Children's study
The first federal large-scale, long-term study of children's health has formed an advisory board in Schuylkill County.
Schuylkill is among one of 105 study "centers" across the country to participate in the $3.2 billion National Children's Study. The centers were chosen by a consortium that includes the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.In addition to Schuylkill, study centers in Pennsylvania include Montgomery, Westmoreland and Philadelphia counties. The centers were selected to include families from diverse backgrounds and family structures. The study aims to track the lives and health of 100,000 children from conception through their 21st birthdays to investigate underlying causes of the most important children's health issues of our time, including birth defects, asthma, obesity, and autism, said National Children's Study Schuylkill Community Liaison Lynn Appleby, RN, LSW, CAC.Recently, a Community Advisory Board was selected for Schuylkill. Its members are county commissioners Chairwoman Mantura Gallagher; Michael Peckman, director marketing/public relations, Schuylkill Health; Joanne Parulis, executive director, Schuylkill County's VISION; attorney Karen Rismiller; Dr. Elmer Cupino, pediatric/adolescent psychiatrist, The ReDCo Group; Dr. Patricia Kane, pediatrician, Geisinger Medical Group; Dr. Robert Zimmerman, obstetrician, Comprehensive Women's Health Services; Mary Ann Devlin, executive director, Child Development, Inc.; Michelle Smarkanic, school nurse, North Schuylkill School District; Kathryn Clews, editor, Republican Herald; Fran Mickey, director of Home Health Services, Schuylkill Health; Tamaqua Mayor Christian Morrison; Monsignor Edward O'Connor, pastor, Saint Patrick's Church; and state Rep. Neal P. Goodman.Gallagher said the study will have long-reaching impact."Medical advancements from which we benefit right now are those which were parts of studies begun decades ago," she said. "Similarly, these studies, which are scheduled to be performed by the National Children's Study, will enhance children's lives decades from now. Children are our greatest resource; it is incumbent upon us to do all that we can to protect them."Gallagher said she is "proud that Schuylkill County has been chosen to participate in such a study, and I am further honored to have been chosen to be a member of the advisory board for this worthy project."The board was formed to involve representatives of community organizations as early as possible to help determine ways to get the community involved and to help to develop study procedures that will work best at the local level, Appleby said.The board met recently to discuss how it will reach out to women and families who are pregnant or may have children in the future. Dr. David Krewson, Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Schuylkill Medical Center, South Jackson Street, leads the local study team. He stressed to the board the importance of getting the word out."The success of this study in Schuylkill County greatly depends on our ability to spread the word and engage potential participants," he said.The Schuylkill center is coordinated by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Schuylkill Medical Center, South Jackson Street, Pottsville. The study plans to begin recruiting women later this year who live in certain areas of Schuylkill County who are pregnant or who might become pregnant.For more information about the study, visit
http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov, contact the study team at (570) 622-4257 or e-mail Appleby at