MIAAP Remembers Past President, Dr. Sharon Swindell

MIAAP is deeply saddened to report that Past President Dr. Sharon Swindell has passed. Dr. Swindell left a lasting impact on MIAAP staff and members through her dedication to advocacy, her incredible leadership and passion to improve the lives of all pediatric patients.

She practiced at the University of Michigan Ypsilanti Pediatrics, with a predominantly low-income patient population, for 25 years, where she remained involved in the teaching of medical students and pediatric residents.

She was on the MIAAP’s Committee on Advocacy and Government Affairs and co-coordinated the MIAAP’s annual Resident Advocacy Day in Lansing. Dr. Swindell also served a 6-year term in the national AAP’s Committee on State Government Affairs (COSGA) and in that role was a faculty member at the annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. She was passionate about child advocacy and specifically state level legislation and policy affecting child health and well-being

Services for Dr. Swindell will be held in Ann Arbor at Stone Chalet on Saturday April 27th at 11:00am.

For more information about the upcoming service and to read her obituary please click here.

"As president elect under Sharon, I cannot begin to express the amount that I learned from her. and when I took the presidency of MIAAP I I prayed I could be half of the child advocate that she ever was. I’m going to miss my dear friend, but her legacy will live on forever in our chapter." - Matthew Hornik, DO

"I was just in AWE that in lieu of flowers, she encouraged donations to the scholarship. Even in the next life, she still promotes child health. What a legacy." - Joe Fakhoury, MD

"Dr. Swindell was the person who first got me into advocacy, she was so incredible. The countless children whose lives she positively impacted through her advocacy work and her nurturing of young physicians spoke volumes about her remarkable character." - Lauren Azevedo, MD

A note from our President

I first met Dr. Swindell in 2018 when I joined the MI-AAP Board. Dr. Swindell was such a warm and welcoming individual, she made such an impressionable impact on me that I knew joining MIAAP would be a positive experience!

She was a revered leader for our MIAAP Chapter and a fierce advocate for children and families in our state. Her kind demeanor was palpable with everyone she interacted with. Her legacy for pediatric advocacy and humanism will continue in our MIAAP Chapter. We miss her dearly and she was loved by all of us!

Michigan News

Children of Flint water crisis make change as young environmental and health activists

Ten years ago in Flint — April 25, 2014 — city and state environmental officials raised celebratory glasses as the mayor pressed a button to stop the flow of Lake Huron water supplied by Detroit for almost half a century. That set in motion a lead and bacteria public health crisis from which the city has not fully recovered.

But dozens of children of the water crisis — now teenagers and young adults — have turned their trauma into advocacy. They provide input on public health initiatives, participate in social issue campaigns, distribute filters and provide free water testing for homeowners.

They know that Flint is a place that still struggles. The population has fallen by some 20,000 in the past decade, leaving abandoned houses as targets for arsonists. Almost 70% of children live in poverty, and many struggle in school. Although the water has been declared safe to drink, distrust runs deep, and hundreds of lead water pipes remain in the ground because homeowners were allowed to opt out of replacing them.

But the young activists say they want to help make a difference and change how their city is perceived by outsiders. And they want to defy expectations.

UMich plans to buy part of former Kmart HQ site to create a new medical center

The University of Michigan Board of Regents voted March 28 to approve the purchase of 7.3 acres of the former Kmart Headquarters site in Troy for $4.4 million to create a new Michigan Medicine center. Construction for the center is expected to begin next year, with the site set to open in 2027.

In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Keith Dickey, chief strategy officer for Michigan Medicine, said that while plans are not completely finalized, this center will offer a variety of care and operate similarly to other Michigan Medicine facilities.

Michigan Medicine finds Barbie dolls increase efficacy of telehealth visits

Dr. Alecia Daunter, medical director of pediatric inpatient rehabilitation at Michigan Medicine, founded the theory after her daughter gave her a Barbie doll in a wheelchair to use with her pediatric patients. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Daunter explained how a simple question from her daughter led to the findings.

