Matthew G Masiello
University of Massachusetts Memorial-Children’s Medical Center, USA
Title: The challenges to the pediatrician as a public health advocate: Reviewing the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine report to prevent bullying through science, policy and practice
Biography
Biography: Matthew G Masiello
Abstract
In the United States, there has been a decade’s long emphasis on the importance of the role of the pediatrician from a community health and public health perspective. Yet, recent studies have commented on the diminishing role of the pediatrician in the community. In addition, as we are appreciating the need to have mental health services more available to our child and adolescent population, recent studies have also commented on the lack of comfort by pediatricians in diagnosing and managing these health issues. Presently, there is conversation taking place in the U.S. regarding the need to change the role of the pediatrician from that of hands on clinician at all levels to that of a consultant overseeing the work of clinical ancillary staff as well as coordinating community and practice based health promotion and disease prevention programs. Related to these ongoing challenges is the recent report by the National Academies of Science (NAS) on bullying. The latest evidence based opinion on the state of bullying should be considered. The NAS committee, along with the US and international consultants, called upon to offer opinions, found it difficult to identify evidence based tools or recommendations by pediatricians to address this public health epidemic. The presentation will review key reports related to these observations with specific recommendations to be made. A review of the NAS report will also be included in the presentation.