AAP-CA Foundation Receives $350,000 Grant for Resident Education on Vaccine Safety Communication to Parents
The AAP-CA Foundation, a 501(c)3 committed to undertaking projects that support the mission of the AAP-CA, was recently awarded a two-year federal stimulus funds grant of $350,000 through the Centers for Disease Control. Partnering with Stanford University and the University of California at San Diego, as well as the California Academy of Family Physicians and immunization experts Bill Mason, MD, FAAP, Richard Pan, MD, FAAP and Dean Blumberg, MD, FAAP, the AAP-CA Foundation will identify current gaps in residency education regarding vaccine safety and parental support, and develop pilot materials to address those gaps. Mark Sawyer, MD, FAAP will act as the Principal Investigator on the project, and I will serve as Project Director.
We are very excited to begin this important work, as we know the stresses you face on a daily basis as issues of vaccine safety continue to be foremost concern on parents’ minds. We hope this project will help us to support the next generation of pediatricians as they face these challenges, by giving them effective tools to educate parents quickly in the practice setting.
YOUR ACTION MATTERS:We would appreciate any suggestions or input you have as to key issues being raised now by parents in your practices relative to vaccine safety issues, and any tips that have worked for you in supporting families to make sound, evidence-based decisions on vaccines. We can incorporate your ideas into our discussions and development of materials for residents, giving them the benefit of your on-the-ground experience. Please contact me directly at kcalvin@aap.net.
