Memorial Pediatric Specialties

Children with a wide variety of medical and surgical diagnoses from more than 20 referral hospitals throughout southwest Michigan and northern Indiana are cared for at Memorial Children's Hospital. This care is provided by a number of pediatric specialists, including pediatric hospitalists and intensivists, developmental pediatricians, pediatric hematologist/oncologists, pediatric rehabilitation therapists, and a pediatric pulmonologist and infectious disease specialist.

Pediatric Gastroenterology

A pediatric gastroenterologist evaluates and treats conditions and disorders connected with a child’s digestive system or liver as well as nutritional problems. This physician possesses the training and expertise to help in treating children from infancy through their teen years. They provide exceptional care in the following areas: food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, liver disease, acute or chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, chronic constipation, chronic or severe diarrhea, nutritional problems, pancreatic insufficiency, lactose intolerance and feeding disorders.

Pediatric Pulmonary

Memorial's Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic offers comprehensive care and diagnostic services for children and adolescents with a wide range of lung disorders, including chronic cough, asthma, allergies, oxygen therapy, chronic lung disease of infancy, and management of tracheostomy and ventilator.

Pediatric Infectious Disease

A pediatric infectious disease physician specializes in diseases mainly caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Pediatric infectious disease specialists are consulted for diseases including: recurrent fevers, repeated or serious infections and Kawasaki diseases.

Pediatric Hospitalists

A team of board-certified pediatricians is available 24 hours a day to consult and/or assume care for any child in need of inpatient hospitalization. For more information on Hospitalists, please click here.

Pediatric Sleep Medicine

Sleep medicine specialists help people who are unable to sleep as well as they'd like, as well as those who struggle to stay awake during the day. Common pediatric sleep disorders include obstructive sleep apnea, inadequate sleep hygiene, insomnia and delayed sleep phase syndrome. Memorial's sleep studies are performed at the Memorial Sleep Disorders Center in South Bend.

Dr. Asad Ansari sees all pediatric patients, who are two years of age and older, prior to scheduling a sleep study. If you think your child may benefit from a pediatric sleep study, please talk with your family care provider or pediatrician. They may refer you to Dr. Ansari for an evaluation.

Some of the sleep disorders diagnosed and treated at Memorial's Sleep Disorders Center include:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Central sleep apneas
• Unexplained drowsiness
• Various insomnias

Developmental Pediatrics

Memorial Children's Hospital's Behavioral & Developmental Pediatrics program provides family-focused care for children at risk for developmental delay. Children with a range of clinical issues such as autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, failure to thrive, undiagnosed developmental delay, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will be thoroughly evaluated by experienced physicians and nurses. Working with parents, the child's primary care physician and schools, the clinical staff at Memorial Children's Hospital's Behavioral & Developmental Pediatrics program will help maximize your child's potential for success.

Pediatric Neurology

What is a Child Neurologist?

If your child has problems involving the nervous system, a child neurologist has the special training and experience to treat your child. Examples of such problems are seizures, delayed speech, weakness, or headaches.

Child neurologists combine the special expertise in diagnosing and treating disorders of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, muscles, nerves) with an understanding of medical disorders in childhood and the special needs of the child and his or her family and environment.

In many cases, child neurologists work as a team with pediatricians or other primary care doctors. In addition, child neurologists may work with other pediatric specialists to care for children who have more complex or serious medical issues, such as epilepsy, birth defects or mental retardation. These are chronic conditions that require ongoing care and close follow-up throughout childhood and adolescence.

If your pediatrician suggests that your child see a child neurologist, you can be assured that your child will receive the best possible care at Memorial.

Pediatric Endocrinology

What is a Pediatric Endocrinologist?

A pediatric endocrinologist is a doctor who cares for children who have problems with growth, puberty, diabetes or other disorders related to the hormones and the glands that produce them. Hormones are chemicals that affect how other parts of the body work. For example, hormones decide how a child grows and matures. Endocrine glands, such as the pituitary gland, release hormones into the bloodstream. Endocrinology is the science that studies these glands and the effects of the hormones.

Problems seen by pediatric endocrinologists are often quite different from those commonly seen by endocrinologists who care for adults. Special training in pediatric conditions as they relate to growth and development is important. Hormonal problems are often present for life. Pediatric endocrinologists deal with hormone disorders at all stages of childhood and the teen years.

As growing individuals kids have special needs related to growth and development. In addition, their psychological needs are different from those of adults. Hormone problems affecting growth or sexual development can have significant effects on a child's physical and emotional well-being. Pediatric endocrinologists are sensitive to these issues.

The support staff includes nurses, pediatric diabetes educators and nutritionists - all who are focused on the needs of children and teens. Children with special needs require that pediatric endocrinologists work closely with primary care pediatricians to provide coordinated and comprehensive care. Pediatric endocrinologists have extensive training and expertise in dealing with children and in treating children with endocrine disorders and hormonal problems. If your pediatrician suggests that your child see a pediatric endocrinologist, you can be assured that your child will receive the best possible care at Memorial.