About 140 members, pediatricians and health care professionals attended MN-AAP's annual dinner on Friday, June 4, 2010 to hear Senator Amy Klobuchar and three of the major candidates for governor speak about health care reform and its impact on children, teens and young adults. It was an evening they won't soon forget.
"Health care policy in our country needs an overhaul," Senator Klobuchar said during her 20-minute speech. "We need to work together to find immediate solutions to reduce health care costs, which have increased more than three and a half times the average wage increase. And we need to make sure every child has access to quality, affordable care. As pediatricians, you have have a lot of credibility at the legislature, so communicate with your legislators as much as possible."
After Senator Klobuchar's speech, three of Minnesota's major candidates for governor took the stage. Tom Horner, Matt Entenza and Margaret Anderson Kelliher discussed their views on health care and how the policies they support would affect children, teenagers and young adults. All of the questions came directly from pediatricians and ranged from issues related to immunizations to Medicaid to health care homes.
Before the program began, there was a networking reception involving nearly 20 exhibitors, which provided attendees with information on a variety of pediatric programs and initiatives.
The awards ceremony was another highlight of the evening. MN-AAP was presented with the 2010 Outstanding Large Chapter of the Year Award from AAP based on a long list of accomplishments. It was the first time ever MN-AAP had been presented with this award.
As always, MN-AAP had the honor of presenting the Distinguished Service Award to a pediatrician who has contributed to the overall improvement of child health care and the Child Advocacy Award to an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to advocate for the health and welfare of children in Minnesota. This year, the Distinguished Service Award was presented to Blanton Bessinger, MD. The Child Advocacy Award was presented to John Hurley, MHA, of the Minnesota Department of Health.
The evening concluded by recognizing old and new board members. MN-AAP thanked outgoing board members Jeff Schiff, MD, past president, and Megan Jennings, MD, who served as chair of the public policy committee, for their service and committment to the board. Finally, MN-AAP welcomed its newest board members: Robert Jacobson, MD, president-elect; Scott Schwantes, MD; Lori DeFrance, MD; Julia Joseph-DiCaprio, MD, MPH; Nancy Mendelsohn, MD; and Manu Madhok, MD, MPH.
The date for the next annual meeting will be announced soon. Watch the website and mark it on your calendar in advance!
Thank you to our annual meeting sponsors/exhibitors!
