AAP honors Benton for outstanding service to maltreated children

Published on Monday, November 6, 2023

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

Photos By: Melanie Thortis/ UMMC Photography

The American Academy of Pediatrics honored Dr. Scott Benton, director of the Division of Forensic Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, with its Award for Outstanding Service to Maltreated Children from the AAP Council on Child Abuse and Neglect.

This national award Is presented annually to recognize a pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist who has demonstrated outstanding clinical care and service to abused and neglected children and their families.

“Dr. Benton’s extensive career and contributions to the field of child abuse and neglect, particularly his efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi, make him an outstanding recipient for the award,” said Dr. James Metz, Council on Child Abuse and Neglect Awards Committee chair.

The award was announced Oct. 22 during the 2023 AAP National Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C.

Benton, who leads the medical component of a multidisciplinary response to evaluate children who are suspected of being maltreated, is medical director of the Children’s Safe Center.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award, which I consider to be one of the highest distinctions in our field,” Benton said. “I have always been passionate about our field even before it was a recognized pediatric subspecialty, and I have dedicated my life to practicing, teaching and promoting best practices for children and families. I have been fortunate to work with some of the best multidisciplinary professionals, teams and organizations in the world, and I have learned a lot from them. I have also faced many challenges and difficulties along the way, but I have never given up on my goals and dreams. I believe that our work – my work – has the power to unite people, inspire change, and create safe, stable and nurturing environments for children and families.”

The Council on Child Abuse and Neglect is dedicated to improving the care of infants, children and adolescents who are abused and neglected through the prevention, identification, management and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The council works to develop policy, build partnerships, educate the pediatric community and advocate on behalf of children, families and health care providers.

Dr. John Leventhal, professor emeritus of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, director emeritus of Yale child abuse programs and a mentor to Benton, applauded the presentation of the award. 

“Scott is truly well-deserving of the 2023 award from the American Academy of Pediatrics for ’Outstanding Service to Maltreated Children’,” Leventhal said. “He has devoted his career, both in Louisiana and Mississippi, to the care of maltreated children and their families. He has helped develop systems of care for their evaluation, has advocated at the state level for better and more coordinated treatment service for these vulnerable families and is known throughout the state for his teaching about abuse and neglect.”

Dr. Mary Taylor, Suzan B. Thames Chair and professor of pediatrics at UMMC, agreed.

“Dr. Benton has devoted his life and career to protecting children from abuse and neglect. This prestigious national award is a testament to the work he does each day in caring for Mississippi’s children and keeping them safe,” she said.  “We are honored to have Dr. Benton on our team.”