Community Involvement:
I have been a general pediatrician in the city of Buffalo since arriving in the area in 1987. My guiding principle is to provide to the diverse families of the city, regardless of means or circumstances, a caring, personalized pediatric home. I developed Pediatrics at Northwest Community Health Care Center (now Neighborhood Health Center) when it opened in 1987. In 1999 I joined Leslie Clapp at Main Pediatrics to continue to provide high quality of care to the city’s families within an intimate private practice model.
Several years ago, with Children’s Hospital, we developed a collaborative of physicians and community agencies to prevent violence, approaching it as a public health issue. Prevention was focused on building resilience, promoting conflict resolution strategies in the schools and the community, enhancing parenting skills and media literacy, and preventing gun violence. While the collaborative lasted only a few years, the work continues at every level of the urban and suburban community.
Currently, I have been involved with the Early Childhood Improvement Team (part of ECCS collaborative and locally spearheaded by Oshei Children’s Hospital), bringing together community-based agencies, pediatricians and other providers, the health department Early Intervention Program and family advocates to continually improve and enhance how we address mental health and developmental needs of children 0-3 years old in Western New York.
Favorite Children’s Book:
Moo, Baa, La La La!, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, The Snowy Day, Happy Birthday Moon, The Cow that went Oink, Good Dog Carl, Mushroom in the Rain, Lily and the Purple Plastic Purse and so many more
Why Did You Choose Pediatrics?:
I started in family medicine and soon realized I most enjoyed caring for infants and children in the context of their family and community. I love helping families navigate the challenges and delights of a new baby and all that follows. I still view the family as the patient and partner, while attending to the needs of the individual child. I use my accumulated expertise both from training and from years of listening to and learning from families to address the medical and emotional needs of my patients and their families. Mostly I want to do what I can to support joy in the lives of families and children.
Pediatrics is so optimistic. It has always revolved around health promotion and prevention and through standards of caring, coaching and support tries to position each child for a healthy future. And kids are just so much fun.
