need recommendation for pediatrician in downtown DC

[October14Mom]

Does anyone have any recommendations for pediatricians in downtown DC? I'm a FTM, due mid-October of this year. Our health insurance is MedStar Select.

I've heard Dr. Ellen Hamburger at Children's Pediatricians & Associates (2141 K Street) is great, but I just called over there and she's not accepting any new patients and doesn't have a wait list to which I can add our names right now. They currently have 6 doctors at the practice taking new patients: Drs. Kaplan, Schneider, Smith-Khuri, Wagner, O'Brien, and Schoonover. Does anyone know anything about them? I've also heard good things about Dr. Gilliam, but she was not one of the ones the receptionist listed as being available. The practice apparently takes our insurance (MedStar Select), but I don't think they or the hospital at which they have privileges (Children's National Medical Center) are within our network.

I've also heard great things about Dr. Dorothy Anne Richmond at Georgetown Pediatrics (which is a MedStar affiliate and would obviously be in network); Dr. June Fusner in Kensington, MD; Drs. Idriss (father / daughter) at Kendood Pediatrics in Bethesda, MD; and Foxhall Pediatrics. Does anyone know anything about them?

Does anyone have any other recommendations? I've listed some outside of downtown, DC, but because we live and work in the city, we'd far prefer someone in the city.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Any of the doctors at CP&A would be good. The practice is great. Dr. Smith-Khuri is our favorite, but I've met almost everyone you listed and you can't go wrong.

[Anonymous]

I know the doctors at CP&A are affiliated with Children's National Medical Center - I thought they (the ones at K street anyway) were also affiliated at GW? Anyone know if this is true or false? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I love Dr. Obrien..at CP&A - they are affiliated with Children's...and everyone we've seen there has been really great. FTM, 18 months...Their sick visits have been reasonable to deal with (I mean, the kids sick, it's a pain the rear..but at least they've always managed to squeeze us in)...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know the doctors at CP&A are affiliated with Children's National Medical Center - I thought they (the ones at K street anyway) were also affiliated at GW? Anyone know if this is true or false? Thanks!

No, not GW. GW doesn't really do pediatric care.

[Anonymous]

We loved Foxhall Pediatrics, but they stopped taking our insurance. I really wish we could still go there, but the out of pocket expenses were just too much for us.

[Anonymous]

We love Michelle Barnes Marshall in the West End, but I don't know about the insurance angle. She's a solo practitioner, which I know isn't for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Pullman & Ariza. Small practice with great care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pullman & Ariza. Small practice with great care.

+1 We love them too. Our kids have been going there for 5 years and we've had a great experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love Michelle Barnes Marshall in the West End, but I don't know about the insurance angle. She's a solo practitioner, which I know isn't for everyone.

I liked her at first but she seemed to not take some of my concerns seriously and brushed them off as 'first time mom' concerns. My child went from 25% in weight to 2nd%. I wanted a referral to GI because I felt like something was "off" about his weight. Additionally, my child had a virus (always on a weekend!) for the first time and I could NOT get ahold of the doctor on call. I called a number of times before I gave up and went to the ER because of my kid's excessive vomit and dehydration. The on-call doc (Dr Wirt) finally called me back like 5 hours later, I didn't answer because we were at the ER, and he never followed up. I gather Dr. Barnes Marshall never heard that I called in to the emergency line either.

I finally had an LC visit and she was concerned with my kid's lack of milk transfer and at that point, I switched to CP&A. We now see Smith-Khuri and have been much happier. I feel like the takes my concerns seriously - I got in to GI quickly, and the Doctor has followed up with me a number of times.

That's just my experience - I wanted Dr Barnes Marshall to work out but in the end, I probably tried too long to make it work and lost some ground on my son's weight. live and learn - trust your gut.

[Anonymous]

I think any of those doctors at CP&A are fine. We rotate a lot there based on whoever is available and I haven't had a bad experience with any of the doctors or nurse practitioners there.

[Anonymous]

Dr. OBrien is fantastic. I trust her implicitly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Michelle Barnes Marshall in the West End, but I don't know about the insurance angle. She's a solo practitioner, which I know isn't for everyone.

I liked her at first but she seemed to not take some of my concerns seriously and brushed them off as 'first time mom' concerns. My child went from 25% in weight to 2nd%. I wanted a referral to GI because I felt like something was "off" about his weight. Additionally, my child had a virus (always on a weekend!) for the first time and I could NOT get ahold of the doctor on call. I called a number of times before I gave up and went to the ER because of my kid's excessive vomit and dehydration. The on-call doc (Dr Wirt) finally called me back like 5 hours later, I didn't answer because we were at the ER, and he never followed up. I gather Dr. Barnes Marshall never heard that I called in to the emergency line either.

I finally had an LC visit and she was concerned with my kid's lack of milk transfer and at that point, I switched to CP&A. We now see Smith-Khuri and have been much happier. I feel like the takes my concerns seriously - I got in to GI quickly, and the Doctor has followed up with me a number of times.

That's just my experience - I wanted Dr Barnes Marshall to work out but in the end, I probably tried too long to make it work and lost some ground on my son's weight. live and learn - trust your gut.

We use her and love her, but as the other PP said, a solo practitioner isn't for everyone. But one of our kids suffers from asthma and food allergies and she always calls us back and makes good referrals. Definitely trust your gut. We had no idea who to use and rather than interview peds we went with Dr. Barnes since friends of ours with the same leanings and inclinations used her. We figured we could always switch if something was amiss. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I love Dr. Barnes, but I can see how her set up might not work for everyone. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a pediatrician

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think any of those doctors at CP&A are fine. We rotate a lot there based on whoever is available and I haven't had a bad experience with any of the doctors or nurse practitioners there.

+1