The History of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine
A rich history of interest in the pathophysiology of diseases affecting the respiratory systems of infants and children, as well as the tireless efforts of a small group of dedicated physician-scientists, led to the development of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Pulmonology Sub-board in 1986.3,4 Since the inception of the sub-board, 1418 certificates have been issued by the ABP; among these 1151 remain active.5 The mean age of active certificate holders is 51.6 years, placing pediatric pulmonologists in the upper half of average age among all pediatric subspecialties. This statistic, coupled with the high proportion of unfilled fellowship positions and programs reported by the National Residency Match Program (NRMP), has led to significant concerns regarding the pediatric pulmonology workforce and future of the subspecialty.6