Alex Kemper, MD, division chief of Primary Care Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Alex Kemper, MD, division chief of Primary Care Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, has been named editor-in-chief of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), effective in July.
Pediatrics is the most cited journal in pediatric medicine and is considered one of the most influential publications for child health in the world.
“Being a pediatrician is a great honor, and there is no more important time to highlight the valuable findings and advancements that can improve child and adolescent health and family wellbeing,” said Dr. Kemper, who is also professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “I am excited to share important findings and get everyone excited about what is possible. To make sure that we achieve this goal, I am committed to making sure that this information is broadly accessible to clinicians, families, policy makers, and the public.”
Pediatrics is the flagship journal of the AAP, and has been published since January 1948. The journal publishes original research, clinical observations and special feature articles in the field of pediatrics, including topics such as nutrition, surgery, public health, basic sciences, psychology, psychiatry, education and more. Dr. Kemper has served as deputy editor of Pediatrics since 2014.
“Dr. Kemper’s contributions to pediatric primary care have always extended beyond the walls of the hospital, meaningfully so,” said Dennis Durbin, MD, president of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s. “For that important work to continue in the capacity of one of the field’s most recognized peer-reviewed journals is exciting.”
Dr. Kemper is a distinguished physician scientist with expertise in newborn screening and other preventive health strategies, particularly those that can be delivered in a primary care setting. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and commentaries. Dr. Kemper is a former member of the United States Preventive Services Task Force and served as chair of the Condition Review Workgroup for the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children.
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 16,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.8 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.