Fall 2000

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The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics: Finding common grounds with the AAP Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

by Martin T. Stein, M.D. FAAP, San Diego CA

Members of the AAP Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics recognize that at the core of pediatric practice is the adaptation of knowledge about child development to the care for children and adolescents.

Section members are involved in specialty practices, primary care, community agencies and educational programs that promote the optimal growth and development of children. It was this same perspective and clinical experience that led to the development of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) over twenty years ago.

SDBP was founded in 1982 to improve the heath care of infants, children and adolescents by promoting research and teaching in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. A major goal of the founders of the Society was to encourage young pediatricians to develop an interest in teaching and research in areas of development and behavior that would enhance health care for children. They believed that, if the field was to thrive in academic and teaching institutions, a cadre of clinicians that devoted a significant portion of their time to research and teaching must be developed.

The founders of the Society also saw the value to including other mental health professionals who work with pediatricians. Among the nearly 700 members of the SDBP, 20% are pediatric psychologists.

There are many signs that the goals of the founders have been achieved. The Pediatric Residency Review Committee now requires a formal curriculum in development and behavior including at least one month of a block rotation supervised by an individual trained in DBP. At our last annual meeting, over 75 directors of DBP training programs met to learn about program goals, innovations in teaching, and evaluation methods. Journals that are read frequently by pediatric trainees and practicing pediatricians, such as Pediatrics and Pediatrics in Review, now include increasing numbers of articles focused on developmental and behavioral problems.

The Society’s bimonthly publication, the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, includes original articles, review articles and special sections on challenging cases, reviews of recent literature and book reviews; the Journal is devoted to new ideas that will enhance the quality of care we provide to our patients and their families. With leadership from the Section, workshops and seminars at pediatric CME programs have increased significantly.

Recently, Developmental and Behavioral pediatrics was recognized as a subspecialty. The process for board certification is under development at the present time. I believe that the emergence of DBP as a board certified sub-specialty should enhance the growth of our field. It should also encourage more collaboration between primary care pediatricians and DBP specialists.

This idea may seem paradoxical. However, as subspecialty status in DBP carries with it a stronger position in academic departments of pediatrics, there will be opportunities for DBP programs to expand in clinical care, teaching and research. This should lead to more opportunities for pediatricians in practice to become involved in expanding programs in teaching and clinical research. It will be the responsibility of both the generalists and the specialists to discover the common ground on which to build collaborative programs and projects.

Members of the AAP Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics are welcome to participate in many of the activities of the SDBP. The annual meeting in late September is open to non-members and includes workshops on clinical hypnosis in pediatric settings and teaching DBP to pediatric residents; additional workshop and seminars this year included complex sleep problems, psychopharmacology, faculty development, ADHD, and psychological aspects of asthma.

The meeting includes two sessions where original research is present and discussed. In addition, primary care pediatricians with an interest in DBP will find the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics stimulating and relevant to pediatric practice.

A word on membership in the SDBP. The Society is open to all professionals committed to scientific inquiry, teaching and/or clinical excellence in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. Membership requirements can be met by documentation of this commitment in one of three categories: research, teaching or clinical practice. Primary care pediatricians are eligible for membership if a considerable amount of their time (50%) is spent in the clinical practice of developmental-behavioral pediatrics.

Information on membership, the annual meeting, and the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics may be obtained at: The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, c/o Ms. Noreen Spota, Administrative Director, 19 Station Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118-2939; (215) 248-9168 (nmspota@aol.com).

 I look forward to greater participation from primary care pediatricians in the activities of the SDBP. There are many challenges in the practice of pediatrics that impact our mutual interests. Among the most important is the implementation of best practice models that will ensure quality services in screening, diagnosis and management of children and adolescents with problems in development and behavior. The goals of both the Section and the SDBP are consistent with this pursuit.

Dr. Stein is the immediate past president of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and a member of the Section.

Related Links:

Society for Devlelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
http://www.sdbp.org

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