Rhode Island Female Pediatrician

[Ocean Child]

Hello Mamas,

We are currently relocating from the Boston suburbs to Bristol, RI.  Our son is 2 and I am due in April with a second.  The single most difficult part of this move, for me, is having to leave our pediatrician.

We started with a pediatrician who was an absolute nightmare.  She was rough and old school.  Gave long condemning lectures on vaccines, and was quick to prescribe heavy medications for an infant.  We quickly through her baby Zantacs prescription in the trash and moved on to a doctor who turned out to be the best possible fit for our family.  Our son has received most vaccines, but on a schedule that seems logical to us.  She was not only accommodating, but also a friendly and compassionate educator to us first time parents with lots of questions.  She was supportive of our long term nursing, helped us to treat our son's gastro issues with diet change rather than meds, and she was very current in her research.  She was very intelligent, but still willing to discuss all of the latest studies with me as a partner in my son's health, not in a condescending doctor to non-doctor way.  The practice, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, is well staffed and always on the ready to see us/speak with us when the little guy was sick.  Very moderate, they were never quick to prescribe antibiotics, but certainly did when necessary.  Treatment advice was always part holistic, part medical, and the medical advice was always plan B to a milder plan A.

I have seen some threads discussing RI peds. and have noted many male doctors.  Are there any great female doctors out there?  I strongly prefer female doctors, mainly because of my own issues with men.  Will go for a male if nothing else is available, but I would love to hear from anyone out there who has found a female pediatrician who somewhat matches the description of our previous ped.

Big thanks in advance for any and all advice!

O C

[lovebeingamomma]

This is probably your best bet: http://www.kingstownpediatrics.com/  Specifically Dr. Colleen Powers.  

[mum5]

Hi there. Sorry for you bad experience w/ pedi's. We go to Waterman Pdeiatrics, which is now Coastal medical. They moved a few years ago from waterman St. in Prov. to East prov, on the Seekonk line. We personally see Dr. Finigan, who is wonderful, compassionate and really talks to you and your child as an equal, NOT as someone beneath him. He is well read, has young children of his own, and is very caring.

That said, the practice does have female pedi's, Drs. Gaines, Shaw and Bliss, and 2 NP's. Also a couple of other male Dr's too, Mc Gookin is also great.