As the oldest provider of pediatric medicine in Boston, Mass General for Children (MGfC) has been providing compassionate care to pediatric patients since 1821. MGfC treats more than 170,000 pediatric patients annually, including both primary care physicians and specialists throughout Mass General Brigham.
“Being part of a global leader in research and clinical medicine gives our pediatric patients access to cutting-edge research and medical care that is often unavailable at other children’s hospitals,” says Joanne Wolfe, MD, MPH, chief of pediatrics and physician-in-chief at MGfC. “This allows us to provide the highest level of personalized, compassionate care to children and their families across New England.”
Care of children with the family in the center
MGfC’s motto, “Once we start caring, we never stop,” embodies a commitment to patients that can begin even before birth. Building long-term relationships creates a comforting environment of trust that allows providers to offer families individualized care that meets a child’s personality and evolving medical needs.
“Caring for the entire family is critical, especially when it comes to prevention, disease management, recovery and return to normal life,” says Dr. Wolfe.
This family-centered approach addresses the global epidemics of obesity and overweight. Such interventions are usually most effective when started early and with the involvement of family and health professionals. The First 1,000 Days Program and High Five for Kids are examples of MGfC’s long experience in translating research in these areas into practice.
The Raising Healthy Hearts program is currently helping children and families make lifestyle changes to address cardiovascular or metabolic risks. In cases where diet and exercise are not enough, weight management medications and bariatric surgery are now an option for teens. Although still relatively rare, MGfC is on track to perform 30 adolescent bariatric procedures this year, making it the highest-volume center in New England.
Regardless of the condition, Dr. Wolfe emphasizes that family involvement is essential to treatment and preventing relapse. “It takes a team effort to achieve lasting change,” she says.
Specialized care for special patients
Pediatricians are aware of the need to care for and support patients and families as a single unit. According to Dr. Allan Goldstein, Chief of Pediatric Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at MGfC, this role is central to their responsibilities as healthcare professionals. “When we talk about a patient, we really mean the patient, their family, caregivers, physicians and everyone involved in the child’s life,” he explains. “This level of commitment requires a style and approach that is unique to pediatrics.”
This style often requires imagination. Dr. Wolfe recalls a child therapist who transformed a child who was terrified of having a tonsillectomy into one who happily rode to the operating room in a plastic car and waved goodbye to everyone. “Any childhood experience that involves separation from family, disrupted routines and possible pain and discomfort can be traumatic,” she says. “We focus on making sure patients and their families come out of a hospital stay as if it had been a normal day.”
Pediatric surgeons specialize in treating conditions that are unique to infants, children, and adolescents. This care includes seeing patients before they are born and being able to diagnose and treat congenital malformations or diseases that manifest during development.
“We often treat conditions that never occur in adulthood, depending on how and when they occur,” explains Dr. Goldstein. These conditions range from complicated craniofacial procedures to rare congenital anomalies in the chest and abdomen to oncology procedures for tumors that occur exclusively in children.
Conversely, Dr. Goldstein emphasizes that MGfC also stands out through its collaboration with adult specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital. Children can suffer from conditions that are common in adults but rare in pediatric patients. In these circumstances, combining our pediatric expertise with the extensive expertise of adult specialists is critical. This partnership allows us to offer innovative treatments and surgical techniques that may not otherwise be available to pediatric patients, providing seamless access to specialized surgical care adapted to a pediatric setting.
“Many procedures that are rarely performed in children are performed on adults every day at Mass General,” says Dr. Goldstein. “By working with these surgeons, we benefit from their skill and experience in treating conditions that are rarely seen in pediatric patients.”
Pediatrics at the cutting edge
Proximity to the latest research and innovations increases their ability to do even more to treat patients. Combined with an atmosphere that encourages and prioritizes collaboration, groundbreaking discoveries create new opportunities.
Dr. Wolfe emphasizes the importance of carefully applying the latest medical knowledge in pediatrics.
“Therapies that are effective in adults may not translate directly to children,” says Dr. Wolfe. There is a delicate balance between effective treatment and minimizing unnecessary burden on children. “Our deep understanding of the nuances of pediatric care inspires us to research and develop effective therapies and innovative delivery methods that truly benefit our young patients.”
Two of the following areas represent groundbreaking clinical practice and research at MGfC:
Oncological care
Adolescent and young adult cancers share tumor-specific similarities with adult cancers, which is why proximity to surgical and medical oncologists at Mass General is invaluable. The Pediatric and Adolescent Surgical Oncology team at MGfC and the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program at Mass General Cancer Center provide exceptional continuity of care beyond medical and surgical treatment.
“We can leverage our strengths as a children’s hospital within a general hospital to provide the best cancer treatments available,” says Dr. Goldstein. “Fighting cancer with such a team, which includes psychiatrists and social workers, empowers everyone in the patient’s life to successfully manage the disease process.”
Pediatric Neurology
The range of specializations in this area extends from novel treatments for seizure disorders to the treatment of behavioral disorders, which have escalated since the pandemic. Comprehensive care for a wide range of neurological disorders relies on partnerships with child psychiatry and adolescent and young adult medicine. Their integration provides crucial continuity in treating the mental health issues of patients and families who face the challenges of growing up with these disorders.
The Lurie Center for Autism is a multidisciplinary clinical, research, education, and advocacy program dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A major focus of research is strategies to assist pediatricians in making accurate diagnoses, which makes a tremendous difference in how patients receive and respond to treatment.
Dr. Wolfe says the common thread in what MGfC offers is a holistic approach to family-centered care that spans a patient’s entire life. Whether it’s supporting children with chronic illnesses or helping youth with ASD transition into adulthood, the commitment to their well-being is the same.
“We are a large community that feels small because of the close connection we build with our patients and their families,” says Dr. Wolfe. “That connection lets them know we’re here to support them for as long as they need it.”
