esther ballin is here to discuss some of his work to start a dialogue between various stakeholders on these issues. as with many highly idolize products and is in the middle -- with use. hopefully we can shed light on the pros and cons here today. thank you again for the witnesses for appearing today and look forward to hearing your testimony. let's start with doug mccaskey. >> good afternoon, and may i add my birthday wishes. >> please don't. >> happy birthday. >> i am a practicing pediatrician and associate pediatrics at the benefits of dartmouth. i am here representing the american academy of pediatrics at membership at 62 thousand pediatricians. i am the chair of the tobacco consortium and conduct research on tobacco and adolescence. members of the committee, it is talkeasure to be here and about electronic cigarettes. pediatricians have known and unknown risks and health of the -- help and faqs. we are seriously concerned they made late adolescence to a lifetime of nicotine addiction and could serve as a gateway to traditional cigarettes. the aggressive marketing and impact on yo