Supporting Teens in Times of Change

As a pioneer in the development of adolescent medicine in the U.S., the Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine has been meeting the unique health care needs of adolescents and young adults in the tristate area since it was founded by Dr. Jerry Rauh in 1960. Our providers are national leaders in the field of Adolescent Medicine.

The Teen Health Center offers both primary care and consultative care services. Our multidisciplinary team of providers and staff includes physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, care managers, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and dieticians. The age range of patients seen in the Teen Health Center is generally 12 through 21 years of age, but our providers see patients from 5 to 25 years of age depending on the presenting concern.

The Division is growing to better meet the needs of teens and their families, to promote innovative training and research in adolescent health, and to engage with our community.

What is Adolescent Medicine?

Our multidisciplinary team of experts is proud to provide outstanding primary and consultative care services directed toward the unique healthcare needs of adolescents and young adults.

Adolescence is a transition period between childhood and adulthood. It is a normal developmental period characterized by major changes in physical maturity and sexuality, cognitive processes (ways of thinking and thought content), emotions, and relationships with others. The health concerns of adolescents differ distinctly from those of children and adults. Addressing the healthcare needs of this age group requires not only addressing identified health concerns, but also considering the complicated interactions between developmental changes, healthcare needs, treatment effectiveness, health education, and health promotion.

As adolescents begin to take responsibility for their own health, education and promotion of preventive healthcare is important. We teach teens about topics such as healthy eating habits, general wellness and health, prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and the effects of tobacco and other substance use. 

The Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine has identified seven criteria important for providing healthcare to teens that we strive to achieve:

• Availability of age-appropriate services
• Visibility of adolescent, preventive, healthcare guidelines
• Quality care
• Confidentiality of medical information requiring adolescent consent (with encouragement of family involvement)
• Affordability of access to care
• Flexibility of healthcare providers to recognize and respond to individual and diverse needs of adolescents
• Coordination of medical, mental health, social and other services