The Division of General Pediatrics consists of six pediatricians who work together to address the multiple missions of the department and college. All members are clinically active and work together as primary care pediatricians to serve a diverse population of infants, children and adolescents. All members are active in teaching at all levels of medical education from preclinical through graduate medical education. All are involved in scholarship about topics in pediatrics and/or medical education. And members of the division contribute to the department, college, community and state in positions of leadership.
The practice serves families from throughout Mid-Michigan as well as the children of MSU students, staff and faculty. Our MSU affiliation brings us children from all over the world. As a university practice, we have developed a reputation for caring for children with complex health problems and many of our patients come to us from the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units of Sparrow Hospital. Due to our expertise in managing children with complex problems, we care for many children with ADHD and other learning and behavior issues. Our practice is, indeed, an interesting and challenging practice, appropriate for an academic setting.
Equity in child health is valued by all members of the division and we provide quality care to many low income families. Approximately 50 % of our patient encounters are covered by Medicaid or a Medicaid HMO. We have been able to keep our doors open to children covered by Medicaid and still maintain financial viability in a university setting. That feat speaks to the hard work and dedication of all the doctors as well as our clinic staff.
Members of the team are working to transform primary care pediatrics by developing, implementing and evaluating new ways to deliver care to children. Dr. Sigal leads The Medical Home Project to improve services to children and youth with special health care needs. Dr. Gonuguntla leads the incorporation of a validated screening tool in our routine health maintenance visits. Both projects address national and state objectives for Healthy People 2010 and help to set the standard for quality care in pediatrics. Both projects are conducted with scholarship in mind so others can benefit from our experiences.
Drs. Jennings and Sigal also serve in administrative roles as director and assistant director of the MSU Pediatric Residency at Sparrow Hospital. As clerkship director for the Lansing community, Dr. Gold also serves as educational administrator.
The division serves the needs of the institution and community in many ways, including leadership for the pediatric residency and the pediatric clerkship. Outreach activities include consultation services to the local intermediate school district and to Children’s Special Health Care Services of Michigan.