Dr.Deb
About The Author
Dr. Deborah Rotenstein is a Pediatric Endocrinologist who was born in Brooklyn New York and resides with her husband in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Her Undergraduate degree was from the University of Rochester. She attended the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, and did her Pediatric Residency at Emory University. Her Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship was at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh As a practicing Pediatric Endocrinologist, her specific interest has always been the growth of children. She has published academic papers in many aspects of endocrinology but her research area is on the use of growth hormone in children with Spina Bifida. An avid reader, Dr. Rotenstein has 2 children and several grandchildren. Her patients are her “heroes” and her greatest teachers
Why Dr.Deb
Started Writing Books
I had a bustling practice in pediatric endocrinology, and at the time I wrote the book, I had seen thousands of children with endocrine issues. A frequent problem I saw was growth, and among those young patients, 70% were male. Being small impacts self-esteem, but more importantly, it is an indicator of health.
I began writing because I noticed most of my colleagues would address their treatment recommendations to parents rather than directly to their patients. Children have strong emotions related to coping with chronic illness, and I found better results by involving the whole family in the treatment process.
The idea behind the book is to have a character the children can relate to and open dialogue with parents and siblings. Here is a sample parent workbook to go along with Someday When I am Bigger to illustrate how parents can use this as a tool.
About our
Philosophy
Open Communication
- Help Children identify feelings
- Listen actively
- Share your feelings
- Create ideas for coping together
Chronic illness can be frightening for children and siblings. Adults often have difficulty identifying feelings so it is doubly difficult for children. Our philosophy is to speak honestly to children in ways they can understand. Their imagined issues can be worse than the reality we try to shield from them.
Involve the Family
- Siblings benefit from knowing the facts
- Share what is relevant, don't overdo
Chronically ill children don’t want to be treated as if they are different and siblings may worry if they don’t understand the condition. It is best to be open and involve the family in treatment in an appropriate way. Don’t go overboard with medical jargon, but don’t oversimplify.
Some Facts About
Children who are Small
Short Stature
Some children are shorter than their peers simply because they are. It could be genetic.
Poor Growth
can be an indicator of many conditions from poor nutrition, endocrine disease, digestive issues, asthma, etc.
When it shows
After age four if a child falls below their height percentile curve it could indicate an underlying concern.
Growth Hormone Deficiency
is not very common but when it occurs it needs to be properly diagnosed and treated.
Someday When I am Bigger
identifies the feelings and challenges for all children with any type of short stature issue.
Book an Interview with Dr. Deb
Dr. Deb is available to discuss her new book, Someday When I am Bigger, and is an expert in pediatric endocrinology and the impact it has on the emotional life of children and families. See the sample material.