JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH CARE 1990;11:461-463

Society for A olescent Medicine Annual Edng 1990

SAM in the 90’s: Leading the Way Good afternoon. I wish to take a moment to remem- ber Mike Faber who has just recently died in San Francisco.

President Jenkins, Members of Council, guests, and friends, I feel greatly honored and pleased to become the twentieth Presideni of the Society for Adolescent Meckine at the beginning of this new and crucial decade.

The vast technological and political changes un- folding around us these past few years and even months may guide us toward disaster or toward a better environment and future for our youth. If we can learn from history and benefit from the present changes, we can engender an international com- munity to better understand and better serve youth in all countries. The Society for Adolescent Medicine is committed to that end.

Last year, President Jenkins defined our goals and directions beautifully in her inaugural prrsentation. Her concluding words were that the Sclciety “em- bodies for all of us the best hopes for the growth, health, and development of young people here in the United States and around the world.“(l) It is that kind of global commitment that I wish to em- phasize today.

Currently we have an international regional chap- ter with a newsletter, and we support the new International Association on Adolescent Health, Several countries are establishing their own adoles- cent medicine societies. In 1991, the next inter- national adolescent conference will be held in Montreux, Switzerland. It is my sincere hope that this gathering will help to foster intemational re- search, teaching, service and clinical links among countries.

International View During the past two years, I had the opportunity to work in Rio de Janeiro with Dr. Evelyn Eisenstein end other colleagues. My world view has changed dramatically through what I learned there.

In August 1989 I attended the annual Brazilian Adolescent Conference in Porte Alegre where I was moved by the commonality of issues and inspired by the vitality of youth work in Brazil. Twelve hundred professional persons came to present re- search papers, to discuss issues, and to define policy and new directions for Brazil. Here were people with skills and commitments very much like us and strug- gling with similar yet more exaggerated problems.

The Society has demonstrated a way of respond- ing to a national and world problem!. In 1987 we co- sponsored ihe national conference on HIV adoles- cent health policy in New York. This was followed by six regional SAM co-sponsorecl conferences held in various parts of this counry. In June 1990 the Society will be a co-sponsor ot an International Conference on Homeless Youth and AIDS in San Francisco with participation from WHO, PAHO, UNICEF’, and U.S. federal agencies.

The concept of the “global village” took on new meaning. I saw the need to approach youth issues from an international perspective. I was shown the juxtaposition of horrendous poverty with the latest in new technology and communication. I saw the potential for links between developing and postin- dustrial countries through shared experience and resources.

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going The Society is becoming increasingly recognized as the definitive organization concerned with adoles- cent health issues. Each Council and each president has creatively built on this foundation. Dr. Jenkins has contibuted to that stature through her many advocacy efforts during the past year.

We have some tremendous challenges at the pres- ent time in this country Health education and pu- bertal prqar&d_ ~~~~&‘r~~~~~i~~~ UP our schools. Teachers have been unde;-alued, a sober sign of

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462 RICHARD C. BROWN, M.D. JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH CARE Vo!. 11, No. 5

current national priorities and values. Economic pressures have increased the stresses on parents and families often to the great detriment of youth. Di- vorce takes a sad and protracted toll on youth. Fam- ily planning supports and services for youth have been continuously challenged and are often har- ms~ed in many parts of the country, while the glar- mg needs of sexually active youth are ignored. Minority services have been inadequate. Substance abuse and gang activity is rampant in many com- munities, Juvenile Justice systems have been crowded and more jail-like as poverty, and dys- functional communities have not had the resources for delinquency prevention.

The Bureau of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) has continued a long and abiding commitment to insure that youth receive good health care in the United States. The early work in adolescent preg- nancy was supported by the Bureau. We can be grateful for MCH leaders who persist in their sup port of training and policy development. The Day- tona meeting brought together leaders from the Society for Research on Adolescence and SJM, be- ginning the kind of collaboration that resulted in this joint meeting in Atlanta together with the Center for Disease Control.

The vision of the Society has carried us qn c: rciting new directions in the past few years. Academic t: J+- ing and research has become well established and recognized throughout the health care community. Leaders within the Society have had inceasing in- fluence in local, regional, national, and inernational research and policy.

