was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with Leukemia. My pediatrician’s diligence was instrumental in my early diagnosis. I received all of my care locally under the compassionate care of numerous physicians, nurses, and staff. This experience, while challenging, sparked my interest in pursuing a career in medicine.

At Albany High, I excelled in sciences, and got further exposure to medicine during my time in the health career explorations program. I continued this journey, majoring in Biology and pre-medicine during my undergraduate education at Syracuse University. After graduating, I was fortunate to work as a Cardiovascular Tech in the AMC Cardiac Cath Lab. During my two years of employment, I gained invaluable experience in caring for sometimes critically ill patients. I also worked closely with several physicians and gained an insight on the skills and determination required to become a physician. With this in hand, I was accepted to Albany Medical College and received my MD degree. I have always had a love for children, and a youthful personality. This was my motivation to match into pediatrics with the Albany Medical Center Pediatric Residency Program. My experiences in my youth had shown me how important primary care medicine can be.

Now that I have completed my pediatric residency training, I am thrilled to be joining Delmar Pediatrics!  Starting my career, I know that I will be surrounded by a group of knowledgeable and compassionate colleagues that will foster my growth. I look forward to working in and giving back to the community where I grew up.

I currently live in the Delmar area with my fiancé, and soon to be step daughter. I am very excited to say we will be welcoming the arrival of a baby boy this August! I know that this experience as the father of a newborn will help me relate firsthand to many of the issues that my patients have dealt with. I look forward to new challenges and growing as a person and pediatrician.

Outside of pediatrics, first and foremost I get joy from spending time with my family. I also have a passion for soccer. For the past 10 years I have spent most Monday nights at Afrim’s soccer fields. It has been a great way to stay active and keep in touch with old friends. I believe that balancing personal and professional life is key to happiness.

My father was a radiologist and often quizzed me on the x-rays he would read. I loved baby-sitting, playing with children and sometimes acting like a kid. I excelled at science. All these factors naturally lead me towards becoming a pediatrician. I went to medical school at the University of Vermont and did my pediatric training at Maine Medical Center. I came to the Albany area to complete a fellowship in pediatric infectious disease. During this time, I was able to participate in the care of some very complicated patients. I even had the opportunity to go twice to the Dominican Republic and do some medical mission work with the Plastic Surgeons. It was a fascinating experience and makes me truly appreciate our own medical system, despite its drawbacks. Although Infectious Disease was very interesting and practical, I found myself yearning for the patient continuity and close rapport that comes with private practice.

I joined Delmar Pediatrics in 1996. Since then I have enjoyed providing service to such a wonderful and close knit community, but also watching these infants and young children grow and thrive. I believe strongly in preventative medicine including routine physicals, education of parents and patients, and immunizations. I truly enjoy what I do. Everyday some child makes me laugh and reminds me what life and my job are all about.

I am happily married and have two girls. My experience as a mother has been indispensable as a physician, as I can relate to many of the problems with which my patients and parents are dealing. My first daughter was two months premature and we have dealt with apnea of prematurity, severe gastroesophageal reflux and pyelonephritis (kidney infection). We have also adopted a little girl from China. I am intimately familiar with the anxiety of the entire adoption process. I am pleased to say Gabriella and Asia are both happy and healthy.

Although my family and Pediatrics are my first passions, I keep my hand in many other activities. I enjoy gardening and was pleased to be in the 2006 Bethlehem Garden Tour. I practice what I preach, and stay active going to the gym, and paddleboarding. I have painted 10 of the exam rooms here in the office. I feel I have enjoyed a wonderful professional and personal life. I’d like to end with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emmerson.

The Definition of Success

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

One of the most exciting aspects of being a pediatrician is seeing babies, children, and adolescents at all different stages of development. It has been a wonderful experience to watch babies grow into toddlers, school age children become siblings, and high-schoolers head off into the world.

My interest in pediatrics began when I was in college. I attended Duke University and was a biomedical engineering major. This is where my interest in medicine blossomed (in between watching numerous basketball games with the 1991 and 1992 NCAA Championship teams!!!!) While I was at Duke, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the hospital in several different disciplines. I knew that pediatrics was for me when I was able to volunteer on the pediatrics ward on Halloween. Surrounded by witches, fairies, and superheroes, I was able to see the need for compassionate, caring physicians who really appreciate children for who they are.

My passion for science led me to a summer fellowship program at the Duke University Medical Center where I began a medical research program. The physician whom I met at the time became my mentor. She was truly a role model for me and I followed in her footsteps by attending the same medical school she had attended, New York University School of Medicine.

My training continued after medical school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. My experience there was extraordinary. It was truly a privilege to train at one of the top Children’s Hospitals in the country. As a referral center for most of Western Pennsylvania, Children’s hospital was able to offer me the opportunity to learn and grow as a physician by taking care of numerous children with multiple medical problems. It was there that I learned to take care of critically ill children. It was also there in 2001 that my daughter was born and I learned firsthand what it was like to be a parent.

I truly understand how it feels to be up all night with a sick child. I also know what it feels like to worry about a child’s development and what really is considered normal.

Special interests include nutrition, adolescent medicine, and developmental concerns.

He made office visits fun for me, was a resource of valuable information and it was apparent he truly loved his career.

At a young age, I thought about a medical career. I worked part-time in high school and college at a physical rehabilitation center and suburban hospital to learn about the medical field. I provided basic assistance and skilled care to patients, performed EKGs, drew blood for lab tests and changed dressings. I also shadowed physicians to gain better insight into the care they provided and to examine their role in the health care system. During this process, I learned that I had an empathetic personality and that I enjoyed taking care of patients.

At Tufts University, I studied engineering and premedical sciences and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. I received my MD degree from Albany Medical College and completed my Pediatric Residency at Albany Medical Center Hospital. I feel fortunate to have chosen to become a pediatrician. I have been privileged to care for many wonderful children, adolescents and their families, and I am pleased to be entrusted with their care.

As much as I love being a pediatrician, my other true calling is as a husband and father. My wife and I have been married since 1998 and have two daughters. I cherish the time I spend with my family.