The Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, Inc. (AMSPDC) was begun informally by Charles Janeway in 1960 at an APS-SPR meeting. The group adopted a constitution and bylaws in 1964 and was officially incorporated in 1967 with its purpose being to foster education and research in the field of child health and human development. The membership of AMSPDC consists of the chair or acting chair or academic administrative head of the department of pediatrics of each accredited medical school in the United States and Canada.