Boonshoft School of Medicine pediatrics chair to receive lifetime achievement award

John Duby is chair of the Department of Pediatrics in the Boonshoft School of Medicine.

John Duby, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics in the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, is the recipient of the 2020 C. Anderson Aldrich Award for lifetime achievement in developmental-behavioral pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

This award, established in 1964, recognizes a physician who has made outstanding contributions to the field of child development. Pediatrician C. Anderson Aldrich, M.D., for whom the award is named, is a founder of the AAP.

Developmental-behavioral pediatricians, evaluate, counsel and provide treatment for children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral difficulties including learning disorders such as dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, delayed development or developmental disabilities, such as autism.

“Dr. Duby is a leader in developmental-behavioral pediatrics and has been a trailblazer in the field through his contributions in practice, advocacy and education, to improve the care of children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral challenges. He has been influential in the education of medical students, residents, fellows and particularly of practicing primary care pediatricians, and family physicians,” said Diane Langkamp, M.D., a developmental-behavioral pediatrician in Akron.

Langkamp and Michelle Macias, M.D., a developmental-behavioral pediatrician in Charleston, South Carolina, nominated Duby for this award.

Duby will be recognized during a virtual presentation at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition on Oct 4.

“It is truly humbling to be named the recipient of the 2020 C. Anderson Aldrich Award. I am so grateful to those who nominated me for this esteemed recognition,” said Duby. “When I learned of this honor, I felt compelled to learn about the award’s namesake. Aldrich believed tackling behavior problems through early prevention was fundamental, and he recognized this work could not be accomplished solely by pediatricians. He championed bringing together pediatricians and other health care providers to work together for the benefit of the patient.”

Duby joined the Boonshoft School of Medicine in 2015. In addition to his role as chair of the Department of Pediatrics, he is the vice president of both academic affairs and community and behavioral health at Dayton Children’s Hospital and a member of their board of directors. He also serves on the pediatric team and the board of directors at Wright State Physicians.

“Dr. Duby’s passion for improving the care of children with developmental-behavioral challenges is surpassed only by his dedication to teaching, whether in the classroom, at the bedside, or in the community. Many students, residents, fellows and faculty have benefitted from his guidance and mentoring. Through his teaching, he has shared his enthusiasm for advancing the care of children with developmental-behavioral challenges and their families, leaving a legacy so that high-quality, innovative and thoughtful progress in developmental-behavioral pediatrics will continue into the future,” Langkamp said.

Duby has held many positions at the state and national level with pediatric professional organizations that shape the field of developmental-behavioral pediatrics. Currently, he serves on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Certification Committee.

Nationally, Duby has held positions with the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, including president, secretary-treasurer and member of the board of directors. He has served many key roles in the American Board of Pediatrics, including chair of the Subboard for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. He also worked with the AAP’s Council on Children with Disabilities and the AAP Policy Revision Committee. His work with these groups resulted in the publication of guidelines for developmental screening using evidence-based tools at well child visits.

At the state level, he served as president of the Ohio AAP Chapter and is a founding member of the Ohio AAP Foundation. Some of Duby’s most creative and innovative work has been accomplished through the Ohio Chapter of the AAP, where he developed and became the medical director of the Autism Diagnosis Education Project. The project provides autism-specific training and facilitates, unique partnerships between community-based physicians and early intervention and early childhood professionals to increase opportunities for children to receive timely and comprehensive evaluations for suspected autism.

Duby has been recognized with multiple awards and honors, including American Registry’s America’s Most Honored Professionals and the Elizabeth Spencer Ruppert Outstanding Pediatrician of the Year, Ohio Chapter of AAP.

In 1990, Duby began his focus on developmental-behavioral pediatrics while serving as the medical director of Child Development and Rehabilitative Services at Dayton Children’s Hospital. In 2000, he became the director of the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Akron Children’s Hospital, the medical director of Rehabilitative Services, medical director of the Family Child Learning Center and professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Duby completed his fellowship in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine and residency training at Baylor College of Medicine. He received his doctor of medicine degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. His board certifications include General Pediatrics and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics and Certifying Commission on Medical Management. He is also a certified physician executive.

He chose the specialty of pediatrics because of a belief that children are our future and deserve every possible opportunity to fulfill their optimal potential in physical and emotional health.

“In the face of the tremendous stressors that we have all experienced, and while recognizing the disparities in opportunities for countering that stress, it is critical that those of us in developmental-behavioral pediatrics lead efforts to go upstream,” Duby said. “We should lead efforts in our communities to promote resilience in partnership with our governmental, philanthropic, public health, behavioral health, social service, recreational and spiritual communities to assure that our children, who are our future leaders, have the basic security and confidence that will set the stage for them to have the emotional stability to be successful, contributing members of society.”