General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
About Us
The UNC Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine is a group of health care providers who:
- Have expertise in comprehensive health care of children from birth to early adult years.
- In addition to primary care, provide subspecialty care in Adolescent Medicine, Child Abuse Pediatrics, and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Our generalists also have specific expertise in caring for children with medical complexity.
- Perform important research across a wide range of topics including the social and contextual factors that shape health outcomes, health equity and other health services research.
- Teach foundational concepts in pediatrics care to students, residents and fellow trainees.
- Advocate for policy changes that will improve the health and wellbeing of children, adolescents and their families.
Our Vision
We will transform health, well-being, and health care delivery for children, adolescents, and young adults as a leader in whole-person care. We will provide and increase access to high quality, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive patient- and family-centered care that optimizes the development, safety, and well-being of children and adolescents. Our innovative teaching, groundbreaking research, and advocacy to improve policy will lead to greater health equity for children and adolescents.
GENERAL PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE NEWS
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Disinterest in Pediatric Care? Jordan and Rao Pen Perspective Piece on Pediatric Workforce Decline
This year’s match results show that only 91.8% of pediatric residency slots were successfully filled by programs compared to a higher percentage in years past. This ongoing outcome has many physicians in the field worried about the declining interest in pediatric subspecialties. Katherine Jordan, MD, and Priyanka Rao, MD, at the UNC School of Medicine wrote a JAMA perspective piece asking, “Where are all the pediatricians?”
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Welcome New Physician Faculty: Rollyn Ornstein, MD
Rollyn Ornstein, MD joined the Pediatric Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine on June 28, 2024. Dr. Ornstein will serve as the new Section Head of Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Ornstein earned her medical degree at the New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, completed her pediatric residency at Babies and Children’s Hospital of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, and her fellowship in adolescent medicine at the Schneider Children’s Hospital of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New Hyde Park, NY.
Dr. Ornstein is a Board Certified Adolescent Medicine physician who is also a nationally renowned expert in eating disorders. With an active career in academic medicine for almost 20 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the division.
She was previously a Professor of Pediatrics at Penn State University, where she also served as Interim Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine. Most recently, Dr. Ornstein was the Director of Pediatrics and Adolescent Services at the Veritas Collaborative in Durham, North Carolina.
We are thrilled to have Dr. Ornstein’s experience and leadership in our growing Adolescent Medicine section!
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Vander Schaaf Receives Medical Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professorship
Emily Vander Schaaf, MD, MPH, Associate Professor in the Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, has been awarded the Medical Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professorship by the Academy of Educators. Congratulations!
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Rao Promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Priyanka Rao, MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective June 1, 2024. Dr. Rao has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since August 2020. Dr. Rao received her undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 2008 and earned her medical degree in 2013 from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa. Before returning to UNC, she served as a Neonatal Hospitalist at the University of Michigan C.S., Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Congratulations Priyanka!