activity for children, look no further. Visit the websites of Winter Kids and Take It Outside Coalition.

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Injury Prevention

Maine CDC Contributes to Injury-Prevention Practices in Movies Article in Pediatrics
A recent article in the Journal of Pediatrics reports that there is still widespread depiction of unsafe acts with no portrayal of the consequences in children's media. Jon Eric Tongren, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Augusta, conducted a study of 67 of the 125 top-grossing G-rated and PG-rated movies from 2003 to 2007, and examined 958 person scenes. Of these, 524 (55 percent) depicted children and 434 (45 percent) portrayed adults. Read the Full Article.

Listen to the MPBN coverage or read the transcript.

Maine Concussion Management Initiative
Ten percent of athletes will experience a concussion annually.  Even the most mild trauma can have lasting affects, especially if it occurs during the formative high school years.  The lack of proper management and diagnosis can lead to serious problems, including depression, more head traumas, and even death.

As a medical community, though, we are even more equipped than ever before to deal with sports-related concussions. Computerized neurocognitive testing is a great tool for managing the physical and cognitive healing process.

Learn more about the initiative and how you can help your local school get involved at the Initiative's website.

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Legislative News

Toxic Toys Testimony by Pediatric Patient (and Son of Chapter President)
When Dr. Jon Fanburg was asked to testify for the Chapter at the legislature on the toxic toys bill he asked his son to come along. Austin Fanburg's testimony made headlines in the news and turned heads in the legislative chambers. Read the articles in the Portland Press Herald (web) (PDF) and Kennebec Journal article (web) (PDF).

Chapter Supports Tobacco Tax Increase; Advocates Seek Op-Ed Writers
At the January meeting, the Board of Directors voted to pledge support of the tobacco tax increase to benefit pediatric patients. Read the resolution. If you are interested in supporting the tax increase by writing an op-ed or testifying, please contact Becky Smith at becky.birrell.smith@gmail.com.

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Member Spotlight

Don Burgess MD FAAP Helps MSAD 71 Navigate Swine Flu
Read the Seacoast Online article.

Brenda Medlin MD FAAP Speaks with MPBN About Drug-Affected Babies
Listen to the interview or read the transcript.

Recent Special Achievement Awards

Barbara Chilmonczyk MD FAAP for her role in the development of the "Ah! Asthma Program" directed at improving the lives of children and youth with asthma

Joan Orr CHES in recognition on distinguished service to the children and adolescents of Maine for her efforts to reduce obesity

Pam Dietz MD FAAP for her role in the development of Countdown Clinic, a clinic dedicated to reducing children's obesity in Maine

Tory Rogers MD FAAP for her participation in nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention programs, such as Let's Go!, 5210 Goes to School, and the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative

Syd Sewall MD FAAP for going above and beyond the call of duty in representing Maine's children and pediatricians on numerous legislative and political committees, and for being overall a great pediatrician

Steve Feder DO FACOP for his role in promoting healthy lifestyles for Maine's children and youth through development of Fit For Kidz and Farm to School programs involving schools, fresh foods, and relationships with farmers (including the local lobster co-op)

More to come!!!

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Mental Health

Acadia Hospital Survey on Child/Adolescent Mental Health

The Acadia Hospital is interested in providing more extensive community education around child & adolescent mental health. Please take their needs assessment survey designed to assist in planning education that is most desired by pediatricians and family physicians.

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CME and Education Opportunities

2010 Perinatal Conference: Addiction, Breastfeeding, and other Challenges

April 8 & 9
Grandeur Sun
Banquet & Conference Center
Waterville

This conference will provide the multidisciplinary perinatal team with research and
evidence to inspire them to examine their current practice and consider change that will promote best practice in caring for the opioid-addicted patient, the patient in second stage of labor and the breastfeeding couplet.

See the brochure for more information.

Rheumatology in Primary Care Conference

April 10
Maine Medical Center
Dana Health Education Center
Portland

Topics include Diagnosis of Lupus, Diagnosis and Management of Lyme Arthritis, Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Children, Evaluation and Management of Low Back Pain, Diagnosis and Management of Temporal Arteritis and PMR, The Spondyloarthropathies, and Raynaud's Phenomenon.

See the brochure for more information.

Motivational Interviewing for Clinicians to Promote Healthy Behavior and Healthy Weight

June 7, United Way of Greater Portland
8, The Senator Inn-Augusta
9, Eastern Maine Medical Center

This workshop will focus on tools and hands‐on activities for brief patient centered communications that result in a teaching framework for working with the “whole person/family.” Free Bonus—Follow‐up Coaching Calls & Skills Webinar Participants will be required to complete a short on‐line pre‐workshop module before attending. CME’s included through MMA & MOA.

Read the message from Tory Rogers MD FAAP.

See brochure for more information and to register.

First Fridays Seminars at Maine Medical Assocation

Join the Maine Medical Association for it's First Friday medical-legal seminars. A variety of topics are discussed:

March 5-Disruptive Patients
April 2-HIPAA Update
May 7-Risk Management
May 19-Practice Education
**June 4-Treating Minors in a Primary Care Setting**Co-sponsored by MAAP!
October 1-Meidcal Records
November 5-Compliance
December 3-Medical Legal

See the flyer for more information and to register.

Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition Annual Conference featuring Audrey Naylor MD and Kathelen Marinelli MD

May 14th
University of Maine at Orono
Wells Conference Center

Topics include:
Breastfeeding and Prevention of Child Abuse
Increasing Duration of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding and Addiction
Milk Banking

For more information, visit MELCA's website or contact Hannah James, WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator at 287-3992.

18th Annual Northern New England Rural Pediatric Alliance Meeting

In conjunction with the Vermont AAP Educational Meeting.

April 30 & May 1
Lake Morey Inn and Resort
Fairlee, Vermont

April 30th:
VT AAP Educational Meeting
8am to 5pm
Nutrition 2010 in the pediatric setting
$95

NNERPA Dinner and Roundtable, 5pm - 9pm (price included in NNERPA fee)

May 1st: 18th Annual NNERPA Meeting
8am to Noon
Health Department initiatives in child health in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont
Health Department connections to pediatricians
Medicaid issues and the effect of healthcare reform on pediatrics and other reimbursement issues
Enhanced Pediatric Medical Home initiatives in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
$50

For more information, contact Stephanie Winters at SWinters@vtmd.org

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This is a bi-monthly posting of relevant pediatric news and events, including CMEs.  If you have news or events you would like added to the next E-Newsletter, please contact Aubrie.