NEWS RELEASES
The American Academy of Pediatrics Names Lu-Ann Papile, M.D., FAAP, as Chair of the Fetus and Newborn Committee

HOUSTON – (July 7, 2009) – Lu-Ann Papile, M.D., FAAP, the director of Developmental Care and Follow-up at Texas Children's Hospital and professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, has been appointed chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Dr. Papile assumed the role on July 1st and will oversee the committee for four years.

Dr. Papile will succeed Ann Stark, M.D., FAAP, chief of Neonatology at Texas Children's Hospital and professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. During Dr. Stark's tenure she created the national standard to match high-risk newborns with appropriate neonatal intensive care units; published a statement on the evaluation and management of infants who are nearly at-term gestation but still premature; updated and revised many statements on topics such as appropriate hospital discharge for high-risk infants and prevention and management of pain in newborns; and, in collaboration with the National Institute of Child Heath and Human Development, led a forum for experts to explore the increased rate of late preterm birth.

"Dr. Papile is a distinguished and valued colleague," said Dr. Stark. "Her commitment to ensuring all babies have the healthiest possible start to life will be an invaluable asset to the committee."

Dr. Papile is nationally recognized for her expertise in neonatal brain injuries and the neurodevelopmental outcomes of very premature babies. Her appointment as chair comes just two years after she received the Neonatal Landmark Award from the organization. She has been a member of the AAP for 33 years and will continue her duties at Texas Children's Hospital throughout her tenure.

"I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Stark and am excited to build upon the successes she achieved as chair," said Dr. Papile. "The work of the AAP, and specifically of the Committee on Fetus and Newborn, is very important to me. I'm looking forward to continuing the collaborative research that will enhance the medical community's ability to provide the best possible care for unborn and newborn babies."

The Committee on Fetus and Newborn works closely with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which plays an integral role in influencing practices in perinatology, the area of medicine where obstetrics and pediatrics merge. As chair, Dr. Papile will continue to nurture this relationship and work alongside Dr. Stark on the seventh edition of the AAP and ACOG-published Guidelines for Perinatal Care, the national standard of perinatal care. Dr. Stark will serve as editor and Dr. Papile will serve as associate editor.

"The mission and philosophy of the AAP is symbiotic with those of Texas Children's Hospital," said Dr. Papile. "I believe my dual responsibilities will complement each other and lead to further advances in fetal and newborn care that will ultimately create better outcomes for patients."

About Texas Children's Hospital Newborn Center
Ranked #7 nationally in neonatology by U.S. News Media Group in 2009, Texas Children's Hospital is the leader in the Southern United States in the treatment of babies born with complications or prematurely. The physicians at Texas Children's Newborn Center are international leaders in neonatology and neonatal surgery. Texas Children's Newborn Center is home to one of the largest Level IIIC neonatal intensive care units in the country and is committed to providing premier, complete treatment for newborns in need. For more information, visit www.texaschildrens.org.