“One day, I was at home playing with my daughter, and she asked what I did with my patients when they came to the clinic,” Daunter said. “I started to show her some of the things I do and think about in the clinic while demonstrating on the Barbie. It just clicked for me — it was so easy to demonstrate for her that I thought it would be helpful to try out with my patients. I started using Barbie regularly during my telehealth appointments, and some of my colleagues liked it so much that they started doing it too.”

Daunter said the Barbie allows physicians to demonstrate certain stretches and movements that patients are prescribed for rehabilitation purposes and to point to specific parts of the body for the patient to identify.

AAP News

AAP supports pediatricians in developing confidentiality policies for teen patients

An American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement published in the May 2024 issue of Pediatrics offers support to pediatricians on developing confidentiality policies and practices that align with the needs of teenage patients and their families within a framework of federal and state laws. “While we need to respect our teens’ need for privacy and confidentiality, we also recognize the important role of parents/caregivers and encourage teens to share information and lean on their parents/caregivers for guidance,” said Richard J. Chung, M.D., F.S.A.H.M., FAAP, lead author of the statement.

Policy Statement: Confidentiality in the Care of Adolescents
Technical Report: Confidentiality in the Care of Adolescents: Technical Report
AAP News: AAP policy offers recommendations to safeguard teens’ health information
News Release: AAP Releases Guidance on Maintaining Confidentiality in Care of Adolescents
HealthyChildren.org: One-on-One Time with the Pediatrician
HealthyChildren.org: Information for Teens: What You Need to Know About Privacy

During National Infant Immunization Week, April 22-28, AAP Offers Resources for Parents on the Many Health Benefits of Immunization for their Babies

Introducing a new baby to your home, whether as a new parent or as part of a growing family, can be challenging. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is helping new parents learn the facts about vaccines with a new, completely free set of video courses for parents.

“Having a baby is a wonderful, life-changing event. I tell all new parents that immunizing your children on schedule against vaccine-preventable disease is perhaps the most important decision you’ll make in the first years of your child’s life, because it will help your child thrive into the future,” said AAP pediatrician Whitney Casares, MD, FAAP. “Like teaching your child to read, vaccines teach your baby’s immune cells to prevent diseases.”

This year for National Infant Immunization Week, April 22-28, the AAP has launched a new course on YouTube—a complete guide to immunizations for parents of young children—that answers common questions about vaccines from birth through age 6 years. The course is free and available here.

Pediatricians In The News

Jenny Radesky, MD

Ask the Pediatrician: How to manage screen time and temper tantrums

Kids of all ages will resent limits that adults don't follow themselves. If you find yourself glancing at your phone or tablet constantly when you're with your kids, reconsider your habits. When you make a mistake, simply acknowledge it and reconnect with your child. "Please forgive me for texting just now. Let me put my phone away so we can talk."

Despite your best-laid plans, tech meltdowns WILL happen. They're especially likely when children are tired, hungry, restless or stressed out after a long day. In fact, craving screen time might be a sign they're trying to cope with these feelings. Here are suggestions for helping children manage when it's time to stop surfing.

Though dealing with a screaming, sullen child is never easy, remind yourself to take a few deep breaths. Pausing before speaking or acting can help you maintain the calm you need to help your child.

Katie Gandert, MD

Reach Out and Read open house planned Thursday

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to give books and discuss literacy with our clinic families as part of Reach Out and Read. Seeing the kids’ interest in books is a blast for us as providers,” Dr. Katie Gandert of ProMedica Physicians Monroe Pediatrics said. “One great surprise of this program for me is how much I’ve enjoyed and learned from interacting more with the Monroe ISD. Their staff are incredibly dedicated and have great information to share. Reach Out and Read is just one great way they are working to make our community better for kids.”

Bridgette Halcomb, Great Start Collaborative director said, “Partnering with the doctors and staff at ProMedica and the Reach Out and Read Program will help support literacy goals by meeting folks where they already are; places like pediatric offices help us reach a wide and diverse range of Monroe County families.”

Partner Programs

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MI Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics

106 W. Allegan, Suite 310, Lansing, MI 48933

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