COMSEP: an overview of its history, mission, and relationship to pediatrics

The reader may wonder, "What is COMSEP, and how does an article from COMSEP affect me?" COMSEP, the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics, is a community of pediatric clerkship directors and other educators whose mission is to improve the health of children and their families by advancing the art and science of medical student education in pediatrics.(1) This is the first in what is envisioned to be a quarterly report from the COMSEP to the readership of Pediatrics. In writing these articles, we hope to accomplish 3 key objectives. First, we want to keep the readership updated on trends that could affect both practice and pediatric education, whether they involve the rise of the pediatric hospitalist service or use of electronic medical records. Second, we hope to share educational techniques or strategies that allow for efficient and effective teaching, particularly in community practice settings. Third, we wish to be a voice for the huge number of pediatric practitioners who are critical not only as role models but also as mentors for the next generation of pediatric care providers. To better understand who and what COMSEP is, this first article is dedicated to the history, structure, and fundamental principles of the organization.