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| Adolescent Medicine |
ADOLESCENT MEDICINE
Primary medical care for
adolescents and young adults
between the ages of 11 and 24.
Appointment Location
503 Grasslands Rd., Suite 200
Valhalla, NY 10595
Phone: .914-304-5300
Fax:...... 914-345-1755
Directions
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| Counseling |
Gynecology (Pediatric & Adolescent) |
| Eating Disorders |
Vaccines & Immunizations |
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| Physicians |
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| Gilberto Velez-Domenech, MD, Chief |
Marcia Nackenson, MD |
| Wallace Jenkins, MD |
Monique Regard, MD |
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| What is Adolescent Medicine? |
CWPW's Adolescent Medicine Doctors provide excellent primary medical care to adolescents and young adults between the ages of 11 and 24 years, in close coordination with an experienced team of consultants in every pediatric and surgical sub-specialty, and the allied fields of psychology, psychiatry, nutrition, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
In addition to providing primary medical care to adolescents and young adults, we offer sub-specialty care in adolescent and young adult medicine, and pediatric and adolescent gynecology, in conjunction with the patient's primary care provider.
Our primary hospital affiliation is with the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. We are also affiliated with Saint Vincent's Hospital in Harrison, NY, Montefiore North in the Bronx, NY, Metropolitan Hospital Center in NYC, and Saint Vincent's Hospital in New York City. |
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| Appointment Location |
| 503 Grasslands Rd., Suite 200 |
Phone: 914-304-5300 |
| Valhalla, NY 10595 |
Fax: ... .914-345-1755 |
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| Directions |
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| Counseling |
Adolescence is a time of experimentation. Emerging cognitive abilities and social experiences lead adolescents to question adult values, and experiment with high-risk behaviors. Some of these threaten current health, while others may have long-term consequences. Sensitive attention to these aspects of the adolescent behavioral history leads us to detect early departures from the normative behavior. Obtaining a history, with full awareness of the delicate balance between the teenagers' need for privacy and the parents' concern for supervision, is one of our areas of expertise. Counseling is a valuable tool to prevent communication problems from becoming behavioral and emotional problems. Depression is common in this age group, and it must be distinguished from normal adolescent reactions. |
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| Eating Disorders |
The eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa most commonly have their onset in adolescence. Likewise, many behaviors that can develop into eating disorders, such as severe dieting, excessive exercise, binge eating, self-induced vomiting, and distortion of body image (feeling fat even when thin) are increasingly common in this age group.
We perform a comprehensive assessment of any adolescent with a suspected eating disorder. We then follow these patients in conjunction with a mental health practitioner, a nutritionist, and the referring pediatrician as appropriate. When necessary, we admit patients with eating disorders to the adolescent unit at The Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center for more intensive treatment.
We are extremely sensitive to issues of dieting, weight gain, and body image in all of our adolescents, and routinely inquire about concerns in these areas. Clearly, healthy attitudes about weight, eating, and exercise are always the goal. |
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| Gynecology |
Adolescence is the time of onset of menstruation, and we are attentive to deviations from the normal process. The gynecology of adolescents is not the same as that of adult women. This field spans the spectrum of development from early puberty, and the beginning of breast development, to the contraceptive needs of mature young women. We are specifically trained in these many differences, and are uniquely experienced in providing care to this age group. We provide full office gynecology services, including pelvic examinations, pap smears, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, office pregnancy testing, and contraceptive services, including emergency contraception (EC). We are particularly sensitive to our patients' concerns surrounding these issues. |
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| Vaccines & Immunizations |
We adhere to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACIP) and the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regarding the immunization of adolescents. These include a scheduled visit between the ages of 11 and 12 years to review the immunization status of each adolescent, and if needed, provide the following vaccines:
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A tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine dose if not given in the previous five years.
Note : The temporary Td shortage in the United States is now over, there is enough supply to return to routine immunization and to reinstate the administration of Td boosters. Physicians are encouraged to recall those patients for whom Td boosters were deferred. For more information, click here.
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A second dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, if not previously given. The CDC declared that MMR vaccine supplies are sufficient to return to the routine schedule as recommended by the ACIP/AAP. However, additional vaccine is not available for ambitious recall or special initiative programs at this time. For more information, click here.
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Two doses of chickenpox vaccine, given a month apart, if there is no reliable history of chickenpox. The temporary shortage of chickenpox vaccine in the United States is now over and return to routine vaccination has been recommended by ACIP and AAP. For more information, click here.
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Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine given over a 3 to 6 month period, if not previously given. A new two-dose regimen has been approved by the FDA and recommended by the ACIP of the CDC for adolescents between the ages of 11 and 15 years. For more information, click here.
The American College Health Association and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have also issued recommendations for the administration of the meningococcal vaccine to college students, particularly those living in college dormitories. Meningococcal disease is a serious concern for older adolescents and young adults. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has issued recommendations for the administration of other vaccines to adolescents who belong to special groups and for those traveling abroad. For more details about each of these vaccines, click on one of the links to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on this page or visit the site of the Immunization Action Coalition, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to boost immunization rates and prevent disease. |
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