1. COUNCIL OF PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTIES (CoPS)

2. Council of Pediatric Subspecialties (CoPS)
Mission CoPS integrates approaches to subspecialty education, research and patient care by providing a forum for members and other organizations and by serving as the common voice for the pediatric subspecialties
Vision
All pediatric subspecialties working together to ensure excellence in pediatric subspecialty medicine

3. Brief History
Charged by AMSPDC, ABP, APPD, FOPO to address fellowship application process and interests of subspecialties
Modeled after Internal Medicine’s Association of Specialty Professors (ASP)
First meeting September 2006
Initial financial support provided by APPD and AMSPDC
AMSPDC=Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
ABP=American Board of Pediatrics
APPD=Association of Pediatric Program Directors
FOPO=Federation of Pediatric Organizations
ASP is the organization of specialty internal medicine divisions at medical schools and community teaching hospitals. It has 1,075 members representing 714 divisions and 97 medical schools and teaching hospitals and also has 14 societal members
Now in 4th year of existence

4. Structure Bylaws approved April 2007 Six member Executive Committee
Two representatives from each subspecialty field
Liaisons from seven organizations
Biannual meetings
Chair=Vicky Norwood, MD
Vice-Chair=James Bale, Jr, MD
Biannual meetings:
One “dedicated” work meeting in the fall; additional meeting at PAS

5. Representatives Academic General Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine
Allergy & Immunology
Cardiology
Child Abuse
Child Psychiatry
Critical Care
Dermatology
Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
Endocrinology
Emergency Medicine
Gastroenterology
Hematology-Oncology
Infectious Disease
Neonatology
Nephrology
Neurology
Pulmonary Medicine
Rheumatology
Liaisons
AMSPDC
APPD
AAP
APA
ABP
APS/SPR
FOPO
See CoPS website for listing of subspecialty representatives.

6. Accomplishments Fellowship application process IOM Duty Hours Report
Surveyed fellows regarding ERAS/match
Promoted use of ERAS
Advocated for two pediatric subspecialty match dates
IOM Duty Hours Report
Commentary published in J Pediatr
Formal position paper submitted to ACGME
Invited presentation at ACGME Duty Hours Congress
Position paper submitted to Pediatrics
Survey conducted in 2007-data available on CoPS website under issues/fellowship application
Efforts lead to:
5 additional subspecialties using ERAS
2 additional subspecialties using the match
Two match dates, one in the fall, the other in the spring
Commentary –joint response with other groups
Reference: Brion, Neu, Adamkin, et al. Resident Duty Hour Restrictions: Is Less Really More? J Pediatr 2009;154:
Position paper developed by CoPS. Currently in revision.

7. Accomplishments National Collaborative Efforts
Joined Pediatric Workforce group
Member of Organization of Program Director Associations (OPDA)
Participant in Pediatric Educational Excellence Across the Continuum Conference
Developed website (
Created newsletters
Pediatric Workforce Group includes Child Neurology Society, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, AAP, the National Association of Children's Hospitals and CoPS
Focus is pediatric workforce concerns
OPDA=Organization of Program Director Associations
Created in 2000 by the Council of Medical Specialty Societies
comprised of 28 members representing each of the medical & surgical specialties recognized by the ACGME
facilitates peer interaction and collaborative
problem solving among program director associations
PEEAC held in September 2009
CoPS Website=
Website contains information about CoPS history and structure, listing of representatives, issues, copies of newsletter, links
Newsletter = “CoPS Communications”

8. Current Activities Communication Advocacy
Ongoing enhancements to website
Subspecialty descriptions to be added to website
Biannual newsletters
Advocacy
Pediatric subspecialty loan repayment
Improved Medicaid reimbursement
Developing a formalized process for involvement in public policy affairs
Subspecialty descriptions: each subspecialty will have a page describing what they do, career possibilities, lifestyle, how to apply, links to subspecialty website. Target mid-2010
Next newsletter: winter 2010
Loan repayment: joined with other groups to promote legislation to give reduced rates for loans to MDs who pursue a pediatric subspecialty
Medicaid reimbursement: trying to equalize Medicaid payment for children’s care to that of Medicare

9. Current Activities Training/Professional Development
Develop fellowship program director guide
Promote common application process
Develop curricula for career development, leadership and teaching
Plan response to future revision of ACGME Duty Hours
PD guide=Similar to that for Categorical PDs that is currently posted on ABP website.
Common application process=encouraging other subspecialties to utilize ERAS/match
Separate curricula for career development, leadership, teaching: share among subspecialties

10. How to Contact CoPS E-mail: info@pedsubs.org Website: www.pedsubs.org
Subspecialty representative
name/ of subspecialty representative is on the CoPS website. 10