Moving the discourse on quality in pediatrics: recent contributions of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation clinical scholars.

This issue links together a broad construct (quality) in a defined population (children) with alumni from a specific training program. In so doing, it is both a celebration and a challenge. The supplement celebrates the contributions of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Clinical Scholars to the national discourse regarding the measurement and improvement of quality; it acknowledges the increasing prominence of childhealthworkaspart of thenational quality agendaand thehope for filling themany gaps regardingourunderstandingofhow tomeasure and improve children’s health care. Children’s health care quality has become a major part on the research agenda of pediatric participants in the RWJF Clinical Scholars Program. Alumni of this program have in turn nurtured additional health services research and quality fellowships at other institutions and have helped build this area of inquiry in pediatrics.