At Westchester Health, our Pediatrics Department contains board trained and certified physicians who specialize in providing a broad range of comprehensive care, managing both common and complex illnesses in infants, children, adolescents and young adults up to age 21.

Our pediatricians focus on getting to know their patients and their families, forming valuable patient-doctor relationships that last for years, sometimes even decades. Whether you’re caring for a newborn or facing the challenges of adolescence, our pediatricians are here to help your child grow up with the advice, guidance and support you need and expect from your child’s doctor.

Now that we are affiliated with Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Westchester Health physicians and staff still continue to care for you and your family at the state-of-the-art locations where you currently see us. But in addition, you can now take advantage of the 88 outstanding sub-specialties and programs available at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, the largest provider of pediatric health services in New York State and one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Our pediatricians all have extensive experience in their field, using the latest technology and techniques to diagnose, treat and provide preventative care for all types of children’s illnesses, injuries and medical conditions, including asthma, acne, obesity, diabetes, learning disabilities, STDs, eating disorders, ADHD, depression and more.

Prevention as well as treatment

At Westchester Health, our focus is not only on the evaluation and treatment of health problems but also on preventative care.

In addition to providing the highest quality care, our pediatricians work closely with other specialists who are part of your child’s healthcare team to coordinate and implement a total treatment plan that is customized for his/her specific needs to achieve the best possible outcome. We also focus on educating you and your child about lifestyle changes he/she, as well as the whole family, can make to control and improve his/her particular condition.

What makes Westchester Health’s Pediatrics Department different?

At Westchester Health, we firmly believe that good treatment starts with good listening. We also believe that the best patient is an informed patient, and that patient education is critical to your long-term health.

From the first time you and your child arrive at our offices, we spend as much time with both of you as is necessary to make sure you understand your child’s injury, illness or medical condition, the diagnostic tests we are recommending and all of his/her treatment options. Throughout your child’s journey with us, we will continue to explain our recommended course of treatment and answer any questions you may have so that you understand what to expect.

Whether you have been with Westchester Health for years or are new to our practice, you quickly recognize that our Pediatrics Department truly cares about each and every one of our patients and their families. When you need us, we are here for you.

Always at the forefront of medicine

The world of medicine continues to change and evolve, especially regarding the field of pediatrics. As part of Northwell Health, our pediatricians participate in its Department of Pediatrics training programs, making sure they are continually up-to-date on the newest breakthrough treatments for all of our young patients’ healthcare needs.

Highly-skilled specialists enable us to deliver the best medicine

Sometimes accurate diagnosis and successful treatment require the highly specific training and expertise of sub-specialties. To provide the very best care for your child, we are pleased to offer these pediatric sub-specialties:

Pediatricians are experts at treating a variety of infant, adolescent, teenager and young adult conditions, including:

Acne

Acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with dead skin cells and oil. Whiteheads, blackheads and raised red bumps are all the result of clogged pores. Acne is primarily caused by hormones, which is why so many young people get acne during puberty. Acne typically affects the face, upper part of the chest and back. Treatments can take many forms but as a general rule, kids with acne should gently wash their face no more than twice a day with a mild soap or cleanser.

ADHD

According to research, approximately 8% of all children in the U.S. have ADHD. Most often, the condition is recognized when a child starts school. Signs and symptoms include inattention, being easily distracted, not staying focused, talking excessively, being fidgety, interrupting, blurting out answers and being impulsive. For a majority of children with ADHD, behavioral, psychological and pharmacological therapy can be very beneficial.

Allergies

Allergies—including asthma, food allergies, drug allergies, nasal allergies, hives and immune deficiencies—are abnormal immune system reactions to certain substances that are typically harmless to most people. Many things can be allergens to a person with allergies, including foods, dust mites, animal dander, mold, pollen, smoke, certain medicines, perfume, cigarette smoke, cleaning compounds and cold or dry air. The best way to manage allergies is to avoid triggers that activate them and to take medication to prevent or decrease symptoms.

Asthma

Affecting millions of children, asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways to become inflamed, making it hard to breathe and causing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and/or chest tightness. For children with asthma, symptoms can be brought on by triggers such as dust mites, animal dander, mold, pollen, smoke, bronchial infections and physical activity. The best way to manage asthma is to avoid triggers, take medication to prevent symptoms and know how to treat asthmatic episodes (asthma attacks) when they occur.

Diabetes

Managing a child’s type 1 diabetes is a lifelong commitment to blood sugar monitoring, insulin therapy, healthy eating and regular exercise. The signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, irritability, behavior changes, fruity-smelling breath, blurred vision and genital yeast infections in girls. Treatment includes insulin treatment, committing to a healthy diet and frequent exercise. Even though type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that requires constant monitoring, kids with diabetes can do everything other kids can do.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are serious health conditions that can be both physically and emotionally destructive, particularly for teenagers. Affecting boys as well as girls, eating disorders can escalate into life-threatening conditions and require professional help. The good news is that early diagnosis and intervention make a big difference in recovery. The 2 most common eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia, and although both conditions are difficult to “cure,” treatment includes psychological therapy, nutritional feeding, medical monitoring and medication.

Learning disabilities

The term “learning disability” (LD) describes a range of learning problems which stem from the way the brain gets, uses, stores and sends out information. As many as 15% of children have an LD and characteristically have trouble with one or more of the following skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning and/or math. Most children with learning problems can still be successful in school by taking advantage of different ways of learning, including specialized instruction, non-timed tests, or changes in classroom routine geared toward their specific learning style.

Obesity

It’s estimated that 1 in 5 children in the U.S. is overweight, which is why it’s no surprise that childhood obesity is one of the most common health problems seen by pediatricians. Many factors contribute to childhood obesity, including high calorie diets, parental obesity, diabetes during pregnancy, low birth weight, excessive weight gain during pregnancy and demographic factors. With both immediate and long-term effects on a child’s health and psychological well-being, it’s important to control and even reverse childhood obesity with lifestyle changes including altering food choices and eating habits, regular exercise, limiting electronics time, abstaining from sugary drinks, and avoiding using food as a reward for good behavior or good grades.

STDs

For teens and young adults of any age, straight or gay, having unprotected sex can expose them to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), some of which can seriously affect their health. The most common STDs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, genital herpes, genital warts (HPV infection), hepatitis and syphilis. Each condition has different symptoms, so if a person thinks he/she may have an STD, it’s important to get tested right away to begin treatment.

Teen depression

Depression is a serious health problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s life. Teenagers face a host of pressures, from the physical and emotional changes of puberty to questions about who they are and where they fit in. Recognizing teen depression can be difficult because the signs aren’t always obvious, but the most prominent ones are: irritability, anger, sadness, drug use, withdrawal from friends and family, loss of interest in activities, poor school performance, thoughts of death or suicide, changes in eating/sleeping habits and lack of energy. Treatment includes screening tests for signs of depression, intervention and therapy by a mental health professional, and possibly medication.

Vaccinations

Short of basic sanitation and nutrition, no medical intervention has done more to save lives and prevent disease than vaccinations. They have helped children stay healthy, have saved millions of live, and have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%. Furthermore, they cause virtually no significant adverse effects (contrary to many false and scientifically refuted theories) and help prevent diseases from spreading throughout the entire population. To keep children up-to-date with immunizations, pediatricians provide parents with vaccination schedules.

Additional pediatric conditions treated/services offered: