Contact: March 1, 2021
Warren Seigel, MD, MBA, FAAP, FSAHM
More than 5,500 New York Pediatricians outline the irreversible damage continued school closures have on students across New York.
March 1, 2021--Today, the New York Chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics joined together—representing over 5,500 pediatricians—urging collaboration for prompt and safe reopening of schools in letters released this morning to our State Leaders and School Superintendents across the state.
Evidence has shown that safe in-person education for grades TK-12th can be accomplished and maintained with properly implemented safety protocols.
“We know how to keep teachers, staff and children safe on school campuses” said Dr. Warren Seigel, Chairperson of New York State AAP, District II.
Pediatricians strongly support the safe return of students to in-person education with appropriate mitigation measures such as mask wearing, hand washing, cohorting and social distancing, as recommended by the CDC and our own infectious disease physicians.
Elementary age students are facing staggering losses in expected literacy, and school success. Our teens are suffering from the near year of social isolation resulting in a staggering increase in proportion of children ages 12 to 17 presenting with mental health emergencies across New York.
Pediatricians urge action NOW to allow kids safely back to in-person school. We stand ready to help our school districts plan and implement safe school re-openings in our communities across New York.
NYS AAP
District Chairperson
Warren Seigel, MD, MBA, FAAP, FSAHM
Brooklyn, NY
District Vice Chairperson
Michael Terranova, MD, FAAP
Bowmansville, NY
President, NY Chapter 1
Edward Lewis, MD, FAAP
Rochester, NY
President, NY Chapter 2
Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP
Syosset, NY
President, NY Chapter 3
Lisa Handwerker, MD, FAAP New York, NY
Director of Policy, Advocacy & External Relations
Elie Ward, MSW eswabc@gmail.com