171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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December 2005
This edition:
Letter From Our Chair
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L. Lyndon Key, MD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Pediatrics |
Dear Faculty, Staff and Friends of the Children's Hospital,
This month we will highlight the value of a special training program for residents in the area of adolescent medicine. When
pediatricians were trained in the 1970s and 1980s, little was known about the problems and the challenges of treating teenagers.
It seemed simple at first. These patients were usually able to report what was going on where it hurt, what they were doing, and what they
wanted. However, physicians who regularly treated teenagers realized that it was not so easy, that there were many challenges.
Most of us find it difficult to talk about psychological problems, sexual development and family crises. We also find that when
we address these problems directly, especially with adolescents, we have to be artists to "see" the situation and "sketch out"
the details of the problem. It is a tour de force to diagnose problems at this stage of development. The forces that are at
work in molding the life of the child, and the problems the child really wants to address make creating a treatment plan that
works an even greater accomplishment. Dr. Janice Key and her team in our adolescent medicine division do an outstanding job of
caring for this group of patients with tough love, intelligence, and a caring, loving spirit.
[read more]
Feature Story
By: Mary Sue Lawrence, Trio Solutions Inc.
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Janice Key, MD
Director of Adolescent Medicine |
Adolescents require unique treatment and the Division of Adolescent Medicine at MUSC Children's Hospital makes sure their patients receive j
ust that - special, individualized treatment.
"These patients are halfway between being an adult and a child," explains Janice Key, MD, director of the division. "You have to treat them
uniquely. They often look like adults -- they use big words," she laughs, "but they're not."
Before Dr. Key created the Division of Adolescent Medicine in 1991, she says residents weren't aware that this patient group had distinct
needs. "The resident doctors treated them like children, really. Now they know to treat them differently."
[read more]
Update From Our Administrator
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John Sanders, MHA
Administrator
MUSC Children's Hospital |
Adolescent Challenges
We often use our slogan, "Kids are different, so are we." This is so true when it comes to the care of adolescent children.
Just think of all the changes that occur in the teen years physically, emotionally and socially. We have all been there, yet
what our children encounter now is even more challenging. We are privileged to have faculty and staff who are specifically
trained to work with children and their families during this important time in their lives.
The MUSC Children's Hospital recognizes that children not only need specialized service that is different from that given to adults,
but that differences in age also demand differences in approach to care. Through the specialized care for adolescents and the
research that this division conducts, we believe that we provide the best service possible for this challenging age group. As
with all of our patients, we provide care not only to the child, but to the entire family, giving support and advice on how to
care for their children during this trying time.
The Children's Hospital strives to provide comprehensive care for the children of the Lowcountry. Adolescent Medicine is a
very important component of our program. Click here to learn more about adolescent medicine.
Children's Research Institute News
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Bernard L. Maria, MD, MBA
Executive Director
Darby Children's Research Inst. |
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Inderjit Singh, PhD
Scientific Director
Darby Children's Research Inst. |
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The Neuroscience of Psychiatric Diseases and Addiction
In this issue of Kids Connection, the focus is on programs that address the needs of adolescents. Prevalent disorders such
as depression, bipolar disorder, generalized stress disorder, drug addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are all seen at this critical stage of development. Genetic and environmental
factors each contribute to occurrence of these disorders. Of the environmental influences, life stress is clearly the most
important factor. This can range from stress during pregnancy such as infection or hypoxia, to stresses such as physical or
psychological child abuse and malnutrition.
[read more]
Mental Health Resource News Brief
How to Help Your Child or Adolescent Resist Substance Use
Almost all youngsters will eventually find themselves in a situation where they must decide whether or not they will experiment
with smoking, drugs or alcohol. While the majority of youth who experiment with substances do not develop a substance use disorder,
even occasional use can have serious consequences with an increased risk of health concerns, mistakes made due to impaired judgment
and motor vehicle accidents. Education about the implications of substance use is critical during the adolescent period. Almost all
substance use begins in adolescence, so delaying initiation of substance use during this time may help future substance related problems,
[read more]
A special thanks to the following individuals for their efforts in putting together Kids Connection each month.
Managing Editor: Bernard L. Maria, MD, MBA
Publisher: Jennifer Cherock (Trio Solutions Inc.) and Jessica Munday (Trio Solutions Inc.)
Web design: Brian Dadin (Trio Solutions Inc.)
Contributing Writers: Lyndon Key, MD; Bernard Maria, MD; Inderjit Singh, PhD; Philip Saul, MD; Peter Kalivas, MD, John Sanders; Michelle Macias, MD; Eve Spratt, MD
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