Childen's Hospital Boston  300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000
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Clinical Services:
Growth and Nutrition Program
Growth and Nutrition
The Growth and Nutrition Program at Children's Hospital Boston is specifically designed to help children with poor growth. The goals of the program are to evaluate children with poor growth, improve their overall nutrition, and to promote healthy eating habits.
History
The Growth and Nutrition Program at Children's was established in July of 1984. It was one of the first multidisciplinary team programs in the country to address the problem of childhood malnutrition, formerly known as Failure to Thrive. Our current Growth and Nutrition Program has been in continuous operation for twenty-three years with great successes. Our program is supported through a contract with the Department of Public Health which funds specific Growth and Nutrition sites throughout Massachusetts.
Our Patients
We see children from birth to six years who have difficulty maintaining healthy growth patterns. Many of our patients have been diagnosed with childhood malnutrition. We also see children who are having difficulty transitioning from feeding via tube, eating by mouth, or who are delayed in their feeding skills. Our broad range of patients also includes children with feeding problems related to behavioral issues, including food aversions and family stresses that prevent healthy weight gain. Almost fifty percent of our patients are overcoming behavioral stresses.
What We Do
The doctors, nurses, dieticians, social workers, and psychologists provide a comprehensive mutlidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and treatment of growth problems. Most growth and feeding programs are a combination of physical, behavioral, and psychosocial factors. In partnership with families, our team focuses on identifying the possible causes of poor weight gain and develops a treatment plan specific to your child's needs. We also work closely with resources in your communities to assist your families.
Meet Our Staff
  • John Watkins, MD: Program Director, Pediatric gastroenterology, Nutrition
  • Jacqueline Almestica, MSW, LICSW: Social Work
  • Meera Bognani, RD, MS, LDN: Nutrition
  • Alexis Dugan, Psy.D: Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellow, Behavioral therapy and developmental consultation
  • Wendy Elverson, RD, LDN, CSP, CNSD: Nutrition
  • Leslie Hale-Werner, RN: Feeding and nutritional assestment in home and daycare settings
  • Jenny Kinne, RD, MS, LDN: Nutrition
  • Robert Markowitz, MD: general pediatrics, disordered eating
  • Joanne Michalek, NP: general pediatrics, protective services
  • Nancy Sullivan, PhD: behavioral and developmental medicine
If you have any questions regarding the clinic, setting up an appointment, or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact Ashley at 617-355-7713. Also, please be advised that voicemail is checked and answered only Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.
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Related topics:
Breastfeeding Effectively
Celiac Disease
Failure to Thrive
see entire list
Great Recipes Online!
www.healthykids.com
www.tinytummies.com
Helpful Nutritional Information
www.mypyramid.gov
www.ellynsatter.com
Easy Recipes from WIC
Vegetable Recipes Kids Love
One Minute Snack Ideas
Behavior Help at Feeding Time
  • SOS! Help for Parents: A Practical Guide for Handling Common Everyday Behavior Problems, by Lynn Clark
  • The Challenging Child, by Stanley Greenspan
  • 1,2,3, Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2 to 12, by Thomas Phelan
Practical Advice for Parents
For more help with feeding problems, general questions, and parent/child communication issues, check out the following website recommended by our clinical psychologists: www.kidshealth.org
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 X The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice,
which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional.
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