1. University of South Florida Department of Pediatrics, Tampa, FL
Environmental Health Education in Florida Pediatric Residencies and Community Pediatricians 
Luis Maldonado, MD, MPH, FAAP1; Cindy Morris2; Marybeth Palmigiano, MPH3; Lynn Ringenberg, MD, FAAP1
University of South Florida Department of Pediatrics, Tampa, FL
Abstract
Despite a growing awareness in the public eye regarding environmental hazards, (lead poisoning from toys, mercury intoxication from fish, Salmonella poisoning from peanut butter just to name a few), today’s pediatric residents and community pediatricians report a lack of formal training in this field.
We will seek to quantify and qualify the instruction of environmental health in four Florida pediatric residency programs
We will assess the present fund of knowledge in pediatric residents regarding environmental health
We will advocate environmental health in the community pediatrician’s practice
Target Population
Pediatric Residents, Program Residency Directors, residency program educators and the community practitioners that participate in residency training
Project Description
A survey will be sent to four pediatric residency programs in the state of Florida to assess their respective time investment in environmental health education and whether these are presented within a structured environmental health and advocacy rotation
A 25-item questionnaire will be will be administered to the pediatric residents to evaluate their baseline fund of knowledge on environmental health issues
An AAP endorsed “Environmental Health Toolkit” will be demonstrated and provided to each resident and pediatrician to show patients ways of including environmental health anticipatory guidance in the well child check-up
A series of lectures on environmental health will be provided in person and electronically available to all pediatric residency programs and community pediatricians
The same 25-question survey will be administered at the end of the intervention series to assess if there is any significant difference in their fund of knowledge after participating in our program
Survey
The 25 pre and post test questions involve the following topics:
Basic environmental epidemiological definitions
Food borne illnesses
Water pollutants
Air pollutants
Heavy metal exposures
Presentations
Using the Pediatric Environmental Toolkit
Environmental history taking
The unique susceptibilities of the pediatric population
Case Studies on environmental exposures
Lead poisoning
Mercury poisoning
Food contaminants
Pesticides
Air and Water pollutants
Conclusions
Environmental health is a topic that most pediatricians deal with on a daily basis, though not always comfortable with these discussions.
This project will highlight the lack of training on the links between environment and health and lack of available tools for patient education.
The “Environmental Health Toolkit” will be a powerful educational instrument for pediatricians and for families to understand and appreciate the connection between environment and health and embrace the changes necessary to minimize exposure.
The Toolkit will also provide the community pediatrician a way to familiarize themselves with these basic tenets and a mechanism by which they can easily and efficiently introduce these topics into the well child visit
Expected Outcomes
Encourage the incorporation of an environmental health specific curriculum in our pediatric residency programs
Increase the fund of knowledge of pediatric residents regarding environmental health
Increase the incorporation of environmental health in the community pediatrician’s practice
Promote understanding the links between environment and health to parents, caretakers, and their children
1 USF College of Medicine
2 Hillsborough County Health Department, Tampa, FL
3 Physicians for Social Responsibility
TAMPA BAY