| When you return home with your child, one of your first
concerns is their medical health. Parents are strongly
urged to have their internationally adopted children evaluated
by medical professionals as soon as possible after arrival
home. Professionals with experience evaluating these
children can suggest specific interventions and referrals to
specialists. They can recommend general and
country-specific tests (for parasites, infectious disease, for
example) and can provide family counseling on medical
issues. We strongly recommend that the medical
professional who works with you and your child have a solid
degree of familiarity with the special needs and concerns of
internationally adopted children. The physicians listed
here may be able to provide your physician with recommendations
for tests, screenings, age determinations, etc. We also
recommend that you contact your agency or support group to see
if there is a clinic or international adoption specialist
in your area, if you can't find one here.
Dana Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-Director, U. of Minnesota
International Adoption Clinic
420 Delaware St., SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0378
Tel:(613)626-2928
Fax: (613)624-8176
|
Dr. Johnson,
along with Dr. Margaret Hostetter, Sandra Iverson and Kay Dole
pioneered the concept of medical evaluations for internationally
adopted children at the University of Minnesota in 1986.
The International Adoption Clinic can provide the following
services: pre-adoption evaluation and interpretation of referral
medical information and videotapes; post-arrival medical and
developmental assessments; post-placement assistance in
developmental, behavioral, and school issues; free literature on
a wide variety of adoption/medical issues; opportunities to
participate in ongoing research on the effects of early
childhood institutionalization. Parent Helpline9 Phone:
402-561-6854. Fax:402-561-6855 |
Deborah Borchers,
M.D., F.A.A.P. Eastgate Pediatric
Center
139 Louise Dr.
Fort Mitchell, KY 41017
Phone: 513-753-2820
Fax: 513-753-2829 |
Dr. Borchers is a
pediatrician in private practice with a strong interest
personally in adoption as the mother of two daughters adopted
from China. She is a local resource in the Cincinnati area for
adoption information and networking. Dr. Borchers can review
videotapes and other medical materials before placement, and can
provide medical and developmental assessments after a child’s
arrival. She can make referrals to specialists, and can provide
on-going follow-up care for children in her geographical area. |
Jerry Ann Jenista,
M.D.
551 Second St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 734-668-0419
Fax: 734-668-9492 |
In terms of
pre-adoption services, Dr. Jenista can review any country’s
medical records and/or videos. She provides post-adoption
medical consultation for parents, schools, and health care
providers. She has extensive written educational materials for
physicians, parents, and agencies. She provides primary care for
adopted children with more complex medical issues (not normal
well-child care). She provides workshops and seminars for all
parties involved in adoption. She is editor of the highly
regarded "Adoption/Medical News," a newsletter
focusing on medical issues in adoption, both short- and
long-term. |
Dr. Jennifer
Ladage, M.D.
Clinic Director of FACES
Foreign Adoption Clinic and Educational Services
1465 South Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63104-1095
Phone: 314-577-5643
faces@voyant.net |
Before an
international adoption is completed, consultation with the
parents takes place in a face-to-face meeting with the clinic
director, Jennifer Ladage, M.D.. Dr Ladage is a pediatrician at
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and an assistant
professor at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She
participates with a national network of adoption professionals,
which gives her access to medical translators in various
countries, as well as the opportunity to consult with the
nation's leading health care professionals practicing adoption
medicine. |
Andrew
Adesman, M.D.,
Evaluation Center for Adoption
Schneider Children's Hospital
269-01 76th Ave.
New Hyde Park, NY 11040
Phone: 718-470-4000
Fax: 718-343-3578
|
The
Evaluation Center for Adoption provides comprehensive
pre-adoption and post-adoption evaluations.
Pre-adoption evaluations include a review of videotapes,
photographs, and medical referral information; a detailed
assessment of the child's medical and developmental status is
generally provided within 24 to 48 hours. If additional
information is needed, specific follow-up questions are
formulated and the supplemental information reviewed when
available. For emergencies overseas, telephone consultation with
a Medical Director is available around-the-clock.
Families living near or traveling through New York City may
bring their newly adopted child for a baseline medical
examination and developmental assessment. Parents will be
provided with a written list of recommended laboratory tests and
other suggested diagnostic studies for their pediatrician. |
Margaret
Hostetter, M.D.
Yale Child Health Research Cntr.
464 Congress Ave.
New Have, CT 06510
Tel: 203-737-5970
Fax:2-3-737-5972
|
Dr. Hostetter,
together with colleagues Dr. Dana Johnson (see listing), Sandra
Iverson, and Kay Dole, pioneered the concept of specialized
medical evaluations for internationally adopted children at the
University of Minnesota in 1986. Dr. Hostetter has personally
examined more than 1,500 adoptees and brought the
"Minnesota model" to Yale in July of 1998. Evaluations
will include history and physical exam by a nurse practitioner,
full developmental exam by a developmental pediatrician, and
complete medical testing by Dr. Hostetter. Consultation with
experts at the Yale Child Health Research Center is encouraged
and will be facilitated, especially for problems such as
attachment disorders, pervasive developmental delay, or other
severe complications of institutionalization. |
Laurie Miller,
M.D.
