Westerville Pediatric Specialists, Inc.

01/02/2026

Happy New Year!
From all of us at Westerville Pediatric Specialists, Inc. to all of you!

Be sure to start 2026 right by making sure your child's annual well check is up-to-date!

10/16/2024

We can’t always promise matching shirts. But call ahead and we’ll try our best! (ps. Flumist seemed to be a real popular hit today)

03/02/2022

We’re very relieved to be past the Omicron surge last month. We’re equally excited by the CDC’s latest recommendations relaxing many requirements for masks (we’re tired of wearing them, too … Dr L has a moustache that deserves SO MUCH ridicule, now).

As a reminder, the CDC still recommends masks for the following indoor settings:
• those in medium areas who are immunocompromised or potentially at increased risk for severe disease if recommended by their health care provider;
• everyone in high COVID areas, including in schools;
• people with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19; and
• people using public transportation.

Because of the nature of a pediatric medical practice, we still require masks for all appointments in our offices.

We will continue to reassess these requirements as the pandemic evolves.

We appreciate your understanding. If you have an upcoming appointment and feel that this is unreasonable, we will be happy to reschedule it for a later date.

Thank you,

The Providers of Westerville Pediatric Specialists, Inc. & Sunbury Mills Pediatrics

The CDC is turning its focus toward protecting people at high risk of severe disease and keeping hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

02/09/2022

Please be advised that our phone hours have changed!

Monday-Thursday: 9am to 4:30pm
Friday: 9am to 4pm
Saturday: 9am to 11:30am

11/11/2021

We're excited to receive so many calls regarding the COVID-19 vaccine for children. We're including a link with some great information from Bright Futures. But here are a couple of answers for the more common questions that we receive:

1. Do we recommend the vaccine? Yes! We absolutely recommend the vaccine for all eligible children.

2. Who should NOT get the vaccine? The list of contraindications is quite short. Basically, history of an anaphylactic allergic reaction to the vaccine or one of its components (which is quite rare) is the primary contraindication.

3. What if I or my child has had COVID-19? The risk of re-infection after SARS-CoV-19 is low, but immunity may wane over time. So the vaccine is still recommended.

4. What about the risk for myocarditis? This is being carefully followed. Fortunately, those numbers are quite low (males between ages 16-17y have shown the highest incidence with roughly 63 cases per *million* doses). When compared to the risk of actual infection from COVID-19 and the subsequent risk of cardiomyopathy, the recommendation is very easy.

5. What are the common side effects from the vaccine? The common side effects are similar to what we can see with any of our vaccines: Soreness at the vaccine site; body aches; headache; fever.

6. We just got the flu vaccine. Do we have to wait? Nope! You can get the COVID vaccine at any time.

7. Are we administering the vaccine in our office? Not at this time. Storage, handling, and staffing issues have proven to be a bit prohibitive.

8. Are we planning to dismiss families that refuse the vaccine? Absolutely not.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us during office hours! 614-508-2223

Here’s how to schedule your child’s COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone, including children who are eligible to get the shot. Prevent serious illness by getting the vaccine for your child.

01/24/2021

Virginia Sole-Smith is a journalist, author and contributing editor with Parents Magazine. Her piece in today's New York Times provides some nice suggestions as well as reassurance regarding a sometimes very sensitive topic.

Think of body changes as something to be curious about, not a problem to be solved.

09/20/2020

Students across Central Ohio are back to school in one form or another. Here's are two articles from the NY Times for those struggling to balance the demands of remote schooling while maintaining a household. Hope they help!

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/remote-learning-space-set-up/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/05/at-home/work-school-from-home.html

09/03/2020

Due to COVID-19, our flu clinics will be a little different this year. We will be offering a walk-through clinic in our lobby or, weather permitting, we will be outside. These flu vaccinations are by appointment only and your child MUST HAVE a current physical within the last 12 months. Please bring your completed flu form with you to their appointment. (http://www.westervillepediatricspecialists.com/patients.html )

Beginning October 1, 2020, our flu clinic hours are as follows:

Westerville:
Thursdays 1pm-5pm,
Fridays 2:30pm-4:30pm
Saturdays 9am-12pm

Sunbury: Tuesday afternoons

Infants, Children and Adolescent care. Call 614-508-2223 and learn why Westerville Pediatric Specialists is a trusted Westerville, OH pediatrician for your family's health care needs.

07/16/2020

Delaware county has been upgraded to a Level 3 on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System for COVID-19 today. This means that, in addition to the recommended social-distancing guidelines, face coverings are now mandated for all those ages 10 years and older. This impacts both our Westerville and our Sunbury offices.

We continue to encourage face masks for anyone over age two years. And, to minimize risk of exposure, we also strongly recommend no more than one adult accompany our patients during their appointments.

Delaware County Reaches Alert Level Red July 16th, 2020|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments Delaware, OH  – Delaware County was upgraded today to a Level 3 on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System, meaning Delaware County has met four of the seven indicators resulting in a red alert level. Und...

07/09/2020

Just like the way tulips indicate that spring is near, OHSAA fall sport physicals remind pediatricians that the first day of the school year is near. The AAP recently published a statement in support of opening the doors to our schools next month. We're including a link to a brief summary of their recommendations. In the meantime it's a good idea to prepare our school-aged children by encouraging them to wear masks as much a possible when out in public. The transition to school will be easier if they're already used to it. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Return-to-School-During-COVID-19.aspx

06/17/2020

As our state reopens businesses we are getting a lot of questions about what we should and shouldn’t be doing. More evidence is emerging showing the benefits of masks and social distancing. This weekend, The New York Times published a nice article by Alex Williams on helping our children understand and practice social distancing. Hope you find it helpful!

Social distancing is hard — especially for the very young. Here are some ways to get children to care about wearing masks and avoiding germs.

05/26/2020

As the state starts to gradually re-open, we've made a few changes to our office flow.

What HASN'T changed:
- We continuing to separate our well children from our sick children with separate appointment times in Westerville.
- For the time being, the Sunbury office remains open only for well checks.
- Telemedicine is available for appropriate follow-up AND sick appointments.
- All families are being screened over the phone for exposure to COVID-19 prior to their appointments.
- We ask all parents to wear a mask and children over 2, if possible.
- We ask that no more than TWO family members accompany the children to their appointments.

What HAS changed:
- The Westerville office is now open for a half day on Saturdays! We're still continuing to separate our well from our sick children. So well checks (check-ups, sports physicals, etc) are being done starting at 9am. After the last well check, we're taking a short break, then seeing same-day-sick appointments until 12:30.
- Additional well-check appointment slots have been created for the early afternoon and early evenings in Westerville.

So call now to schedule those check-ups! Hair salons are opening up, too ... and, if we're going to be honest, we're going to be just a little disappointed if we don't get to see at least ONE DIY-haircut-done-wrong :)