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Do WATCH out for offices that charge for a consultation (read: first meeting)- like Drs. Glaser and Gordon. I was totally turned off by that, yet I understand their need to do so….so we didn’t go to them. It was a hefty $80 fee!

When choosing a pediatrician, it is as much personality as it is the feel of the office, how easy it is to get to, location and hours. However, don’t forget you can always switch if you aren’t happy.

Dr. Stephen Ajl
Brooklyn Hospital Center
121 DeKalb
Brooklyn, NY 11201 (Fort Greene)
Phone: (718) 250-8764

Dr. Stephen Ajl (pronounced like grocery aisle or desert isle) is a fantastic pediatrician. He is at Brooklyn Hospital on Dekalb Avenue (but sees patients one day a week in Park Slope, as well). Brooklyn Hospital is not the newest hospital (and the toys in the pediatrics waiting room could use a good scrubbing), but Dr. Ajl is a renowned expert on child abuse and works there because of the close proximity to many incidences of abuse here in Brooklyn. Dr. Ajl is a one-man operation. He fields his own calls, makes his own appointments, and does all the record-keeping himself. I have never once had to chase him down – he has always been prompt and responsive. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dr. Ajl. He is no-nonsense with parents but adorable with children. He can come across as brusque, but underneath he is warm-hearted and funny and will spend all the time you need (even if it seems like he’s trying to get rid of you). At the infant stage, he won’t necessarily coo over children but as they get older and more aware, he becomes warm and playful. All this is secondary to the fact that Dr. Ajl is abreast of all the latest research, extremely knowledgeable about many childhood issues not necessarily related to traditional medicine, and knows when to prescribe medicine (and more important, when NOT to). If you want a doctor who is attuned to the needs of babies, rather than to the needs of parents, he is your pediatrician. Many doctors will prescribe a program of sleep training, which is a convenience for tired parents and not in the best interest of a baby. Dr. Ajl believes in absolutely no sleep training before 6 months, though he will work with you and try to resolve your issues in other ways, if possible. More often than not, he will tell you that your baby is doing exactly what she needs to do – sleep when she needs to sleep and wake up often to nurse – and will sympathize with you, but won’t tell you it’s OK to close the door and let your baby cry, which is what many exhausted parents want to hear. Dr. Ajl saved my breastfeeding when I was crying in pain at the latch. He is a staunch supporter of breastfeeding and will help you if you are having problems. He is also open to a modified vaccination schedule.
-Jennifer

We use Dr. Ajl as well who came highly recommended to me by my OB/GYN Dr. Russell. They aren’t even affiliated with the same hospital but she felt so strongly about him she was referring all of her new mothers to him. We really like him. He’s down to earth and honest. He
definitely has an edge but also underneath his harder shell is a warm,funny man who LOVES babies and as mentioned in an earlier post doesn’t have a fancy practice because his heart is in helping kids in need and he’s the leading testifier in child abuse cases. He helps me keep
things in perspective while being available to answer any questions. It is hard psychologically to see him at Brooklyn Hospital because the place is so depressing. We never have to wait for our appointment but when you walk in to the clinic and see the waiting room full with parents and babies who don’t have appointments and are waiting to see the first available doctor, it gets to me a bit. Aside from that, Dr. Ajl calls me back personally within hours of my call. He doesn’t have a secretary or nurse and schedules all of his own appointments and follow up. When our son was colicky he was supportive, realistic and told me to call him anytime. Now I’m being a nervous mom that my 10 month old isn’t crawling and Dr. Ajl is being equally available and understanding about that. Be prepared to ask questions and don’t be put off when he offers up alternate ways of saying some very basic mothering stuff. He thinks new moms are reading way too many parenting books and should trust instincts and their babies and him. It’s working for us. We are really pleased with him.
-Joanna

Devito and Alvarado Pediatrics
Dr. Francis J DeVito, Dr. Leslie Alvarado, Dr. Ami Desai, Dr. Rachelle Namm, Dr.Eva Gomolinski and Dr. Christopher A. Kacin, F.A.A.P.
http://www.devitoalvaradopediatrics.com/
Brooklyn Office
8008 Third Avenue
          Brooklyn, New York 11209 (Bay Ridge)
          (718) 833-3636
           
Staten Island Office
1550 Richmond Avenue, Ste 204
Staten Island, New York 10314
(718) 982-1136

Hospitals: NY Methodist, Lutheran Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center and Richmond University Hospital (aka St. Vincents)

