As a teaching hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General for Children (MGfC) have a rich history of fostering bright minds and innovative thinking in the field of medicine. This year, MGfC celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Primary Care Pediatrics course, in which MGfC providers shared their clinical expertise with doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and other allied health professionals from around the world.

 

Since its inception in 1978, the conference has steadily increased in attendance. This year marked the largest attendance in its history with 335 medical professionals from 6 countries and 36 different states traveling to Boston. A cake adorned with MGfC colors, made by Icing on the Cake in Newton, Mass., was also served at the reception.

The conference was founded in 1978 by Thomas Peebles, MD, former chief resident in Pediatrics at MGfC and whose research helped identify the measles virus. Peebles asked Peter T. Greenspan, MD, medical director of MGfC, to co-host the conference. Greenspan, then a senior resident, has co-hosted the conference with several MGfC providers ever since, including Ronni Goldsmith, MD, of Pediatric Primary Care (1992); Janice Lowe, MD, associate dean for Academic Affairs at the Stanford University School of Medicine (1994); John Co, MD, of Quality and Safety and Graduate Medical Education (2004); and Ben Nelson, MD, associate director for Continuing Medical Education in Pediatrics and program director for the Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship (2013).

 

“The course has grown in size and quality, largely owing to the creativity of the directors, the incredible talent of our faculty at MGfC, the skill and thoughtfulness of our administrative directors, and the intelligence and sophistication of the attendees,” said Greenspan.

The conference includes didactic lectures, panel discussions and small seminars focused on sharing the most up-to-date science and best practices in pediatric primary care while focusing on material directly applicable to practice.