As many of you know, The Pediatric Lounge is a podcast for pediatricians and by pediatricians. Pediatric Executive Development System is our effort to go one step further, help independent practices thrive, and continue their mission to keep children healthy.
As many of you know, Dr. Rogu is a second-generation Romanian. His dear wife, Dr. Delia, is a first-generation Romanian, and Dr. Bravo is a first-generation immigrant from Colombia. Such is the nature of the Specialty of Pediatrics in the United States. It is now primarily women, many offices all women, physicians from all over the world, and all religions. We don't ask if you voted for Trump or Biden, if you share the color of my skin, or if you speak my native tongue, we are some of the brightest physicians in the world, and we go into some of the most neglected neighborhoods to care for all children and all families.
Throughout my career, I have worked with people like Dr. Shanta (Retired) from Asia and one of the smartest, kindest humans on this planet. Dr. Roy Cioletti ( Deceased) came from New Jersey and was 100% Italian; Dr. Pauka Ferguson, a former school teacher who is what a southern lady looks like in the movies; Dr. Indira Sinha, from India, who is kind, generous, and runs a single practitioner office next to Quantico that is kind and welcoming to all children. Dr. Lewis Gold, a practicing Jew, wore a cowboy hat and grew up in a Catholic elementary school in Texas. And the list goes on, Drs. Lia Gagino, Charles Shabino, John Hartline, Sandy Chung, Michael Martin, Bryan McEachern, Tuc Ngyen, Russ Libby, M Khan, Espinoza, James Riely, Claude Karam.
Dr. Shanta Karanth, MD , Pediatrcian and Neonatolagist and Dr. Bryan McEachern,MD Pediatrician. Proubdly serving the immigrant spanish speaking community of Manassas, VA for decades.
This is the American Dream and The United States of America that many of us chose to adopt as our home country. We are proud of that decision and would not change it for anything. As we celebrate the 4th of July, it is worth remembering that what is great about the US is not how we are different but how great we are together.
We can't deny that we are tired of the political class and their friends in DC, Chicago, NYC, Hollywood, and Cambridge. They are constantly pushing a narrative that we are divided and pit the pediatrician in Alabama against the one in San Francisco. Most recently, they have made a big deal about the Supreme Court Decision not to allow Harvard to discriminate against someone due to the color of their skin.
The feigning outrage is ridiculous because the specialty of pediatrics is diverse. We don't need to exclude an Asian American or a white child who dreams of being a pediatrician because we have too many of that color in our ranks.
Only 40% of US residents will complete a college degree, and Harvard awarded 1,400 bachelor's degrees last year. How will that make a difference in the diversity of 70,000 pediatricians and 70,000,000 children in the USA?
Thirty-five million children receive SEPARATE BUT EQUAL CARE financed by the federal and state government called Medicaid. Some national managed care plans pay pediatricians $40 for an office visit. A sum that does not even cover the overhead of medical practice.
Many public school systems, led by the Teachers Union, spend more than $30,000 per student per year, yet they can’t read or do math at grade level.
Let us look at what would make a difference. The specialty of pediatrics is no longer a viable career path for anyone but the wealthy with a Trust Fund. The loss of income due to 11 years of training is more than $600,000, the debt burden of education is more than $300,000, and the salary starting at $140,000 is insufficient to service that debt and start adulting.
So instead of wasting time and money on silly debates that impact 1,400 elite, genius children out of 70,000,000 and leave the rest behind in SEPARATE BUT EQUAL schools and healthcare, let us speak with one voice,
Harvard has $50,000,000,000 in endowments; if they spent 5% or 2.5 Billion a year, they could grant $100,000 in scholarships to 25,000 children. Just like The Cooke Foundation
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded almost $250 million in scholarships to nearly 3,200 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive academic advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $125 million in grants to organizations that serve such students.
Harvard could double its medical school class and provide free Medical School for up-and-coming students who have financial need and promise to be internists, family physicians, or pediatricians in a community setting. How is it that NYU Langone can but Harvard can't?
The American Academy of Pediatrics could clearly and forcefully articulate that without education and pediatricians for all children, there is no next-generation, equity, inclusion, or diversity. For that to happen, we must
Demand outstanding performance from all primary education
Pay for a child's doctor visit at least at the same if not more than that which Medicare pays in every state
Make illegal the practice by National Health Plans of paying internal medicine, family practice, or pediatrics less at less than Medicare when managing Medicaid contracts for a state.
Make medical school free for primary care specialties or extend the loan forgiveness programs to any internist, family practice, or pediatrician in a community setting or medical home.
But please, as we celebrate this great country called the United States of America, stop trying to divide us and let us come together to dream of better days and the beauty of all the different ways and colors that make up the world's best county.
Without mothers. teachers, pediatricians caring for ALL children, we will not have a next generation of great diverse US Citizens.
Happy 4 of July