Thank You Dr. Kressly and the American Academy of Pediatrics!

editor’s note

Mobeen H. Rathore, MD, CPE, FAAP, FPIDS, FSHEA, FIDSA, FACPE
Editor, The Florida Pediatrician

PUBLISHED WINTER 2025 | Volume 45, Issue 1

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After Dr. Kressly became President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, she took the courageous step of writing to former Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to ask his help in finding Palestinian pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a medical profession leader in Gaza. Dr. Hussam was arrested by the Israeli Army and his whereabouts have been unknown since.

The letter also raised alarm about the lack of access to care for the innocent children in Gaza.

You can click on this link to read Dr. Kressly’s letter.

The Academy merely raising the issue with the United States government increased the status of the Academy in my mind and thousands of other members who have agonized over the suffering of children for the past 15 months.

Let’s hope that the tenuous ceasefire stays in effect. With hostages being exchanged, there is hope.

A lot of work remains ahead. There are thousands of physically disabled children, maimed in the war, who  need long term care. Thousands of orphans need homes.  And all of these children need counseling and mental health services. These children are suffering the ultimate adverse childhood events (ACEs) and all will have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Something the Academy has stressed as causes of poor health of children. With the medical system decimated, healthcare infrastructure destroyed, and thousands of healthcare professional killed or injured, delivering necessary support will be a herculean effort. Many organizations, like the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (www.PCRF.net) led by Dr. Barbara Zind, a pediatrician from Grand Junction, Colorado and MedGlobal (www.medglobal.org)  started by Dr. John Kahler, a pediatrician from Chicago, and many others would be instrumental in this effort. All of us can contribute to this effort with our expertise and experience.

The Academy can play the largest role in recovery of children in Gaza. With the Academy’s resources and it’s 67,000 members, we can advocate for resources, provide expertise, and train the pediatric healthcare force in Gaza.

There is a lot that needs to be done. The challenges are huge. But  who is better in meeting the challenge than pediatricians, especially American pediatricians. With the help and guidance from our professional home, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American pediatricians can assist in  alleviating the suffering children in Gaza.

The author(s) of each article appearing in this Journal is/are solely responsible for the content thereof; the publication of an article shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute any representation by the Editors or the Florida Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics, Inc., that the data presented therein are correct or sufficient to support the conclusions reached or that the experiment design or methodology is adequate. Additionally, the views and comments expressed in the Editor’s Note are the personal views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of the entire Editorial Board or the Florida Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics, Inc.