Pediatric subspecialties return to Keesler Medical Center

  • Published
  • By Steve Pivnick
  • 81st Medical Group Public Affairs
Several pediatric subspecialties, absent since Hurricane Katrina, have returned to Keesler Medical Center. 

According to Lt. Col. (Dr.) Nicola Choate, a pediatric endocrinologist and chief of the 81st Medical Operations Squadron pediatric subspecialties clinic, four subspecialties are now offered, and four more are planned for the summer of 2008. 

In addition to her field of pediatric endocrinology, the clinic staff includes Maj. (Dr.) Stephen Nelson, pediatric neurologist; Maj. (Dr.) Tracy Alderson, pediatric cardiologist, and Capt. (Dr.) Jessica Cowden, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases. 

"Next summer we expect to have specialists in pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric development, pediatric adolescence and the pediatric gastrointestinal area," Colonel Choate said. 

The colonel recently arrived at the medical center after completing a three-year pediatric endocrinology fellowship in Washington, D.C., with the Capitol Consortium, which includes Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda Navy Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. 

Major Nelson comes here following a three-year pediatric neurology fellowship at Stanford University in California. 

Captain Cowden is a recent arrival who completed a three-year pediatric infectious disease fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and The Children's Hospital in Denver. 

Major Alderson completed a three-year pediatric cardiology fellowship at Atlanta's Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. 

In addition to the physicians, the clinic is supported by a nurse, three medical technicians and a medical administration technician. Colonel Choate expects her support staff to increase as more specialists arrive. 

The colonel noted that a referral from the patient's primary care manager is required for new patients to the pediatric subspecialties clinic.  She added that the clinic serves referrals from the medical center as well as network primary care managers. 

"We also plan to travel to other bases in the area to see patients and make ourselves available to advise medics at smaller bases," she said. 

Colonel Choate added Major Alderson is also seeing adults with congenital heart defects. 

The pediatric subspecialties clinic sees patients from birth to 23 years of age. It's on the medical center's first floor down the hall from the hematology/oncology clinic. 

Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. working Fridays and closed compressed work schedule Fridays.