For the last three years, Dr. Sarah Adams has served as medical director of the Ohio American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime Program, which provides resources for pediatricians to use during routine well child visits. Dr. Adams is a pediatrician at Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics, Hudson.
Dr. Sarah Adams
The Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime Program was recently honored with the Leonard P. Rome, MD, FAAP Award that recognizes Ohio AAP members and staff whose leadership furthers the organization’s mission through a specific program or project. Along with Dr. Adams, the award recognized the leadership of Alexandra Miller, MPH, senior program manager at Ohio AAP.
Through the Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime Program, providers receive resources for families with infants, preschoolers and school-age children that address the specific development and behavior needs at each stage of growth. These resources including counseling strategies, provider training, handouts and a toolkit designed to support optimal health and prevent childhood obesity. Funded by the Ohio Department of Health, the program distributed resources to more than 84,000 Ohio children and families in 2020.
“The Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime Program provides relevant education for practitioners from nutrition to physical activity, as well as many other topics to help families lead a healthy and happy life. It is widely used all over Ohio including our own children’s hospital,” said Dr. Adams. “It has been an honor to work with the Ohio Department of Health, the leaders from the Ohio AAP chapter, our advisory board and especially our program director, Alex.”
“Over the past 20 years, obesity prevention has been a keystone initiative for Ohio AAP. The Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime Program takes the best of our former programs and elevates the work to include behavioral health, daily routines, vaccines and other critical areas that impact child health,” said Melissa Wervey Arnold, Ohio AAP CEO. “The Ohio AAP and our members thank this outstanding team of pediatricians and advocates for their leadership and commitment to providing resources and education to keep our children healthy.”
For more information about the Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime Program and other resources, visit the Ohio AAP website at ohioaap.org.