Gabriel Pediatrics
Dr. Michael Gabriel, Dr. Demetrios Gabriel, Dr. Calogera Perrone, Dr. Michael Gabriel, Dr. Zahra Marina, Dr. Theodoros Raptis, Dr. Elizabeth Darcy
http://www.gabrielpediatrics.com/
Brooklyn Office
7715 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209 (Bay Ridge)
718-833-2300

 Staten Island Office
1582 Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10314
718-982-6800

Hospitals: New York Methodist, Lutheran Medical Center, Richmond University Center (formerly St. Vincents), Staten Island University Hospital, Maimonides Medical Center

We go to Gabriel Pediatrics, all the docs are
good but we LOVE Dr. Darcy. I think she is only there one day a week
now but the times we have gone to others have all been terrific, no
complaints at all from us, they call back pretty quickly, are very
patient and answer all of our questions. We HIGHLY recommend them!
-Jodi

LICH Pediatrics- Dr. Margarita Aronov, Dr. Hugh Gilgoff, Dr. Meridith Messinger, Dr. Marlorie Stinfil
Dr. Stephen Turner
718-780-2334
185 Montague St.  (B/w Court and Clinton)

I have communicated with Dr. Hugh Gilgoff- he sounds warm, engaged and anxious to help parents out. As a new parent too (May 2008) , I am sure he can empathize. Here is some information he wrote back when I asked him to describe his philosophy "I was offered a job by Tribeca Pediatrics as well as a few others, but I chose to practice at Long Island College Hospital so I could combine all of the crucial areas of medicine in one job.  Here, we spend time seeing the newborn babies, educating both medical students and residents, caring for the inpatients admitted to the hospital, as well as growing a lovely practice on 185 Montague, between Court and Clinton.  Although we are all western trained doctors, we insist on making our patients feel empowered and respected.  We are all well trained at top institutions, and stay on top of the latest research and trends in medicine.  We take our time with our patients and specialize in behavioral issues, breastfeeding, development, asthma, adolescents and sports medicine. We accept just about all insurances and there isn’t a long wait to see us.  We offer same day sick visits all throughout the day and don’t charge for pre-natal visits.   I was raised by a midwife, Alice Gilgoff, who also wrote a book called, "Home Birth", and started Mother Nurture, a doula service in 1986.  She trained many of our doulas, and childbirth educators here in Brooklyn, and it’s very nice to be part of this community.  As I had been practicing for 12 years in Manhattan, I am still largely unknown here – but that can only help my patients, as I am not that busy doc who rushes his patients while they still have their list of questions in their hand!"
-Karen

Dr. Margarita Aronov is a board-certified pediatrician and an international board-certified lactation consultant that does home visits for lactation consultations and initial newborn exams. (She usually doesn’t do the home visits JUST for the newborn exam, they are coupled to the lactation support visits). She sees patients at 2 offices. Both offices are LICH-based, one is at 185 Montague street, 4th floor, 718-780-2334, the other is at 97 Amity street, 1st floor, 718-780-1821. The age range for patients is from newborn period to 18yo.
-Karen

Dr. Amy Glaser, Dr. Philippa Gordon, Dr. Papageorge

33 8th Avenue (near Lincoln Place)

Brooklyn, New York (Park Slope)

718-636-0999

Hospital:  NYU, New York Hospital, LICH, Methodist

Park Slope Pediatrics
Dr. Bialik, Dr. Steven Gelman, Dr. Dyan Hes
502 8th Ave at 5th Street
Brooklyn, New York (Park Slope)
718-780-8170

Premier Pediatrics
Drs. Sylvain Weinberger, Barry Price, Karen Raksis, John Sarnoff

263 7th Avenue, #4H
Brooklyn, New York (Park Slope)
718-369-8170

http://www.premierpediatricsnyc.com/

Hosptials: NYU, Methodist

I like Dr. Price and Dr. Sarnoff. I am not a fan of Dr. Raksis’s bedside manner. The office is really efficient and on-time.  The office staff is friendly.
-Erica

They respond immediately when we call. Last time I called with one of my disaster moments, Dr. Price empathized with my calamity parenting moment and told me I was doing just fine. It was really relieving. He is always straightforward and calming. Dr. Sarnoff is kind, thoughtful and engaged. Dr. Weinberger: jovial, extremely knowledgeable and interested. Dr. Raksis was cold and impatient with us on our first baby visit and hasn’t changed much in those 2 years. There is a new doctor in the office- I have seen her twice- she seems kind, but I can’t make an experienced comment yet. The office nurses are great: efficient, friendly and always get you in on-time. If you don’t want to do vaccinations, this probably isn’t the office for you.
-Karen

