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C A R E F O R B A B I E S , K I D S A N D T E E N S
Accepting new patients
CHILDREN
o en sit on
chairs designed for their height
because their legs are shorter than an
adult’s. Toddlers drink from sipping
cups because they don’t yet have
the skills to handle a regular glass.
And children ride on bicycles with
training wheels because a youngster’s
sense of balance is still a work in
progress.
All these items recognize that
children and grown-ups are di erent
in many ways.
e healthcare providers at
Sentara Halifax Pediatrics recognize
those di erences too, and they’re
prepared to address the needs of
even the youngest patients.
Why choose a pediatrician?
Pediatrics is derived from the
Greek words for
child
and
treat-
ment
. And that’s the essence of
a pediatrician: a physician who
is trained in the treatment of
children.
Pediatricians and pediatric
nurse practitioners specialize in the
physical, emotional, mental and
social development of children—
from birth through adolescence to
adulthood.
As your child’s primary care
provider, a pediatrician or pediat-
ric nurse practitioner can:
w
Treat acute illnesses (such as strep
throat) and chronic ones (such as
asthma).
w
Give your child all the necessary
immunizations that can help pro-
tect him or her from some serious
diseases.
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O er you advice on how to help
keep your child healthy and on
common parenting issues, such as
discipline and toilet training.
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Guide you in anticipating your
child’s needs through the years.
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Refer you to a specialist if your
child requires one.
The faces of Sentara
Halifax Pediatrics
Sentara Halifax Pediatrics, which
opened Dec. 1, 2014, o ers qual-
ity care for every child. Two pe-
diatricians and a pediatric nurse
practitioner o er personalized,
comprehensive
care and create a
trusting relation-
ship with each
family.
Pediatrician
Deborah D.O.
Abaitey, M.D.,
joined Sentara
Halifax Pediatrics
in early January.
She completed
her residency
in pediatrics
at Woodhull
Medical Center
in Brooklyn,
New York, and
her internship in
pediatrics/
surgery at the
Komfo Anokye
Teaching Hos-
pital in Kumasi,
Ghana. She
received her
medical degree
from the Kwame
Nkrumah Uni-
versity of Science
and Technology
in Kumasi.
Pediatrician Anne J. Lombardi,
M.D., completed her pediatric
residency at Baylor College of
Medicine. She received her medical
degree from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill School of
Medicine. Dr. Lombardi joined
Sentara Halifax Pediatrics in early
January.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Senecca E. Kirkhart, C.P.N.P.,
joined Sentara Halifax Pediat-
rics when it opened in late 2014.
Kirkhart earned her master’s
degree in advanced practice
pediatric nursing, pediatric nurse
practitioner, from the University
of Maryland, Baltimore. She com-
pleted her bachelor’s degree in
nursing at Edinboro University of
Pennsylvania.
To make an appointment with
one of our pediatricians,
call
434-517-8022
or go to
www.hrhs.org/pediatrics.
Deborah D.O.
Abaitey, M.D.
Anne J.
Lombardi, M.D.
Senecca E.
Kirkhart, C.P.N.P.
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