Newsletter Contents
I. Update from the ACPeds Board Meeting and National Meeting in Indiana
II. Sign the "Declaration for Life"
III. Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity (CBHD) annual conference
IV. Helpful Information from the CDC, HHS and Medical Institute
V. Congratulations to Georgia
VI. Real Estate for Life
VII. Politicizing Health Care Puts Kids and Consciences at Risk
VIII. Southern Poverty Law Center - update
IX. Processing With A Purpose®
X. Follow us on Social Media
: Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn
|
|
I. Update from the ACPeds' Board Meeting and National Meeting
The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) met for its semi-annual board meeting on April 4th and 5th on the campus of Marian University in Indianapolis. We welcomed our newest members, Susan Lim, MD, of Minnesota and William Stigall, MD, of Texas. The meeting included a Skype contribution from our Executive Director, Michelle Cretella, MD, who was busy presenting the side of reason regarding gender dysphoria to the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. She and ACPeds President, Quentin Van Meter have represented ACPeds frequently as speakers in the past six months and ACPeds continues to receive requests for interviews from numerous media outlets on an almost daily basis for comments regarding various pediatric-related topics in the news. Our board has recently produced a vaccine position statement and updated statements regarding the HPV vaccine and marijuana all of which will soon go to the board and/or membership for review.
The College is on sound financial footing and continues to grow in membership. Our website has seen a dramatic increase in activity over the past months and will soon undergo a significant redesign. ACPeds will have a presence at numerous upcoming CME conferences including the Catholic Medical Association, the Christian Medical & Dental Association, and the American Association of Christian Counselors. We plan to reach out to Oral Roberts University in an effort to add to our pool of intern blog writers.
Marian University also served as the host of the Matthew Bulfin Educational Conference immediately following the board meeting where members of the College joined the American Association of Pro-Life OB/Gyns for our third joint conference. We were treated to excellent speakers on various topics including links between abortion and future pre-term birth, breast cancer and mental health problems, the treatment of transgender persons, the limits of preterm viability and the Right of Conscience in the practice of medicine. Keynote speakers Lauris Kaldjian, MD, PhD, of the University of Iowa and Benjamin Hurlbut, PhD, of Arizona State University enlightened us on the latest in the practice of medicine consistent with the Hippocratic Oath and the era of gene editing, respectively. The Conference was a tremendous success and plans are already underway for the next joint ACPeds/AAPLOG effort.
|
|
|
|
II. Focus on the Family "Declaration for Life"
Sign the Focus on the Family (FOF)
Declaration for Life
which will be presented to the White House and Congress. FOF will broadcast a
live 4-D ultrasound in Times Square on May 4th
.
Sign the Declaration for Life here.
|
|
III. CBHD annual conference June 20-22, 2019
Join us at The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity’s 26th annual summer conference this June,
Taking Care: Perspectives for the End of Life. Hear from leading experts, engage in charitable dialogue, and network with other professionals interested in Christian bioethics. Speakers include Tracy Balboni, MD; John Kilner, PhD; Jon Tilburt, MD; D.A. Carson, PhD; Theo Boer, PhD; Lydia Dugdale, MD; and Patrick Smith, PhD, and ACPeds' own Felipe Vizcarrondo, MD, MA.
Use code PARTNER10 for 10% off your registration. Learn more and register:
cbhd.org/conf2019
|
|
IV. Helpful Information from the CDC, Health & Human Services and the Medical Institute
National Gonorrhea Statistics
This report from the CDC
outlines national gonorrhea infection rates by state, region, metropolitan area and county. It includes printable graphics and also breaks down the information by age, race and sex. This is timely information given the mounting concern over the
continuing antibiotic resistance
of this STI.
The Positive Effects of Parental Engagement
This graphic
from the CDC shows the relationship between teen risk behaviors and academics. While it highlights some startling statistics, what it doesn't show is that parental engagement can help eliminate or reduce most of these risks.
Research shows
that when parents and school staff work together, students are healthier and more successful in school and less likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol and become pregnant. So what's the difference between parental engagement and parental involvement and how can this help in the conversation surrounding SRA education?
This article
suggests that parent involvement "is generally directed towards completing tasks selected by the school staff — or the parent may be a client who receives services and information." On the other hand, parent
engagement is the "participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful
communication involving student academic learning and other school activities." Involvement will definitely facilitate engagement and true engagement with educators and school administration will set the stage, when necessary, for meaningful conversation regarding curriculum choices and direction when it comes to sex ed.
|
Submit Suggestions for STD Action Plan
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP) will host a virtual listening session on Thursday, May 9, 2019, to gather public input to inform the development of a Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Federal Action Plan.
Find out more information and register here.
|
Sex and the Brain: Is There Really Such a Thing as a "Safe" Casual Hookup?
"What does a three-pound brain have to do with one’s sex life?"
This updated book
from the Medical Institute answers this question. Using scientific data, it shows the positive effects of sex within marriage and how casual sex, even when practiced "safely," isn't as safe as it seems.
|
|
V. Congratulations to Georgia
We are thrilled to report that the Georgia House of Representatives voted 92-78 to send HB 481, the “heartbeat bill,” to supportive Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.
HB 481 will protect unborn children from abortion as soon as they have a detectable heartbeat (about six weeks). While not perfect, this is by far the most significant piece of pro-life legislation passed in Georgia since
Roe v. Wade was handed down in 1973.
We encourage you to send a special word of thanks to the bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth), and Governor Kemp for all their work. Please write to The Office of the Governor, 206 Washington Street, Suite 203, State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334, and/or to Rep. Setzler at E-mail ed.setzler@house.ga.gov.
Thank YOU all for your calls, your emails, your Capitol visits, and especially your prayers to get this bill over the finish line. You made the difference!
|
|
VI. Before you buy or sell a property - contact Real Estate for Life
|
|
- We find you a local experienced Agent in your neighborhood.
- With their help you successfully complete your residential or commercial Realty transactions.
- A sizable donation is given to support a pro-life organization (such as ACPeds) at absolutely no cost to you!
|
|
VII. Politicizing Health Care Puts Kids and Consciences at Risk
The bill now before Congress would elevate non-biologically-based “gender identity” as a protected class in federal anti-discrimination law, while expanding the “public accommodations” definition to include any establishment that provides health care.
|
|
VIII. Southern Poverty Law Center - America’s unofficial arbiter of hate groups is facing a crisis
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has been the nemesis of ACPeds and many other organizations for a number of years.
"Until now.
Over the past three weeks the moral authority of the SPLC has crumbled like a skyscraper demolished with a controlled blast. On March 13, Morris Dees, its co-founder and leader for nearly 50 years was fired."
|
|
IV.
Processing With A Purpose
®
|
|
The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds)
Board of Directors
is pleased to announce that we have partnered with
Cornerstone Payment Systems
® to bring you the Processing With A Purpose® program. If you own or manage a business that processes credit cards or check transactions of any type, the Processing With a Purpose program may be right for you.
The program, which doesn’t cost anything, helps participants save money on their existing credit card processing guaranteed, and Cornerstone will donate 50% of their profits to the American College of Pediatricians
.
You can visit our custom website at
http://cornerstone.cc/acpeds
to sign up today and take advantage of this unique program, or you may call Cornerstone directly at (888) 506-0208.
|
|
X. Follow us on Social Media
Every week the College publishes a new blog on its website and a
link to the blog
is posted on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
|
|
admin@acpeds.org | American College of Pediatricians | 352-376-1877
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