Pediatric Associates of NYC
Sol Zimmerman MD, Harris Burstin MD, David Horwitz MD, Paula Prezioso MD, Ellen Putter MD, Debra Greenstein MD, J. Aviva Oppenheim MD, Liza Natale MD, Erica Berg MD, Yael Wapinski MD 
20 Plaza Street East

(Prospect Heights)
20 Plaza Street East

Brooklyn, New York (Prospect Heights)

718-857-5500
 
http://www.pediatricassociatesnyc.com/
Hours: Mon-Thu 9am-8pm; Fri 9am-6pm; Sat-Sun, sick visits only

We had a GREAT pediatrician there, but she moved to Boston.  We now see Dr. Berg there who is also lovely.  The practice has been great on the whole, we have no complaints.  It’s pretty standard stuff though. No one is asking you if want immunizations or not. You just get them.
-Michelle

We see Dr. Oppenheim and feel that she takes the time to answer our questions.  She is very reassuring.  There have been times though that we have waited longer than we wanted. (Perhaps this is a result of Dr. Oppenheim taking his time with the patients though.) Generally, I think Dr. Oppenheim is great. The office makes it very easy to get in if you need to see someone immediately. Honestly, I am not as excited about the other doctors in the practice.
-Sarah

Dr. Brianne O’Connor, Dr. Edna Pytlak, Dr. Erin (Thelander) Dalton
35 Monroe Place Brooklyn, New York
(Brooklyn Heights)
718-834-1007

Hospitals: NYU

Dr. Katerina Silverblatt, Dr. Alexis Boneparth, Dr. Finkelman
http://www.heightspediatrics.com/
145 Henry street  (Brooklyn Heights)
718 858 4924

She is really sweet with our baby.  She has great theories on colic and can help you work with a colicy baby. Dr. Silverblatt knows every technique for getting a baby to sleep through the night. Dr. Silverblatt is firm but approachable. She is extremely bright. She gives you a lot of advice anecdotally which is humorous, helpful and just really down to earth.  She has a great, dry sense of humor. My sister has 10 year old twins and they really like her too.
-Fiona

Tribeca Pediatrics
http://www.tribecapediatrics.com/home.shtml
Dr. Jana Dehovitz, Dr. Michel Cohen, Yasmin Khan (D.O.) , Dr. Maryann Tholany and Bridie Hatch, PNP.

                
                     
                     
5 Pierrepont Street

Brooklyn, NY 11201 (Brooklyn Heights)

718-237-2122

250 Dean Street (corner of Nevins)
Brooklyn, NY (Boerum Hill)
718-855-0080
The main medical providers here are Dr. Maryann Tholany and Bridie Hatch, PNP.

212 Berry Street,
Brooklyn NY 11211 (Williamsburg)
(718) 599-1202

22 Harrison Street
New York, NY 10013 (Tribeca)
(212) 226-7666
(212) 202-7988

Dr. DeHovitz is our daughter’s doctor, and I love her. So far, so good! She
patiently answers our questions, supports our choices, and has a great
way with the wee ones. I recommend her highly. We have never had to wait more than 10 minutes in the office. They are very laid back. My experience is that they are highly responsive to phone calls and very supportive.
-Kim

I see whichever doctor is available at Tribeca Pediatrics.  I like to see a lot of different doctors and they have all been good. They are nonalarmist. Go on a Tuesday and the parking is better.
-Gretchen

I prefer the office in Tribeca. They give me child development tips. They are not about comfy, attachment parenting- they are hard-core "cry it out". They are non-judgmental about it though if you don’t subscribe to that. Dr. Cohen is very funny. 
-Elizabeth

Our first son is almost 19 months and has been going there since birth, and we have an almost 4 month old, who has been going there since he was born too. The owner, Dr Cohen, who practices in Tribeca primarily, comes over on Thursdays. I like his way of practicing, he
is very involved, and will spend as much time with you as you need. He also has a very sweet, kind bed-side manner. He definitely is not for everyone, as he is very laid back, but we love him, and the way he is with our children. The other two doctors in the practice are
wonderful, kind and compassionate too, and our children see them too.The office in Williamsburg is brand new, with a great children’s play area.
-Lucie

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