PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 5 May 2005, pp. 1397-1401 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2081)
SPECIAL ARTICLE |
2004 Job Lewis Smith Acceptance Address
From the Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Abbreviations: AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics ECELS, Early Childhood Education Linkage System TLC, The Learning Center
| The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
The late Fred Rogers taught me that, when someone thanks you for your work, gracious acceptance is a reciprocal gift. Many of you know Fred from his television program, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. So, with humility, I thank you for giving me the Job Lewis Smith Award. You have validated my work in community pediatrics. This award not only honors me but hopefully encourages others to pursue the goals that have guided my career as well.
The award is named for Job Lewis Smith. Dr Smith was a 19th-century pediatrician and clinical professor of diseases of children at Bellevue Medical School in New York City. He was a community pediatrician who focused on reducing adverse child health outcomes that were the result of poverty and poor living conditions among working class families. In 1880, he helped form the American Medical Association Section on Pediatrics and, in 1888, was a founder of the American Pediatric Society.
Like Dr Smith, I am a start-up person who has focused on preventive health needs for children and on engaging others in these efforts. Although I often used traditional approaches, my work with early education and child care has provided many more opportunities. When I was a young mother, I noted that many infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children spend much of their time in the care of someone other than their parents. Every day, tired young parents grab one last hug as they drop off their young children with bags of diapers, spare clothing, food, favorite toys, and nap blankets in early education and child care arrangements. Many of these young adults are stressed and needy. They are simultaneously learning the basics of parenting, keeping a foothold in the workplace, maintaining caring relationships with life partners and other family members, and searching for time
Address correspondence to Susan S. Aronson, MD, FAAP, 605 Moreno Rd, Narberth, PA 19072. E-mail: saronson@verizon.net




