I am an adolescent medicine specialist because I believe adolescents are not just big children or young adults. It is a time of transition, development of health and life beliefs, and the springboard for a successful life.
Why I Treat Children
I treat children because they are our future and represent the best that we have to offer as humans. I first stated I wanted to be a pediatrician when I was 18 months old, and I feel privileged to get to practice my childhood dream every day. I believe that if you can help a young person make good choices around their health, relationships and education now — you are securing for them an adult life of good health.
What I'm Passionate About
I am passionate about education and view one of a doctor's primary jobs as a teacher. I am motivated by the ""aha"" look in a patient's eyes when they understand a new concept related to their health. In addition to patients, I also enjoy teaching medical students, residents and fellows. I volunteer my spare time doing community health talks and mentoring. I also enjoy learning new things about others through reading, travel, photography, the arts and culinary exploration.
Make A Difference
I try to make a difference by advocacy on the individual and societal level. Adolescents need caring adults who listen to them, empower them and fight for them. I give each young person that I encounter time to speak what is on their mind — what their biggest dreams and biggest fears are. I learn so much from these stories and I use them to fuel the passion I bring when I advocate for adolescents on the local, state, and national levels of government and medical organizations.
Education & Training
Fellowship
Adolescent Medicine
- Icahn School of Medicine - Mount Sinai Program,
2015
Internship Residency
Pediatrics
- Arnold Palmer Hospital/University of Florida,
2012
Medical/Dental School
MD
- University of South Florida,
2009
Board Certifications
American Board of Pediatrics/General Pediatrics
American Board of Pediatrics/Adolescent Medicine
Awards & Recognition
2011
Resident Community Service Award
2012
Resident Community Service Award
2012
Resident of the Year
Insurance Accepted
Accountable Health Plans PPO
Aetna Better Health FL Medicaid and Healthy Kids
Aetna Better Health PA Kids HMO
Aetna HMO
Aetna HMO/POS/PPO/EPO
Aetna PPO/POS/EPO
AmeriHealth Caritas Florida (FKA Prestige Health Choice)
Amerigroup NJ Medicaid/Healthy Kids
Amerihealth Caritas Delaware
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield Florida Blue Select
Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMO
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Non HMO
Cigna & Great West HMO/POS Open Access
Cigna & Great West PPO/EPO
Cigna/Great West HMO EPO POS
Cigna/Great West PPO
Community Care Plan Medicaid
Delaware First Health
Delaware Medicaid/Diamond State
Devon Health Services
Employers Health Network PPO
Evolutions Healthcare
First Health Aetna PPO/EPO
First Health/Affordable PPO
Florida Medicaid
Florida Medicare
GLOBAL MEDICAL MANAGEMENT DE
Geisinger Health Plan Commercial
HUMANA HEALTHY HORIZONS (FKA HUMANA MEDICAID)
Health First Health Plans
Health Partners Medicaid/Kidz Partner HMO
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware Traditional
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delware HMO PPO POS EPO
Highmark Medicaid Health Options
Horizon NJ Health
Humana HMO/POS
Humana PPO/EPO
INTEGRA Administrative Group (ClaimsBridge)
Independence Blue Cross/Amerihealth/Keystone HMO PPO
Insurance Administrators of America
Keystone First Medicaid HMO
Lifetrac Transplant
Maryland Medicaid
Molina Healthcare Medicaid
Multiplan PPO
National Transplant (Humana)
Olympus Managed Healthcare PPO DE/PA
Olympus Managed Healthcare PPO ORL
Pennsylvania Medicaid
Plan Vista/NPPN PPO
Preferred Healthcare PPO
Private Health Care Systems (PHCS)
Qualcare HMO/POS/PPO
Seminole Tribe of Florida
Simply Healthcare Healthy Kids
Simply Healthcare Medicaid HMO
Star Healthcare Network
Sunshine SMI/CMS 19 & 21
Sunshine State Health Plan Medicaid
Three Rivers Provider Network
Tricare/Humana Military Health Services
UPMC MCAID/CHIP PA DE
US Family Health Plan
United Healthcare Commercial Products
United Healthcare Community Plan Medicaid HMO
United Healthcare of the Mid-Atlantic
Volusia Health Network PPO/EPO
Wellcare of NJ Medicaid HMO
Contraception
Gynecology
Medical Interests
Menstrual disorders
Eating disorders
Long acting reversible contraception
Teen pregnancy and prevention
Culinary medicine
Contraception
Obesity
Wasserman, R. M., Houck, C. D., Gordon, L., & Gurnurkar, S. (2021). Diabetes-Specific Risk-Taking in Young Adulthood: A Closer Look. Diabetes Spectrum, 34(4), 371-377. doi:10.2337/dsi21-0008
Gordon, L. P., & Santelli, J. S. (2020). The Welcome to Adolescent Healthcare Letter: A Rite of Passage. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(1), 21-23. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.03.036 View Full Publication
English
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