Salem doc speaks to parents

Note from the editor: Today, the Salem News introduces a weekly column written by a Salem Hospital pediatrician and mother of two. Dr. Gwenn O’Keeffe plans to tap into both worlds each week by providing parents with useful medical information that’s easy to digest. She uses her first column to introduce herself to our readers.

Gwenn O’Keeffe, M.D., a pediatrician at North Shore Children’s Hospital, writes a weekly column on child health issues

I was at band rehearsal a few weeks ago when a fellow saxophonist asked; “You’re a pediatrician, right?”

After confirming that I was indeed a pediatrician, he starting telling me about his 21-month -old son who is in daycare, having behavioral problems, and getting tubes placed in his ears for frequent ear infections. He was very unsure about whether placement of the tubes was the appropriate next step and was also concerned about the risks associated anesthesia. I offered some basic information, reviewed the pros and cons, and provided him reassurance about his decision to go through with the procedure.

A week later, he came to rehearsal and very happily reported that his son was not only sleeping better but was more even keeled. He was very grateful for my comments and I was pleased that I helped make a stressful time for he and his family a little more manageable.

My most satisfying moments as a pediatrician have come from these informal “consults” which I seem to do more in the last five years. Our busy lives, the vast amount of information available, and managed-care driven medical practices simply don’t give people the information they desire or deserve. This new weekly column was born out of my desire to help fill this void and reach as many parents as possible. Being a pediatrician and a parent, I can offer a perspective that incorporates both worlds and hopefully give you some peace of mind from time to time.

As a board-certified pediatrician, I’ve worked in almost every setting imaginable from an impoverished free clinic in Illinois to a more traditional group practice here in Massachusetts. I currently work at North Shore Children’s Hospital in Salem, MA, in the newly renovated emergency room and am co-chairperson of the Patient Education Committee here.

I am married and have two daughters ages 5 and 8. My family is my pride and joy and what keeps me grounded. I do have to admit that there are many times my house seems more like a zoo with wild beasts from far away lands and many others when I feel like I’m put on this planet to carpool and shuttle kids with different schedules to different ends of town.

Why do I tell you this? Because I want you to know that being a pediatrician does not make me immune any of the parenting angst and joys that you experience. And, through this column, I am really looking forward to sharing my war stories and lessons learned from my children with you. In the coming weeks, I will be cover infant colic, safety tips to get you through the winter and prepare for the spring, juggling work and children, behavior problems in small children, allergies and the flu. And, this is just the start!! If nothing else, we’ll hopefully share a few laughs together, which is sometimes the best medicine around!

Before I hit my word quota this week, I want to point out that my style may be a bit different from your own pediatrician’s approach. As in most fields, practicing pediatrics is itself an art that intertwines medical knowledge with personal style and interpretation. So, please defer to your own pediatrician when in doubt. If nothing else, my column will hopefully arm you with questions to ask and some information and that it is always valuable.

Finally, I want to invite you to send me your questions and war stories, and any topics you want me to talk about. After all, I’m doing this column for you. You can either mail your questions to Salem News, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA 01915 or e-mail me at sflynn@ecnnews.com, no attachments please.

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