Doctor specializing in adolescent medicine leads new clinic for teens

Doctor specializing in adolescent medicine leads new clinic for teens

September 29, 2011 | Keri Brown

Since the mid 1990's, various government agencies and medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Board of Internal Medicine, have developed training and certification programs for the practice of adolescent medicine. Dr. David Rainey, with Robinhood Adolescent Medicine completed a fellowship to study the needs of teens. He said the center will have separate entrances and 14 teen-themed decorated exam rooms.

"If you have a 15 year old worried about sexually transmitted diseases and she is sitting next to a couple of babies and she is surrounded by Winnie-the Pooh pictures you wonder what she is feeling as far as being able to share with her doctor about these kind of sophisticated or more grown up issues, and so the teen orientation gives them hopefully a little bit more comfort level and freedom to talk with the doctors confidentially about the things that they need to talk about," said Rainey.

Rainey said he's seeing more depressed teen who are dealing with stress from school, the Internet and at home. The new facility will offer a variety of services, including a pediatrician specializing in dermatology to help teens with their skincare needs. Future plans also include a nutritionist and adolescent counselor.

Robinhood Adolecent Medicine is part of the Novant Health Group.