Adolescent Medicine
Akron Children's Hospital offers the most comprehensive adolescent medicine program in northeast Ohio. Our inclusive care focuses on respecting individuality and confidentiality; supporting physical, social and emotional development; and empowering teens and young adults to take ownership of their health care and life decisions.
We invite you to explore the information in the tabs below to learn more about the primary and specialty care we provide. We’re glad you’re here!
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Schedule Online
Scheduling new patient appointments.
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Schedule on MyChart
Log in to MyChart at mychart.akronchildrens.org. Select the patient you are scheduling for and click "Schedule an Appointment." Don't have MyChart?
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Speak with a scheduler
330-543-2778 (KID-APPT)
Why Akron Children's
OUR SPECIALTIES
Treatment for eating disorders
Gender affirming medicine
Gynecologic care
In 2020, our team cared for patients throughout Ohio and in 4 other states. We offer in-person care – and virtual visits for patients who live far away, have transportation issues or prefer the comfort of their homes.
Locations
Contact Adolescent Medicine
Akron Children's Hospital Adolescent Medicine, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Third Floor
Akron, Ohio 44308
Fax: 330-543-3687
More about this location...
Map & directions
Akron Children's Hospital Adolescent Medicine, Boardman
Building A
6505 Market Street
Boardman, Ohio 44512
More about this location...
Map & directions
Our Doctors/Providers
Division Director, Division of Adolescent Medicine; Adolescent Medicine Specialist
Accepting New Patients
Crystal Cole, MD
Director, Gender-Affirming Medicine; Adolescent Medicine Specialist
Accepting New Patients
Laura Markley, MD
Medical Director, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry; Community Pediatrics Liaison; Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist; General Pediatrician - Adolescent Medicine
Accepting New Patients
Lindsay Bailey, MS, RD, LD, CDE, CEDRD
Registered Dietitian; Certified Diabetes Educator; Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian
Kristin Hauck, RDN, LD
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
What Should Families Expect When They Come for an Appointment?
At Akron Children’s, your child’s health and safety is our priority. Please continue to bring your child for wellness visits, vaccinations or sick care appointments that keep children healthy. We want to assure you that we have taken additional precautions to ensure a safe environment for your child and family. The following are additional safety efforts, in addition to our normal cleaning protocols, that we are taking to help you be comfortable bringing your child to an appointment.
Limiting the Number of Caregivers and Face Covering
The number of caregivers permitted to accompany a child to an appointment is dependent on the department you are visiting. Everyone visiting an Akron Children's facility is asked to wear masks or face coverings, except for kids under 2 or those with sensory issues. Masks will be provided for visitors who do not bring their own.
Checking In and Screening of Visitors
Akron Children's now offers Mobile Check-in to limit your exposure to others. You'll receive a text an hour before your child's appointment arrival time. Click the link in the text when you reach the Akron Children's facility for your child's appointment. You will receive a confirmation text that reminds you to wait in your car. Once we determine appropriate spacing is available inside the building, you'll receive a third text to let you know it's OK to come in for your appointment.
Immediately upon entering the building, your temperature will be taken, either by a thermal scanner or a greeter who will also ask you a few questions.
If you are in a waiting room, you’ll notice signs and a limited number of chairs. This is to remind our patients to keep 6 feet of physical distance between your family and others.
Precautions If You Suspect Your Child Has COVID-19
Call your child’s healthcare professional if your child is sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and has been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Your health care professional will work with Ohio’s public health department and the CDC to determine if your child needs to be tested for COVID-19.
View all the safety precautions Akron Children's is taking.
Videos
Specialty Programs
Primary Care
Adolescent Medicine offers primary care for patients age 12-24. Many patients who come to Akron for specialty care enjoy the convenience of having their primary care appointments on the same campus.
Our primary care services include:
- Annual wellness visits, including age-appropriate discussions on risky habits such as drug/alcohol use and unsafe sexual activity
- Discussion and risky behaviors such as underage drinking
- Evaluation of school concerns and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Skin care, including using Accutane to treat moderate to severe acne
- Nutrition services to ensure teens are making appropriate food choices during this time of physical and intellectual development
- Sports physicals
Eating Disorders
Youth with disordered eating habits or concerns about their bodies may have an eating disorder. Our eating disorders team includes adolescent medicine doctors, registered dietitians, psychologists and nurses. We focus on helping patients and families learn the skills they need to manage an eating disorder at home.
Treatment includes:
- Care for any medical problems caused by disordered eating
- Support to help children adopt normal, appropriate eating habits
- Therapy to address the underlying causes of an eating disorder and help kids develop coping skills
- Inpatient care for patients who need additional support
Signs of an Eating Disorder
Early recognition of an eating disorder is critical. Kids and teens who are treated at a younger age typically experience better outcomes, including shorter illness duration and less severe medical complications such as heart and kidney problems.
Signs of an eating disorder may include:
- Chronic dieting
- Changes in weight
- Obsession with food
- Increasing restrictions on portion sizes or calories, cutting out food groups, skipping meals, binge eating, purging and excessive exercising
- Eating alone or hiding food
- Fatigue
- Switching between periods of overeating and fasting
Resources
- Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders (FEAST): https://www.feast-ed.org/
- National Eating Disorders Association: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Center for Gender Affirming Medicine
Adolescent Medicine offers the Center for Gender Affirming Medicine for transgender and LGBTQ+ youth. Our team includes gender-affirming doctors, a medical assistant, social worker, nurse coordinator, mental health therapist and endocrinologist.
We provide:
- Pubertal suppression
- Gender-affirming hormones for older adolescents and young adults
- Mental health care coordination
- Well checks/preventive visits
- Education
- Supportive care for LGBTQ+ youth and their families
Gynecologic Care
We provide complete, confidential gynecologic care that includes:
- Treatment for abnormal menstrual cycles/bleeding
- Contraception services, including some long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)
- Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections
- Routine gynecologic care, including Pap tests starting at age 21
