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Adolescent medicine doctors are dedicated to the care of young people aged 12 to 24. Our fellowship-trained doctors have years of experience caring for the special needs of teenagers and young adults. We treat a variety of common adolescent health concerns—from eating disorders to reproductive health to sports injuries—by working with multiple specialty departments at Riley at IU Health, including cardiology, respiratory care, child development, diabetes, endocrinology and pediatric and adolescent gynecology.
Young adults and teenagers may need to see an adolescent medicine provider if they have a congenital health condition that requires specialized care, such as a heart defect or cystic fibrosis. These teens benefit from seeing adolescent medicine doctors who have experience treating congenital conditions and also have experience providing care for maturing young adults.
Adolescents who are facing health issues that are new or unique for their age group can also see an adolescent medicine doctor for additional support and care. These issues may include eating disorders, mental health conditions, menstrual problems or other reproductive health issues. Adolescent medicine specialists help these patients bridge the gap between seeing a pediatrician who may not provide exams they need, such as Pap smears, and adult care providers who have less training in helping younger patients.
At Riley at IU Health, our healthcare providers recognize adolescents’ needs for independence and confidentiality. Though parents play an important role in their children's health, our doctors may ask parents to leave the room during appointments. Anything shared by the patient during this time will remain confidential. Our patients can be assured that doctors will listen closely to their problems and respect their right to privacy when it comes to sensitive issues. We understand that we can only give our patients the appropriate care to keep them safe and healthy when we hear the whole story.
Our doctors also speak with parents about their worries so they can better understand how their teenager is growing and changing. We help parents and teenagers navigate their changing relationship, allowing the parent to remain involved while giving the adolescent more independence. We teach parents how to communicate and care for their child's health while respecting their developmental needs.
The Adolescent Medicine Department at Riley at IU Health is one of the largest of its kind in the nation and one of only seven departments funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau to train medical professionals to care for young adults and teenagers. Physicians in the Adolescent Medicine Department serve as faculty members at the Indiana University School of Medicine and as leaders in many state and national organizations that aim to improve the health and well-being of adolescents.
We offer a number of different Adolescent Medicine services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.
Learn about the skills and specialties of our adolescent medicine doctors and the family-centered care they provide.
Our adolescent medicine doctors work with many different specialists in the following departments and programs at Riley at IU Health to ensure that teenagers and young adults receive the specialized care they need.
Riley at IU Health adolescent medicine physicians improve care for patients through medical education, research and an easy referral process. We receive referrals from physicians across Indiana to help manage adolescent health issues. Our doctors research topics that affect young people’s health, including reproductive health, vaccinations and juvenile justice.
Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.
Refer A PatientVisit the Section of Adolescent Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine for information about the latest research in the field of adolescent medicine.
We have offered education for over 20 years through a Maternal and Child Health Bureau grant. Our physicians help nurses, social workers, dietitians and psychologists gain knowledge about adolescent medicine in a one-year program.
Through a three-year fellowship, we train pediatric physicians to provide adolescent medicine services. Pediatric and family medicine residents spend time in our department to learn to better care for young adults. Medical students may rotate in the department during their fourth year.
