News from the Georgia Chapter  

July 1, 2009

• Foundation Golf Tournament Set for September 15: Attention duffers and Tiger-wanna-be's!  This years Charity Golf classic will be held September 15, at the fabulous Cuscowilla Golf Resort on Lake Oconee in Eatonton, Ga. This course is regarded as one of the best in the state and promises to provide an outstanding day of golf for players of all abilities. A best-ball format keeps it fun for everyone. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. All proceeds benefit the Pediatric Foundation of Georgia.  Click here for more information.   

• Pediatrics by the Parkway Returns to Cobb Galleria, Oct. 29-31:  The Chapter Fall CME Meeting, Pediatrics by the Parkway will be held Oct. 29-31, 2009 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta. Thursdays seminar topics will include Coding & Practice Management, Developmental pediatrics and Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. The plenary sessions on Friday and Saturday feature national faculty Bernard Cohen, MD, Baltimore, (dermatology) and Stan Block, MD, Lexington, KY, (infectious disease).

• Mark Your Calendars....Practice Managers & Nurses Fall Meeting: The Georgia Pediatric Practice Managers Association and Georgia Pediatric Nurses Association will hold their fall educational meeting on November 20 at the Crown Plaza Ravania, opposite Perimeter Mall in Atlanta. Program information and registration forms will be forthcoming in September.

• Pediatrics by the Sea Hits All-time High in Registrants: Thanks to all our attendees and their guests, Exhibitors and faculty for making the 2009 version of Pediatrics by the Sea the most highly attended ever.  Nearly 170 pediatricians enjoyed the 4 day program and the hospitalty and sunshine at the Ritz-Carlton and Amelia Island, Fla. Thanks also to program chair Frank Bowyer, MD, chair of pediatrics at Mercer University in Macon and the Children's Hospital of the Medical Center of Central Georgia,  for assembling a great faculty & program.  Pediatrics by the Sea 2010 will be held on June 16-19. 2009 PBS Attendees click here for additional handouts that were not available at the conference.

• New Board Members Elected:  Six new members were elected to the Chapter Board of Directors at the business meeting at Pediatrics by the Sea. Members of the Class of 2012 include: Drs. Anu Sheth, Lawrenceville; Fred Flax, Alpharetta; Minor Verson, Macon; Iris Basilio, Columbus; Tibisay Villalobos-Fry, Tifton; Angela Battles-Hixbaugh, Hazelhurst; and Alan Glassman, Athens.  Additionally, Dr. George Bosworth and Virgil McKie were named Honorary Presidents for next year.  Welcome to all. Thank you to the retiring members of the Class of 2009 who have completed board terms: Drs. Richard Mansfield, Columbus; Evelyn Johnson, Brunswick; and Edward Clark, Macon. Good job folks and thank you again for your service to the Chapter.

• H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Cases Confirmed in the U.S.: The U.S. has declared a public health emergency after numerous cases a of swine influenza are confirmed in several states, and in other countries. The virus, for which there is no known vaccine, is described as a strain of influenza A (H1N1) not previously found in pigs or humans. The American Academy of Pediatrics is closely monitoring communications from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

  • Click here for questions and answers related to Swine Influenza.

  • Click here to view the AAP H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information for Health Care Professionals. 

  • Click Here to view the Georgia Division of Public Health H1N1 Flu webpage.

  • Comprehensive information and updated case counts can be found at CDC's swine influenza site: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.

  • Click here to view a recent Chapter blastfax on antiviral medication dosing recommendations and the Human Novel Influenza A Screening Form.

  • Georgia adopts new federal guidance on school closures.  Click here for the CDC’s updated guidelines that do not advise school closures.

• Chapter Dues Are Due...So Help Us Keep Doing for You! Chapter Dues statements were mailed out by national AAP in May to most Georgia members. Please pay your dues invoice, if you have not already done so,  to keep us working for you and the children you serve here in Georgia. Whether you belong to both the national and the Chapter; or only belong to the Georgia Chapter, your dues invoice will come from the AAP national office. Chapter dues are $145 for most membership categories. For questions, email Kasha Sumpter at the Chapter office, ksumpter@gaaap.org. Thank you!

   

• Release of Similac Advance EarlyShield in Georgia WIC-Approved Sizes: Abbott Nutrition is converting their product line from Similac Advance to Similac Advance EarlyShield.  In mid-April, Similac Advance EarlyShield will be released in two new WIC-approved sizes (13 oz concentrate and 12.9 oz powder). Similac Advance EarlyShield will completely replace all Similac Advance products as existing formula stock is depleted in stores. To read more information regarding this issue please click here to review the recent blastfax. For more information on WIC & Nutrition, please visit the WIC & Nutrition Page. 

• Pediatric Practice Manager Honored by Medical Group Managers Association: Ms. Pam Patterson, practice manager for Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville, has been named "Administrator of the Year" by the Georgia MGMA. Pam is an active member of the Georgia Pediatric Practice Managers Association and sits on its Steering Committee. She works with Chapter board member Eugene Cindea, MD, who serves as medical director of the multi-specialty group.  Congratulations Pam, on this well-deserved honor!

• More Kudos!.....to these members for recent AAP appointments: Drs. Geoff Simon (Committee on Practice & Ambulatory Medicine) and David Levine (Committee on Adolescent Medicine), Harry Keyserling (Committee on Infectious Disease/re-appointment) and Ed Gotlieb as the AAP rep to the CCHIT Clinical Research workgroup, and to Emory resident Glen Ianucci, who received the AAP Resident Scholarship award. And also to Dr. Nicholas Krawiecki for being named winner of the "Heros in Healthcare Ethics Award"  by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Congratulations all!

     To reach us....

Georgia Chapter
American Academy of Pediatrics

 1330 West Peachtree Street NW, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia 30309-2904
    Office hrs. 8:30am - 5:00pm EST   

Phone: 404-881-5020     Fax: (404) 249-9503

See Staff Directory for direct phone lines & email addresses for staff members.

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All other questions can be emailed to the Chapter Executive Assistant.