Topic Overview
How do teenagers grow and develop during ages 15 to 18?
The ages from 15 to 18 are an exciting time of life. But these years can
be challenging for teens and their parents. Emotions can change quickly as
teens learn to deal with school, their friends, and adult expectations. Teen
self-esteem is affected by success in sports, school, and friendships. Teens
tend to compare themselves with others, and they might form false ideas about
their body image. The influence of TV, magazines, and the Internet can add to a
teen’s poor body image.
For parents, the teen years are a time to
get to know their teenager. While teens are maturing, they still need a
parent's love and guidance. Most do just fine as they face the challenges of
being a teen. But it is still important for teens to have good support from
their parents so that they can get through these years with as few problems as
possible.
There are four basic areas of teenage
development:
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Physical development.
Most teens enter puberty by age 15. Girls go through a time of rapid growth
right before their first menstrual period. And by age 15, girls are near their
adult height. Boys usually continue to grow taller and gain weight through
their teen years.
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Cognitive development. As
they mature, teens are more able to think about and understand abstract ideas
such as morality. They also begin to understand other people better. Even
though they have a certain amount of empathy and can understand that others
have different ideas, they often strongly believe that their own ideas are the
most true.
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Emotional and social development.
Much of teens’ emotional and social growth is about finding their place in the
world. They are trying to figure out “Who am I?” and “How do I fit in?” So it
is normal for their emotions to change from day to day.
-
Sensory and motor development. Boys continue to get stronger
and more agile even after puberty. Girls tend to level out. Getting plenty of
exercise helps improve strength and coordination in boys and girls.
When are routine medical visits needed?
Teenagers
should see their doctor for a routine checkup each year. The doctor will ask
your teen questions about his or her life and activities. This helps the doctor
check on your teen’s mental and physical health. It’s a good idea to give your
teen some time alone with the doctor during these visits to talk in private.
Your teen will also get any needed shots (immunizations) at each
checkup.
Teens should also see the dentist each year.
When should you call your doctor?
Call your doctor
if you have questions or concerns about your teen’s physical or emotional
health, such as:
- Delayed growth.
- Changes in
appetite.
- Body image problems.
- Behavior
changes.
- Skipping school or other problems with school.
- Alcohol and drug use.
Also call your doctor if you notice changes in your teen’s
friendships or relationships or if you need help talking with your teen.
How can you help your teenager during these years?
Even though teens don't always welcome your help, they still need it.
Your being available and involved in your teen’s life can help your teen avoid
risky behavior. It also helps your teen grow and develop into a healthy adult.
Here are some things you can do:
- Encourage your teen to get enough
sleep.
- Talk about body image and self worth.
- Encourage
your teen to eat healthy foods and be active.
- Talk with your teen
about drugs and alcohol.
- Be ready to address your teen’s concerns
and problems.
- Involve your teen in setting household rules and
schedules.
- Continue talking to your teen about dating and
sex.
- Encourage community involvement (volunteering).
-
Set rules about Internet use.
Teens really want to know that they can talk honestly and
openly with you about their feelings and actions. It is very important for
teens to know that you love them no matter what.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Learning about teen growth and development:
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Developmental areas:
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Seeing a doctor:
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Ongoing concerns:
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What to Expect
Teens grow and develop at different
rates. But general teen growth and development patterns can be grouped into
four main categories.
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Physical development. By age 15, most
teens have entered puberty. Most girls are close to their adult height and have
completed the phase of rapid growth that precedes the first
menstrual period. Boys often continue to grow taller
and gain weight. The
growth spurt in boys tends to start about 2 years
after puberty begins and reaches its peak about 1½ years later. Also, gender
characteristics continue to develop in both girls and boys.
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Cognitive development, which is the ability to think, learn, reason, and remember.
Teens gradually develop the ability to think in more sophisticated, abstract
ways. They begin to perceive issues in shades of gray instead of black and
white, as they gain a better understanding of concepts like morality,
consequence, objectivity, and empathy. Although they may understand that people
can see the same issue in different ways, they often are convinced their
personal view is the one that is most correct.
-
Emotional and social development. Attempts to answer the questions, "Who am I?"
and "How do I fit in?" guide much of teens' emotional and social development.
This can be a painful process full of anxiety. In response, teens may behave
unpredictably as emotions fluctuate seemingly at random. At times teens may
seem mature. Other times, they may act as if they are still in elementary
school, especially with parents and other close family members. Socially, teens
form new friendships, often with members of the opposite sex.
-
Sensory and motor development. After puberty, boys'
strength and agility naturally continues to develop, while that of teen girls
tends to level out. Both girls and boys can increase strength, coordination,
and athletic skill through regular physical activity.
Growth and development does not always occur evenly among
different categories. For example, your teen may have a tremendous growth spurt
and look almost like an adult, but may seem socially and emotionally young for
his or her age. Eventually, most teens mature in all areas of growth and
development, especially if given the right tools and parental guidance.
Common Concerns
The word "teenager" to many people
brings up an image of a wild and reckless young person whose main purpose in
life is to rebel against his or her parents. Most teenagers do not fit this
description. Of course, there are times when any teenager may be hard to deal
with. But many teenagers are trying their best to please parents while they
work toward some level of independence.
Parents of teenagers
between ages 15 and 18 are often most concerned about whether the teen will be
able to make good decisions. Parents know that the choices children make during
the teen years can impact much of their adult lives. It is normal to worry.
Even if your child has momentary lapses in judgment, the chances are that he or
she is going to be okay.
