Adolescent Medicine

The Department of Pediatrics’ Adolescent Medicine Program addresses the unique developmental needs for young people between the ages of 11 and 21. This team of pediatrics specialists provides more than 40,000 adolescent clinical visits per year, is one of the preeminent academic training programs in the United States and brings in more than $3 million dollars per year in extramural research support.

The Division of Adolescent Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine was created in 1983 with the recruitment and arrival of Donald P. Orr, MD. Recruited by Dr. Morris Green, Dr. Orr’s goal was to establish a premier academic adolescent health program grounded in clinical services, training and clinical research. The Adolescent Health Program provides a range of health-related services for this stage of a young person’s development.

Health Advocacy

The Adolescent Medicine division is committed to advocating for adolescent and young adults under their care, in the state of Indiana, and across the country. Faculty members within the division are in leadership positions in the Indiana Chapter of the AAP, and have given expert testimony at the Indiana Statehouse on many issues such as contraception, comprehensive reproductive health care including abortion access, and gender affirming care. Their subspecialty and interdisciplinary trainees learn best practices in advocacy work, with the goal of improving the health and wellness of adolescents and young adults in the state.

Division Leadership

Division Chief

Rachel A. Katzenellenbogen, MD

Richard E. and Pauline P. Klingler Professor of Pediatrics

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Associate division chief of clinical programs

Rebekah L. Williams, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

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Erika Naylor

Clinical Education Coordinator

Video

A Word from Division Chief Rachel Katzenellenbogen

Research

Adolescent medicine faculty at IU School of Medicine are nationally known for research as well as for advocacy related to adolescents on the regional and national levels.

Clinical Care

The Adolescent Health Program treats any problem in an adolescent that persists or requires more specialized treatment than is usually available at the primary-care level.

Fellowship

Interdisciplinary training in adolescent health prepares postgraduate trainees in medicine, nursing, social work, psychology and dietetics/nutrition.

Give: Better health for gender diverse youth

The Gender Health Program—created in 2016—is a transdisciplinary clinical program developed within the Section of Adolescent Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, to provide care for gender diverse youth.

Philanthropic gifts to the School Wellbeing Gender Diverse Youth Research fund fuel an important component of the Gender Health Program: research in improving school wellbeing during young people's gender expression journeys to help youth become successful adults.