Adolescent Medicine

The Division of Adolescent Medicine demonstrated its ability to adapt and thrive in 2020. Jessica MacCormac, DO, spearheaded our transition to telemedicine during the pandemic; we moved into a new clinical space at 599 Farmington Avenue in Farmington; and we welcomed a third provider, Miranda Mitchell, CPNP, in November.

SPECIALTY CARE

We continue to provide specialty care to adolescents and young adults ages 10 to 25 at our Adolescent Medicine Clinic in Farmington. Examples of our services include: • Eating Disorders: We have seen a marked increase in eating disorders among adolescents during the pandemic. Our medical providers evaluate the medical and nutritional status of patients, recommend levels of care, and collaborate with community therapists and dieticians to provide longitudinal care over time. We also prescribe psychotropic medications for the treatment of anxiety and depression, which are common comorbid diagnoses in patients with eating disorders. Mrs. Mitchell has brought extensive eating disorder and psychopharmacology experience after previously working in the medical and psychiatric adolescent inpatient unit at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Rhode Island. • Contraception: We offer all forms of hormonal contraception, including same-day insertions of IUDs and implants, for both the management of menstrual concerns and for birth control. We also provide non-surgical gynecologic care including Pap smears and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment. • Menstrual disorders: We treat a variety of menstrual disorders including abnormal uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, irregular menses, primary/secondary amenorrhea, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We also collaborate with our colleagues in the Hemostasis & Thrombosis Program to help manage menstrual bleeding with bleeding disorders.

PRIMARY CARE

Drs. Bennett and MacCormac continue to provide primary care of adolescents and young adults ages 13 to 21 within Primary Care at their East and West Hartford locations.

EDUCATION

Educating future pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists continues to be an essential part of our mission. University of Connecticut pediatric residents are required to complete a four-week adolescent medicine rotation during their second year of training. The residents work with Connecticut Children’s providers as well as our community clinical partners during their rotation. The Division of Adolescent Medicine greatly appreciates the time commitment and teaching contributions of the following clinical preceptors and their colleagues:

• Elite Sports Medicine, Farmington, CT: David Wang, MD, MS, through spring/summer of 2020, followed by Imran Hafeez, MD, and Allison Crepeau, MD • Westminster School, Simsbury, CT: Davis Smith, MD, medical director • Institute of Living Adolescent Programs, Hartford, CT: Jennifer Zajac, MD, Robert Sahl, MD, and Sheena Joychan, MD, followed by Victoria Urrutia, MD • Women’s Ambulatory Health Services, Teen Clinic and Family Planning Clinic, Hartford, CT: Sarah Lindsay, MD, and Sheila Flaum, DO

We also offer an adolescent medicine elective for fourth year medical students from the UConn School of Medicine and the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. Following the retirement of Dr. Patricia Joyce in July, Dr. MacCormac became the clerkship director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at the UConn School of Medicine.

RESEARCH & GRANTS

Dr. Bennett continues her work with colleagues in the Division of Infectious Diseases on the Department of Public Health Integrated HIV Testing and PrEP Navigation Project.

STAFF

Alyssa Bennett, MD, Division Chief Jessica MacCormac, DO, MS Miranda Mitchell, CPNP