American Academy of Pediatrics

Mission and Organizational Structure

The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. The AAP's mission is carried out in a number of ways. The organization is governed by a 13-member board of directors who maintains the integrity of the AAP mission by following a set of organizational bylaws. The board comprises an executive committee and directors. These pediatric health practitioners are elected by AAP members and serve as chairs representing 10 geographic districts.

Internally, staff in the Office of the Executive Director handles Board Administration, Development/Fundraising, Communications, International and Interprofessional Affairs, Human Resources, and the Customer Service Center. Other staffed areas within the AAP include separate departments according to specialty. These areas are the Departments of Chapter and State Affairs; Community and Specialty Pediatrics; Practice; Research; Education; Finance and Administrative Services; Information Technology; Marketing and Publications; Membership; and Federal Affairs (based in Washington, DC).

Another important facet of the AAP is a grassroots network of 59 chapters in the United States and 7 in Canada. Each state and local chapter is individually incorporated, has its own bylaws, and is managed by local pediatricians. Most have a staff executive director. Chapter leaders strive to fulfill the AAP mission on the state and local level and work to implement other local priorities on behalf of children and adolescents.

Education and Advocacy

The AAP receives funding from a variety of sources, including membership dues, individual contributions, and unrestricted educational grants from foundations,[Page 82] corporations, and government entities. These valuable resources help support more than 200 AAP-sponsored programs every year.

Programs cover a broad range of issues, such as neonatal resuscitation, obesity, childhood immunization, breast-feeding, car-seat safety, media literacy, prevention, and health promotion. Patient and family brochures on these and other topics are available to the public and health professionals, and a series of child care books written by AAP members is featured in the AAP bookstore.

The AAP sponsors ongoing continuing medical education (CME) courses and is considered the premier source of CME for pediatricians. These courses help advance the professional education of AAP members and are held in hospitals, universities, and other settings around the United States as well as through Internet-based learning environments.

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