Encore Episode: How To Talk To Teens About Taking Responsibility For Their Health

As our children grow into teens (and eventually adults), there comes a time where we need to sit them down to talk about handling and advocating for their own health. Whether it's nutrition, a chronic health problem, or personal hygiene, sometimes kids as early as 11 or 12 are ready to take on these activities. 

While the timing comes down to your child and their maturity level, there are a general set of tips that can help any parent whenever it's time to pass that responsibility along.

Dr. Elizabeth Alderman is a nationally recognized specialist in adolescent medicine and the chair of the AAP Committee on Adolescence.

In this encore episode from September 2020, listen as she joins Melanie Cole to talk about when to let children go to the doctor alone, how to push kids to keep them active during quarantine, and utilizing teachable moments.

Encore Episode: How To Talk To Teens About Taking Responsibility For Their Health
Featuring:
Elizabeth M. Alderman, MD

Elizabeth M. Alderman, MD, a nationally recognized specialist in adolescent medicine, is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Director of the Post-doctoral Fellowship Training Program in Adolescent Medicine.  Dr. Alderman is the current president of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. She is also a member of the Pediatric Academic Societies Program Committee as representative of the American Academy of Pediatrics. From 2007-2011, she has held the office of Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Section of Adolescent Health of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Alderman served over 15 years as a member of the Executive Council of New York, Chapter 3, American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Alderman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Fellow of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.

Dr. Alderman earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from Cornell University in 1983 and, in 1987, her M.D. degree with Distinction in Research from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. She completed her clinical training, including pediatric residency and adolescent medicine fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

She joined the pediatric faculty at Einstein/Montefiore upon completion of her fellowship in 1992 and has remained throughout her career, achieving promotion to professor in 2003. Dr. Alderman has directed the Post-doctoral Fellowship in Adolescent Medicine since 1992. The fellowship was one of the first accredited in the field of adolescent medicine and was recently re-accredited by the ACGME with no citations.

Dr. Alderman’s academic interests center on health screening and quality improvement in the delivery of adolescent health care. Her bibliography includes more than 45 publications in peer-reviewed journals and books, more than 30 published abstracts, and more than 50 presentations at regional, national, and international scientific meetings. Dr. Alderman has taught at over 100 international, national and regional meetings and grand rounds.

Dr. Alderman is the Founder and Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Montefiore Adolescent Primary Care Initiative(MAPCI). Started in 2005, after receiving an NIMH Grant for a Summit of Providers of Adolescent Health Care at Montefiore, Dr. Alderman has led the MAPCI in creating a uniform approach to the provision of adolescent primary care throughout the Montefiore Medical Center.

Dr. Alderman is known throughout the region as an outstanding clinician and she is regularly named to the “Best Doctors in New York” and “New York Super Doctors” lists. In 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics recognized her with a Special Achievement Award from the New York Chapter for promoting adolescent health.