The anticipated establishment of subspecialty boards in adolescent medicine is a part of a long struggle to establish our discipline as a distinct area with its own body of literature, its own basic cur- ricuhun, and its own standards of knowledge.

The SAM sponsored National Center for Youth with Disabilities is our resource center to improve health and social functioning of youth with disabil- ities. It provides technical assistance and consul- tation, disseminates information, and increases coordination between health care systems and other providers of services to youth with disabilities and their families.

At the first annual meeting in 1968, a proposal was made to establish a journal of adolescent med- icine. Since then Verdain Barnes has put enormous per=nd and professional energy into the The ]ournal of Adolescenr H&h Care in what has become a major document of clinical research. The annotated bib!& ogmphy d the journal was begun in ‘I968 and was

definitively systematized and expanded by Richard Brookman. As you know, President Jenkins re- established the Newsletter this past year. New tel- ecommunication technologies are being explored for better international data sharing.

The first SAM position paper was on medical con- sent for treatment to minors reflecting the abiding support for the basic health needs of youth. Since then the Society has faced many difficult issues and “hammered out” several important position papers and policy statements. New position papers are presently being prepared.

Our regional chapters bring health professionals to the Society who might not otherwise attend the annual meeting. Several chapters offer ongoing postgraduate education courses. The international chapter has a yearly program at the annual memeting.

The Society has a strong tradition of federal leg- islative liaison and of networking through the Coun- cil on Pediatric Education and the Council on &ediatric Research.

In the midst of all this change, the inner workings and support services have required parallel adap- tations. Ed% Moore has demonstrated remarkable persoi ial resourcefulness, goodwill, and flexibility in facing tke rapid change and expansion of annu- al meetings. The executive offices will soon be re- established in Independence, MO. and equipped with computer and improved communication services.

Hope for the Future As local, national, and international leaders, we bear great responsibility for increased understanding, policy development, and new directions for youth during the coming decade. Three task force groups are presently directing their attention to manage- ment, finances, and long range planning.

From its very inception, SAM has been involved in national and local advocacy. In a recent session of council, it becamle clear that advocacy for and by youth must be restated as an essential part of our priorities. It is we, the investigators, health care pro- viders, and the youth advocates who will bear the responsibility to foresee and predict and to serve and support the health needs of youth. As a Society, we have spoken out clearly from our personal experi- ence, from our knowledge base and from our clinical experience on those issues that affect the health and well-being of yocrfi&.

The Society wishes to engage, nurture and sup port young clinicians and investigators in their en-,

September 1990 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS 463

trance into the discipline. Mentors are an essential part of healthy identity formation. With the support of Elizabeth McAnarney, a mentor program is being organized for young members.

We are at the “cutting edge” abf knowledge. We contribute to the literature, to policy development, to clinical service, to interdisciplinary concerns, to excellence in teaching and academic pursuits, to ad- vocacy for youth, and to the basic cause of the health and well being of young people throughout the world.

We have increased our “visibility and credibility” as Joe Sanders challenged us.(2j l?on Shenker stated that we have “mcintained the highest quality of leadership”, have fostered and stimulated “the highest quality of medical care for adolescents” and have increased “the understanding of the adolescent period of growth and development.”

It is the richness of our diversity which makes us strong. Our international, multidisciplinary, multi-ethnic and multiprofessional leadership ex-

erts ever increasing influence in many sectors of our society.

We will continue to “walk tall,” to be open to a “global village” for youth, to maintain our long tra- dition of links with federal and sister organizations in support of youth, and to advocate for meeting the overall health needs of youth in this coming decade.

Thank you and best wishes on your work in the 90s.

Richard C. Brown, M.D. President

References 1. Jenkins RR: Presidential Address Reassescq Our Leadership

for the Hearth of Adolescents. J. Adolesc Heaith Care 1989; IO: 437.

2. Sanders JM: President’s Address, Society for Adolescent Med- icine Annual Meeting. 1. Adolesc Health Care 1987; 8: 4613.