Adolescent Medicine
The entire division meets at least once a month to discuss clinic operations, quality improvement, and more as well as celebrate birthdays and special life events.
The Division of Adolescent Medicine at McGovern Medical School is dedicated to creating a healthy future for all young Texans through excellence in patient care, teaching, and research. The division’s faculty see patients at various locations across the city, including UT Physicians clinics, Harris Health clinics, and provide inpatient consultations at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and UTHealth Houston Harris County Psychiatric Center. Faculty also perform intake and follow-up care at three Harris County Juvenile Probation centers. This interdisciplinary and versatile team provides one of the most expansive services to justice-involved youth in the nation.
Known for cross-specialty collaboration, Adolescent Medicine physicians have worked closely with a variety of experts to develop innovative solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing their patient population. A recent example is the Center for Eating Disorders at the John S. Dunn Behavioral Health Sciences Center — the first of its kind in Greater Houston. The division also partners with Pediatric Hematology at the Young Women with Bleeding Disorders Clinic, showcasing their shared research and experience at conferences and in publications.
Division faculty collaborate across the Department of Pediatrics and beyond with colleagues at regional and national conferences.
Professor and Division Chief Mona Eissa, MD, PhD, MPH, is an expert in the area of pediatric obesity medicine and was selected for and elected to the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Obesity. In addition to teaching internationally at the American University of Beirut, Dr. Eissa provides care regularly at three weight-management clinics located in both the Texas Medical Center and in a low-income community.
This diverse team is invested in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows. Their three-year ACGME-accredited Adolescent Medicine Fellowship Program offers fellows the opportunity to not only learn integrated health among a high-risk population but also earn an additional advanced degree. Director Rebecca Beyda, MD, MS, and Associate Director Asha Davidson, MD, MPH, both graduates of this fellowship themselves, bring their firsthand knowledge to the table as they continue to evolve and customize the program to suit the needs of their trainees.
A key component of the Adolescent Medicine Fellowship program is accessibility of the faculty mentors, with clinical research, practice, and work-life balance.
The never-stop-learning culture of McGovern Medical School comes to life in this vibrant and compassionate group that is also active in research and education, which equips and empowers community voices. Faculty study trends and topics pertinent to today’s young people, such as childhood obesity, eating disorders, care of incarcerated youth, and more.
Each member of the Adolescent Medicine Division has chosen to build a thriving career at UTHealth Houston because they believe all young Texans have the right to health. If you would like to join them in this important work, please reach out today.