her tireless work on the Children's Cabinet and assisting the NMPS in achieving it's
goals with the Agenda for New Mexico's Children!
The New Mexico Pediatric Society, the New Mexico Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics continues its commitment to the
attainment of optimal physical, mental and social health for all New Mexico infants, children, adolescents and young adults. We continue our
role as advocates for the children of New Mexico and as a resource and support for our members.
Advocacy:
In preparation for 2002 New Mexico gubernatorial election the New Mexico Pediatric Society led in the development of a nine point Agenda for
New Mexico’s Children. Most of this Agenda was adopted by the Governor elect, Bill Richardson. During the past 13 months we have worked
to get the nine points of that Agenda for New Mexico’s Children enacted into the policies and programs of the state of New Mexico. We have
had mixed success. The Governor has formed a Children’s Cabinet under the leadership of the Lieutenant Governor joining together all the
Department Secretaries, not just Health or Human Services, but including Education, Economic Development, Corrections to develop and
coordinate programs and polices that effect children. This Children’s Cabinet has moved slower than we would like. We have made
progress in the areas of juvenile justice, child abuse reporting and the establishment of a state wide youth council.
We are now trying to secure funding for a 2004 Agenda for New Mexico’s Children so that children’s needs are important issues in the fall
election. The entire New Mexico House of Representative and New Mexico Senate will be up for election.
We have remained active in the just completed session of the New Mexico State Legislature. Unfortunately almost all our efforts were spend
on minimizing cuts in the Medicaid/SCHIP program. Important legislation to increase bike helmet use, decrease injuries on ATVs, encourage
schools to develop bullying prevention programs, tax sugared drinks to help fund Medicaid all fell by the wayside. The New Mexico Pediatric
Society continues to work with our federal legislators. We have an especially good working relationship with Senator Jeff Bingaman. We were
able, just recently to present Senator Bingaman with the AAP 2003 Award for Excellence in Public Service.
Education:
The New Mexico Pediatric Society continues to sponsor two meeting a year for our members and other child health providers. We were one
of five chapters awarded the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality (NICHQ)/AAP Partnership for Quality Project grant to improve,
on a statewide basis, the care we provide to children with ADHD. That project began this winter.
We continue to increase the use of group email to provide information from the AAP, CDC, and NM Department of Health. Our quarterly print
newsletter now provides more information for our members.
Our Annual Child Health Hotline (a call in program offered each October in conjunction with the Albuquerque Journal, the major newspaper
in the state and KOB-TV) was again successful. After almost a decade of an English language hotline, we added a Spanish language (in
conjunction with KLUZ-TV) call in which also was successful.
Leadership:
Leadership development has become an important function of our chapter. When Ben Hoffman had to step down as vice president, we
elected Lynn Uhring.
We were selected as the Outstanding Small Chapter at the NEC in New Orleans in November. At that same meeting, Bob Greenberg was
presented the Senior Section Advocate of Year, George Bunch was presented the Community Pediatrics Section “Local Hero” Award and
Tommy Clark was presented the Resident Section Anne Dyson Child Advocacy Award.
We have encouraged our members to apply for appointment to AAP National Committees. This year Rob Sapien was appointed to the
Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Ben Hoffman was appointed to the Committee on Indian Health and Lance Chilton was
appointed to the Chapter Forum Committee.
We have provided financial support for members to attend the Advocacy Summit held in Arizona and the Legislative Conference held in
Washington, D.C.
Members of the chapter continue to serve on state wide and local committees on immunization, fire arm safety, obesity, child development,
newborn screening, Medicaid, emergency preparedness, behavioral health and child abuse.