President Bush Appoints AARC Member to National Commission

May 7, 2008

	Michael R. Anderson, MD

An AARC member has been appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Commission on Children and Disasters.

Michael R. Anderson, MD, Pediatric Critical Care Specialist at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, was appointed by the president to serve on the commission established last year.

The group will be comprised of 10 members and will complete a study to examine and assess the needs of children in preparation for, response to and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies. The commission will prepare and submit a final report to the president and Congress with specific recommendations to address the needs of children during major disasters.

“It is imperative that we take a closer look and become more adequately prepared to handle the unique needs of children in future disasters, and I am honored and thrilled to be named by the President to this Commission,” said Anderson.

Dr. Anderson is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and he serves as the director of Continuing Medical Education and Fellowship Training at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, and as medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit for the MetroHealth Medical Center.  He has been on the faculty at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital for 10 years, and for the past two years has committed his professional career to bringing the resources of children’s hospitals to the forefront of pediatric disaster medicine. What was once a local plan to create a Cleveland pediatric response team to assist children affected by Hurricane Katrina has now become a national model for developing a unique pediatric disaster response team.

In Cleveland, Dr. Anderson serves as the Pediatric Life Support (PALS) affiliate faculty for Rainbow, and serves on the board of directors for the Fresh Air Camp for ventilator dependent children.