To the Editor.—In the November issue of the Journal (126:585, 1973), Chamberlin reviewed studies of the social and cognitive development of children. His essay ends with a plea for close ties between pediatrics and developmental psychology... so that academically oriented pediatricians can be trained in the knowledge and research skills of this discipline... Without such commitments by pediatric departments, the gaps between what is known and what is practiced can only become greater (italics are mine).
The application of the recent knowledge in early child development effects not only academic pediatrics but also daily practice. In addition, results of cognitive studies often are applied to day care and early childhood educational programs. The medical curriculum at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels would be enhanced by more emphasis on applied knowledge in child development. But where is academia? It is still disease-oriented in subspeciality areas far from community pediatrics. The