The role of Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine in training of health professionals

Carol A. Ford

doi:10.1515/ijamh-2016-5020

Article

The role of Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine in training of health professionals

Carol A. Ford

Published/Copyright: June 26, 2015

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From the journal International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health Volume 28 Issue 3

Abstract

The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) was created by health professionals committed to identifying and better addressing the health needs of adolescents and young adults, and this work has continued for nearly 50 years. The society initially focused primarily on clinical education, but has evolved to include educational activities providing clinical, research, policy, advocacy, and professional development content. Strategies have included high-quality annual meetings designed to meet the educational needs of its multi-disciplinary membership, publishing an internationally recognized journal, and developing strategic collaborations to advocate for legitimacy of the field and reform in health profession education. Historically, SAHM has been most successful at increasing specialized training in the United States among physicians, and primarily pediatricians, likely driven by the nuances of the development of adolescent medicine in this country. Successes are often linked to strategic collaborations with other professional organizations, and have been facilitated by federally funded initiatives to improve adolescent and young adult health. Recent efforts to improve professional training are focused on the use of technology, and SAHM is also currently exploring strategies to directly reach adolescents, young adults, and their parents. As the society becomes increasingly multidisciplinary and international, members have extraordinary opportunities to learn from each other, build upon lessons learned, and collaborate. Descriptions of the history of SAHM’s training-focused efforts, selected highlights, and current priorities will be used to illustrate this long-standing commitment to the training of health professionals.

Keywords: adolescent health and medicine; Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM); training

Corresponding author: Carol A. Ford, MD, FSAHM, President, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 12 NW 34th + Civic Center Blvd, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, 11 floor, Main Building, Suite 11NW10, M11-1010, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399, USA, E-mail: fordc@email.chop.edu

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Received: 2015-1-15

Accepted: 2015-3-4

Published Online: 2015-6-26

Published in Print: 2016-8-1

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2016-5020

Keywords for this article

adolescent health and medicine; Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM); training