Building a subspecialty in child abuse pediatrics to improve the care of child victims

A 1993 Institute of Medicine report, examined the lack of research funding agencies in the issue of child abuse/neglect. The situation has shown little improvement today with relatively few medical school faculty working in this area. The Institute of Medicine in 2001 and the UN Secretary General in 2006 noted the lack of training and preparation of medical personnel. Senior members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Child Abuse and Neglect and the Ray E. Helfer Society, submitted an application to the American Board of Pediatrics to create a new subspecialty in Child Abuse Pediatrics. That application has now been approved by both the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Medical Specialties. A new subspecialty in Child Abuse Pediatrics is being developed with the first board exam planned in 2009. Pediatricians with three years of additional clinical and research training in this area will be able to be approved as sub-specialists in child abuse pediatrics. The objective of this new subspecialty is to prepare academic teachers and researchers who have the clinical skills to address the most complicated cases, to be knowledgeable about screening and prevention, and to conduct research into the causes, consequences, diagnosis and prevention of child abuse and neglect. This will impact health and public health. Less formal child abuse/neglect training and research efforts with other professions include: nurses examining victims, mental health for interviews and treatment and an increasing role for public health in child abuse research.