Training pediatricians to become child advocates.

Abstract

The primary goal of pediatrics is to improve the health and well-being of children. Pediatricians work toward this goal by enhancing medical knowledge and technology through basic science, biomedical and clinical research; as well as by providing high-quality clinical care. Our pediatric training programs educate young physicians to be competent and confident clinicians and many specialty fellowships provide excellent research training. However, pediatric training programs often overlook the need to train young pediatricians to become community leaders and effective advocates for children despite articles published over a 20-year period stressing the importance of child advocacy.1–5 Child advocacy has become more difficult as managed care and competition have threatened the financial status of many public and private providers as well as health insurance plans. As responsibility for making child health policy shifts from the national to state and local levels, we need more pediatricians to become effective advocates. Experience in several states such as Hawaii, Minnesota, and Colorado has demonstrated that pediatricians can influence the passage of state legislation that greatly benefits children. For this to occur, pediatric residencies should develop leadership training programs that stress community service and child advocacy. Leadership and child advocacy skills can be learned in the same way as clinical decision making skills are acquired, through problem-based learning and experience. It has been my personal experience that many medical students and pediatric residents are eager to learn how they can become more involved in child health policy decision-making and child advocacy. Unfortunately, I do not know of curricular materials or training guidelines for teaching these important advocacy skills. The goal of this commentary is to provide a framework for teaching these skills based on the author's experience working with community-based organizations and legislators in Colorado. This commentary describes a three-stage process for becoming an effective …