Adolescent Medicine

Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine
Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care, Suite 6C
Phone: 617-643-1201 | Fax: 617-724-0581

The Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at MassGeneral Hospital for Children provides outstanding primary care and consultative care to adolescents and young adults from age twelve years though the twenties. Patients may come to the Division with complex medical or psychosocial problems, or they may wish to obtain their primary medical care within the Division.

Specialty Care

Consultative care is provided to patients for problems including:

• Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia
• Substance abuse
• Depression
• Developmental issues occurring during adolescence including school avoidance and out of control behaviors

In addition, we perform office gynecology including evaluation of irregular menstrual cycles, pelvic pain, and birth control as well as evaluation and treatment of sexually transmitted infection. Patients also present to the Division with chronic pain and fatigue complaints.

Primary Care

Some adolescents and young adults prefer to obtain their primary medical care from experts in adolescent medicine. Our physicians perform physical examinations and examinations for sports and school entrance. Patients may obtain routine immunizations as well as those needed for international travel. We also counsel patients on healthy lifestyles and risk taking behaviors. Many adolescents and young adults who are in transition between pediatric medicine and internal medicine, or are in college or newly employed, prefer the adolescent medicine setting for their medical care. Each patient is highly valued, and we respect the confidentiality of our meetings and ensure privacy of all encounters.

Specialists in Eating Disorders

The Division works closely with other specialists in eating disorders to provide comprehensive care for patients with anorexia or bulimia. There is onsite nutritional consultation and clinicians for referral in the MGH Child Psychiatry Service or Adult Psychiatry Service who can provide the counseling needed by patients with these problems. At the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Division physicians care for adolescent inpatients with eating disorders. The Division maintains close connections with the Klarman Center for Eating Disorders at the McLean Hospital.

Down Syndrome Clinic

The Division has recently initiated a monthly clinic for patients with Down Syndrome. At this consultative session, patients will have a complete medical review and referral to other MGH specialists as appropriate.

Clinics at Newton-Wellesley Hospital

Physicians in the Division hold several monthly evening clinics at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Please call 617-243-6800 to make appointments for these sessions.

Current Research

Division physicians are working with the MGH Child Psychiatry Service and the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and the Media to develop a curriculum to teach pediatric residents and pediatricians how to diagnose and manage mental issues in adolescents including depression.

Division physicians are working with the MGH Neuroendocrine Unit and the MGH eating disorders group to study how to effectively treat osteopenia and osteoporosis in girls with eating disorders.

At MassGeneral Hospital for Children, we know that the time of your child’s diagnosis and treatment is a very stressful one and we strive to provide an open, welcoming environment. We believe that no one knows a child as well as the parent does: parents, along with primary care providers, become our partners in a child's care and have an active voice in all treatment plans.