Pediatric Residents Day at the State House

Here at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children, we are all getting excited about the upcoming event “Residents’ Day at the State House”.  It is amazing that this event is already in it’s third year!  The planning for the first event in 2006 seems so fresh in our minds, and yet it also feels as if it has always been an MGHfC flagship event, as it so epitomizes the ethos of our department.

In 2005 and 2006 an energetic and motivated group of pediatric residents got together in their “spare” time (when not working every fourth night overnight and 12 hour days in between) and designed this advocacy event from the ground up.  A few of us on the faculty lent support, but there was never a  moment when this wasn’t 100% a resident initiated and driven event.  That fact is what makes this such a very special project.

Three years in, we again anticipate a landmark event.  Pediatric residents and fellows from all 5 of the Massachusetts pediatric residency programs (MGH, Tufts, UMass, Baystate and Boston Combined) will congregate at the State House on April 8th.  They will spend the morning with amazing lifelong child advocates who will inspire while giving them practical skills for lobbying on behalf of children.  After a networking lunch (both breakfast and lunch are free for all participants thanks to the fundraising by the residents and the generosity of some of the participating residency programs and matching funds from the Mass Chapter of the AAP), all of the participants will head off to pre-scheduled meetings with their state representatives.  The residents will lobby on issues such as the booster seat law–Massachusetts woefully lags most of the nation by not having a law on the books enforcing the AAP and National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration’s recommendation for booster seats for children who are too big for toddler carseats (typically children who weigh more than 40 lbs but are shorter than the 4 ft 9 in height needed to adequately utilize the shoulder safety belt).  The effect of 20 mins of a physician’s time in the office of a legislator describing the children he or she has seen in the PICU after unrestrained MVAs has the chance to really make a difference in passing critical legislation such as this.

Every day I am proud to be a part of the MGHfC community and I relish my role within the pediatric residency.  It is this event, however, which makes me most proud of the residents we train.  Watching these young pediatricians turn months of planning and organizing into a phenomenal program of advocacy education overwhelms me with pride.  We are training an amazing group of dedicated, energetic pediatricians who not only will take excellent care of the children in their offices and hospitals, but will take the extra steps necessary to advocate for children’s health and well being on all levels.   I’m thankful to have the opportunity to work with them.

Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD

Associate Residency Director