About the Program

Advocacy

1. American Academy of Pediatrics Resident Representative
   Annually a resident from the program is sent to the national American Academy of Pediatrics meeting as a resident representative. This gives residents interested in advocating for patients an opportunity to learn what is happening on the national level.
2. American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittees
   Residents have the opportunity to serve on AAP subcommittees to advocate for change to improve child and adolescent health on a national scale. Residents may serve on a variety of subcommittees including curriculum, adolescent mental health, or violence prevention.
3. Reach Out and Read (ROR)
   ROR is a national program that makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary health care to encourage children to grow up with books and a love for reading. It trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age, with a special focus on children growing up in poverty. By building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers, ROR helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success in reading.
4. Iowa Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
   Residents have the opportunity to get involved with the Iowa Chapter of the American Association of Pediatrics, which supports positive changes in children's healthcare through community education, communication, and legislative advocacy. The Chapter believes all children from infancy to young adulthood should attain their full potential for physical, mental, emotional, and social health.