"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) congratulates pediatrician and medical geneticist Alan Guttmacher, MD, FAAP, on his appointment to serve as the new director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), one of the many institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

"As director of NICHD, Dr. Guttmacher will be tasked with developing a scientific vision for the institute, which focuses on human health and development from conception through the reproductive years, and sponsors research on many issues of importance to the Academy in the fields of maternal, child and family health.

"Dr. Guttmacher has been a longtime child advocate and leader in the pediatric community. His extensive work leading the NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute integrated the benefits of genome research into health care, and his role overseeing the U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative helped draw attention to the often under-recognized importance of family health history in promoting personal health and preventing disease. Before his career at the NIH, Dr. Guttmacher served as the medical director of the Vermont Newborn Screening Program and founded Vermont's only pediatric intensive care unit.

"In his new position at NICHD, Dr. Guttmacher will continue to spark a meaningful public health dialogue, working to ensure that all children have the chance to achieve their full potential for healthy and productive lives. At the American Academy of Pediatrics, we have no doubt that Dr. Guttmacher will excel in this role and continue to prioritize the unique needs of children while defining and advancing NICHD's scientific research portfolio. We applaud his appointment and look forward to future collaborations."

Source:
American Academy of Pediatrics