Education and research are important elements of Stony Brook's Adolescent Medicine program. All of the Adolescent Medicine physicians are on the faculty of the Stony Brook University School of Medicine and all Stony Brook Children's pediatric residents along with many of the senior medical students rotate through the Adolescent Medicine division on a monthly basis. Medical trainees are taught how to provide adolescent-friendly, developmentally appropriate medical care, and risk reduction counseling in a respectful and non-judgemental manner. This includes learning to balance an adolescent's right to confidentiality with a parent's concern and desire to be an informed participant in their child's care. The Adolescent Medicine division also provides monthly lectures for Stony Brook pediatric residents on various adolescent medical topics providing residents up-to-date, evidence-based information to facilitate the diagnosis and management of issues such as irregular menstrual bleeding, anorexia nervosa, attention deficit disorder, and substance use.
Our team also participates in clinical research projects on different adolescent issues such as reproductive care, adolescent confidentiality, providing effective comprehensive multidisciplinary care to individuals with complex chronic illnesses, and Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (vaping) use.