The mission of the Minnesota Academy of Pediatrics Foundation (MAPF) is to protect and improve the health of all Minnesota children and teens. By partnering with pediatricians, state officials, and national and community-based organizations, the Minnesota Academy of Pediatrics Foundation has developed many model programs that address key health or care delivery issues that have been shared both nationally and internationally.
Current and recent foundation projects include:
- Travel scholarships for medical students and pediatric residents to present MN abstracts at the national AAP conference.
- Educating caregivers and community members, particularly in the Somali community, about the importance of immunizations (especially MMR). In 2019, we partnered with 11 Imams and 9 mosques to provide immunization education at Mosques during Ramadan. Over 12 pediatric clinicians and immunization supporters came to the mosques to answer questions and partner with the Imams to provide education. Provided technical assistance to Somali organizations/Imams to seek grants directly in 2019-2020.
- Providing tuition scholarships to train 8 Karen, Somali and Spanish speaking adults as Community Health Workers in Austin, Albert Lea, Willmar, Worthington and Rochester with nearly 90% now employed in Minnesota health care or educational institutions.
- Promoting education and MOC4 opportunities for pediatricians to improve immunization rates of child and adolescent depression screening/referral.
- Promoting widespread use of childhood screening tools (depression/anxiety, developmental, social/emotional, maternal depression, etc.) among all pediatric primary care clinics.
- Promoting education and MOC4 opportunities for pediatricians to improve rates of Newborn Screening in infants and communication of results with parents/guardians.
- Screening patients for food insecurity and referring to food assistance programs and other work support programs.
The Eric Dick Memorial Advocacy Scholarship
MNAAP’s long-time lobbyist and policy advocate Eric Dick passed away suddenly in January 2021. Eric was deeply committed to improving the health and wellbeing of every child in Minnesota and he not only personally fought for policies to achieve this goal, but also engaged so many beyond himself in the legislative process. Through the annual MNAAP Pediatricians’ Day at the Capitol, Eric shared his incredible skill as a connector and coach, teaching our members how to turn their own stories and experiences into actionable, effective legislative meetings and messages. He was especially passionate about working with residents and medical students and relished every opportunity he had to spend time with them, both at the Capitol and in their individual programs. In that spirit, MNAAP and MAPF have established a scholarship fund in his memory.
The Eric Dick Memorial Advocacy Scholarship will be awarded annually to one or more residents or medical students each year to engage in legislative advocacy projects aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of children in Minnesota – particularly those focused on eliminating health disparities. With a generous 10-year financial commitment from one of our board members to seed the scholarship fund, we invite you to join us in honoring Eric’s memory with a contribution of your own.
You can do so by clicking the donate button below, or by mailing a check, made payable to the Minnesota Academy of Pediatrics Foundation, to the address below. Please include “Eric Dick Memorial Advocacy Scholarship” in the memo line.
Minnesota Academy of Pediatrics Foundation
c/o Jeff Bauer, Executive Director
1609 County Road 42 W. #305
Burnsville, MN 55306
