2007 Physician Advocacy Projects

The Department of Pediatrics funded three physician advocacy initiatives this year.

Project Mwanza: An International Advocacy Program
Lina Abujamra, MD (labujamra@childrensmemorial.org)

This year began Project Mwanza, an international advocacy elective for Children's Memorial Hospital trainees.  Fourteen pediatric residents and one fellow completed the elective this academic year at the Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, Tanzania.  The goal of Proejct Mwanza has been to work with our international colleagues to bridge the gap of inequalities in health care delivery to underserved children whil exposing residents to medical care in developing countries.  By working alongside the physicians at Bugando, the residents learn to apply their advocacy skills in a multicultural setting.  This year the residents have been instrumental in preparing Pediatric Guidelines as well as preparatory notes for the Bugando Medical Center Interns and Registrars.  The Children's Memorial Hospital residents have been invovled in teaching as well as serving as consultants in the NICU and the labor and pediatric wards.

Production of a Teaser for a Broadcast Series on the Realities of Obesity in America
Matt Longjohn, MD, MPH (mlongjohn@childrensmemorial.org)

Over the last several years, the media's coverage of the obesity epidemic has dramatically increased.  While increasing public awareness is essential to address this major health problem, the causes and interventions for the complex problem of obesity are often oversimplified in a catchy sound bite.  The goal of this project is to develop a "teaser" that provides the most current information on the causes and consequences of obesity at the individual, family, community, and societal levels.  This teaser will be used to "pitch" various edutainment concepts to potential media outlets, funders, and producers.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Bereavement Photography Program
Kelly Michelson, MD, MPH (kmichelson@childrensmemorial.org)

The emotional impact of a child's death can be devastating and long lasting.  Bereavement photography has been used for nearly 100 years to help relieve family suffering.  The goal of this project is to develop a PICU bereavement photography program and assess its effectiveness in easing a family's loss.