title: The formation of citizens: the pediatrician's role.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review article aims to define the fundamental role of the pediatrician in the formation of citizens in the 21st century.
  
  
  METHODS
  Significant bibliographical contributions produced by neuroscience, ecology, and epigenetics in the early childhood scenario.
  
  
  METHODS
  Many diseases that impair the lives of adults result from severe and often uncontrollable disorders that occur in early childhood, an irreplaceable period for the safe construction of the human brain, personality, and intelligence. There is noteworthy scientific evidence that has become unquestionable, according to which abuse and neglect and other forms of violence to which children are exposed during the course of their lives, are the genesis of many physical ailments and other mental diseases, including depressive morbidity and schizophrenia. Conversely, it is also emphasized that healthy practices such as reading and listening to/playing music are able to intensively contribute to the exercise of cognitive capacity inherent to this period of life, as a prerequisite for the acquisition of learning indispensable to the high educational performance during the schooling period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the light of the disclosed scientific evidence, the pediatrician emerges as the most differentiated professional to provide preventive and curative care indispensable to the skilled formation of a healthy citizen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Executive Committee, Global Pediatric Education Consortium (GPEC). Electronic address: dicamposjr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dioclécio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Campos Júnior
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D057890:Epigenomics; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009488:Neurosciences; D010372:Pediatrics; D010819:Physician's Role; D012931:Social Environment
keywords: Epigenetics; Epigenética; Estresse tóxico; Prevention; Prevenção; Toxic stress