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ABSTRACT

“Educate to eradicate” was the topic of the grand rounds I presented at Hurley Children’s Hospital in 2017. I was invited as the awardee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Leonard P Rome CATCH Visiting Professorship Grant. My main goal at that time was to design and implement a curriculum for medical students, residents, and faculty covering different aspects of child maltreatment. I was driven by the belief that child maltreatment is a public health crisis. I believed that education was crucial to the prevention and identification of child maltreatment and ultimately eradication. Since then, I have focused my efforts locally, nationally and internationally to precisely do that: educate ourselves so we can all eradicate child maltreatment! However, as I educated others, I came to realize that education is not merely curricula and lectures. Education involves collaboration, innovation, advocacy, and mentoring. Education is what has shaped my career and it continues to reflect on my career choices in service and scholarly work. I would like to reflect on my path in child abuse pediatrics as I provide examples of different elements that can shape one’s career. As I share examples, my intention is to provide insight and guidance for others who may be interested in pursuing a similar path while making their own choices. I believe that by sharing my experiences, I can help others learn and grow in their own careers. I approach this topic with humility and a desire to teach, rather than to simply highlight and list achievements.

Keywords: Child abuse and neglect, curriculum, education, reflections