International Adoption Clinic
New England Medical Center Box 286
750 Washington St.
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 617-636-8121
Fax: 617-636-8388 |
In
the International Adoption Clinic, children and families receive
individualized attention and a comprehensive evaluation.
Pre-adoption consultation and review of medical
records/photos/videos is available. Evaluation after arrival
includes medical, developmental, and nutritional issues as well
as screening tests. The clinic provides evaluation and treatment
of children with behavioral, learning, or neurological problems.
Long-term coordinated and comprehensive care for children with
special needs, including school consultations, is also
available. |
Karen Olness, M.D.
Rainbow Center for International Child Health
11 00 Euclid Ave MS 6038
Cleveland, OH 44106-6038
Phone: 216-844-3224
Fax: 216-844-7601
E-mail: RCIC@po.cwru.edu
Web:www.uhhs.com/toheal/rcic.html |
The Rainbow Center
pre-adoption consultation includes a lengthy meeting with a
staff physician to review both medical record information and
concerns about post-institutionalized children. The
post-adoption assessment includes infectious disease screening,
developmental assessment, and in some cases, various specialty
referrals. Follow-up visits are scheduled, and all information
is passed on to the child's primary care physician. A
developmental and behavioral consult is also available, which
can help identify behaviors and developmental delays that could
be missed, misunderstood, or inappropriately diagnosed, in cases
of children from institutions. The consult can help sort out
concerns, develop a plan, and make appropriate referrals. The
Rainbow Center also offers a Child Traveler Health Service,
pediatric expertise for families and children traveling
overseas. |
Lisa Nalven, M.D.
Valley Health Center for Child
Development and Wellness
505 Goffell Rd.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phone: 201-612-1006
Fax: 201-612-1092 |
Until
April, 1998, Dr. Nalven had worked with Dr. Sarah Springer in
Pittsburgh. Now in New Jersey, Dr. Nalven can provide
pre-placement consultations and medical record/video reviews.
She can provide medical/developmental evaluations of
internationally adopted children upon arrival in the U.S. and
consultation for children with on-going developmental/behavioral
concerns. She can provide case management and referral to
appropriate specialty therapists, including physical therapy,
occupational therapy, and speech/language evaluations which
available at the Center. Audiologic evaluations are also
available. She gives talks on adoption/post-institutionalization
issues to local groups. |
Todd
Ochs, M.D.
841 W. Bradley Place
Chicago, IL 60613-3902
Phone: 773-975-8560
Fax: 773-975-5989
E-mail: t-ochs@nwu.edu |
Dr. Ochs can
evaluate and interpret referral medical information and
videotapes prior to adoption, and can provide post-arrival
medical and developmental assessments. He can provide
post-placement assistance in developmental, behavioral, and
school issues, plus free literature on a wide variety of
adoption/medical issues. Dr. Ochs is the recent adoptive father
of a 3-year-old child with special needs from China. |
Children's
Hospital Medical Center / Cincinnati
3333 Burnet
Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039 |
Children's
Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati offers a comprehensive
International Adoption Center to help these children, their
adoptive parents and the community doctors who care for them. These
children primarily immigrate from Russia, Eastern Europe, China
and Central and South America. They bring with them unique and
complex health, medical, developmental and psychological issues.
The International Adoption Center is
uniquely comprehensive in that it provides resources in
Pre-Adoption Consultation, Post-Adoption Evaluation, Community
Outreach and Research. |
Dr. Julia Bledsoe,
MD
Pediatric Care Center
University of Washington, Roosevelt Site
4245 Roosevelt Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: 206-598-3000
Fax: 206-598-3040
E-mail jbledsoe@u.washington.edu |
Dr.
Julia Bledsoe, the CAM Medical Director, is a Board Certified
pediatrician with a general pediatric practice. About one
half of Dr. Bledsoe's clinic patients are adopted, mostly from
overseas. In addition, Dr. Bledsoe works part-time in the
UW Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Diagnostic Prevention Network
Clinic. She is also the parent of two adopted children. She
can provide pre adoption review of medical records, travel
preparation advice, post adoption medical and developmental
evaluations, and ongoing pediatric care for adopted and birth
children. If a family consults with her before travel, Dr.
Bledsoe is "on call" while they are traveling
overseas; these families are given access to a paging operator
who will locate Dr. Bledsoe if needed. Please
call Cyndi Musar at (206)598-3006 for information. |
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