What’s the Punchline?: Promoting Child and Teacher Resilience Through Pediatrician–Teacher Partnerships

* Abbreviation: ACE — : adverse childhood experience > The Editorial Board of the Section on Pediatric Trainees Monthly Feature is proud to feature an article by Dr Kavitha Selvaraj, who suggests that the effects of toxic stress can be combated through the development of physician–teacher partnerships. Her article concluded our series of featured essays on the Advocacy Campaign for 2016–2017. > > Catherine Spaulding, MD, Editor, Pediatrics , SOPT Monthly Feature I first learned about toxic stress the day my student “J” punched me in the face. As a seventh-grade biology and health teacher in an underserved neighborhood, I hoped to inspire the next generation of scientists. Unfortunately, the 5-week teachers’ boot camp left me woefully underprepared for the students’ constant behavioral outbursts, so little time was actually spent teaching. The most memorable incident started when I heard voices in the hallway yelling, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” and found my students, “J” and “N,” throwing punches. I positioned myself between the sparring students and yelled at them to stop. N backed away immediately, but J kept swinging with full force. His pupils were dilated, his face was sweaty, his respirations were fast and shallow. I implored him to stop, but instead, he stared at me blankly and punched me square in the face. Within moments, security guards arrived to escort J and N to the dean’s office, and the crowd dispersed. I stood there a moment longer, my cheek throbbing and my ego even more wounded, in shock at what had just occurred. After finding an ice pack for my swollen … Address correspondence to Kavitha Selvaraj, MD, MPH, MAEd, Division of Academic General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 225 East Chicago Ave, Box 162, Chicago, IL 60611-2991. E-mail: kselvaraj{at}luriechildrens.org