Transitions in Pediatrics: A Segmental Analysis

Abstract

Pediatricians, once concerned solely with treating disease in children, are becoming increasingly involved in managing troublesome behavior. This paper shows how the pediatric mandate began widening after 1950 as medical advances drastically reduced the infant and child mortality rates. Worried about their declining status and possible disappearance as primary care specialists, pediatricians sought a new mission in ministering to the psycho-social and behavioral needs of children. This case study contributes to our understanding of the problems and strategies of threatened professional segments in medicine.