Know that you are not alone in these
types of concerns. For example, many parents worry about whether their teenager
will:
- Resist using or abusing alcohol and drugs
(including prescription drugs and supplements such as
anabolic steroids). Many teens are exposed to these
and other substances throughout their teen years. Offer
strategies to avoid tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. Set
firm, fair, and consistent limits for your teen. Talk about the immediate and
long-lasting results of substance use, such as falling grades and poor health
during adulthood. Help your teen practice how to respond when a harmful
substance is offered, such as stating "No, thanks" and moving on to another
subject. Look for community programs led by teens (peer education). And talk to
your teen right away if you see
signs of substance use.
- Focus enough on
doing well in school. Typically, teenagers have many distractions. Friends,
clubs, sports, and jobs can all compete for time that could be spent completing
homework. Show your teenager how to set goals. For example, talk about and
write down a goal for the week, month, and year. Help your teen think about the
steps that need to be taken to reach the goal. Work with your teen to make a
schedule for when to do each step and set rewards for when the goal is
achieved.
- Drive safely. You can help
teach your teen about safe driving. But what a teen does when parents are not
around is the unknown. Remind your child often that driving is a huge
responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
- Feel pressured to
have sex.
Talk about dating and sex early, before the information is needed. Focus on
what makes a relationship healthy, such as trust and respect for each other.
Also, kids have easy access to many Web sites with sexual or pornographic
content. Keep the computer in a shared area where you can see what your teen is
doing online.
Try to
understand the issues your teen faces. Although you
may remember some struggles from your own teen years, the issues your teen
faces are likely quite different. Stay involved in your teen's life, such as by
going to school events and encouraging your teen to bring friends to your house
while you are home. You can better see the world from his or her perspective
when you are familiar with it. Also, learn to recognize your teen's
stress triggers and offer guidance on how to manage
the anxiety they may cause. But be careful not to get too caught up in your
teen's world. If you try to take too much control, it will likely only make
things harder for him or her.
Promoting Healthy Growth and Development
You can
help your teen between the ages of 15 and 18 years by using
basic parenting strategies. These include offering open, positive
communication while providing clear and fair rules and consistent guidance.
Support your teen in developing healthy habits and attitudes, help him or her
make wise choices, and offer guidance in how to balance responsibilities.
The following are examples of ways to promote healthy growth and
development in specific areas. But remember that many growth and development
issues overlap. For example, having a healthy body image is important for
physical development and emotional development. Use these ideas as a starting
point to help your teen make good choices that will help him or her grow into a
healthy and happy adult.
Promote your teen's
physical development by doing the following:
-
Be aware of changing sleep patterns.
Rapidly growing and busy teens need a lot of sleep. The natural sleeping
pattern for many teens is to go to bed later at night and sleep in. This can
make it hard to get up for school. To help your teen get enough rest,
discourage phone and computer use and TV watching after a certain evening
hour.
- Help your teen manage
acne, if it is a concern. Most young people get at
least mild acne. Keeping the skin clean helps control acne. Also, your teen
should avoid skin products that clog skin pores. Look for products that say
"noncomedogenic" on the label. Suggest that your teen wash his or her skin once
or twice a day with a gentle soap or acne wash. Discourage scrubbing or picking
at pimples, which makes them worse and can lead to scarring. If your teen has a
few pimples, an acne cream you can buy without a prescription may work. Look
for one that has benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These work best when used
just the way the label says. If your teen's pimples are really bothersome or
are scarring the skin, see a doctor. A prescription gel or cream for the skin
may be all he or she needs. For more information, see the topic
Acne Vulgaris.
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Talk about body image. What teens think about their bodies greatly influences their
feelings of
self-worth. Stress that healthy eating and exercise
habits are most important for the short and long term. Help your teen recognize
that television and other media often produce unrealistic images of the ideal
body that are not healthy. For more information, see the topic
Anorexia Nervosa,
Binge Eating Disorder, or
Depression in Children and Teens.
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Offer strategies to avoid tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. Set firm, fair, and
consistent limits for your child. Help him or her understand the immediate and
long-lasting results of substance use, such as falling grades and poor health
during adulthood. Practice how to respond when a harmful substance is offered,
such as simply stating "No, thanks" and moving on to another subject. If you
believe your
teenager is using drugs or alcohol, it is important to
talk about it. Discuss how he or she gets the alcohol, tobacco, or drugs and in
what kind of setting it is used. Seek advice from a doctor if the behavior
continues. For more information on tobacco, drugs, or alcohol problems, see the
topic
Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Dealing with teen substance use
Promote your teen's healthy
emotional and social development by doing the
following:
-
Address problems and concerns. Build
trust gradually so your teen will feel safe talking with you about sensitive
subjects. When you want to talk with your teen about problems or concerns,
schedule a "date" in a private and quiet place. Knowing when and how to
interfere in a teen's life is a major ongoing challenge of parenthood. Parents
walk a fine line between respecting a teen's need for independence and privacy
and making sure that teens do not make mistakes that have lifelong
consequences.
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Understand the confusion about sexual orientation. Hormones, cultural and peer pressures, and fear of being
different can cause many teens to question themselves in many areas, including
sexual orientation. It is normal during the teen years to develop same-sex
"crushes." Consider mentioning to your teen that having such an attraction does
not mean that he or she is destined to be a homosexual. But it is helpful to
acknowledge that in some cases, these feelings grow stronger over time rather
than fade.
- Encourage community service. Both your teen and
community members are helped when your teen volunteers. Your teen gets the
chance to explore how he or she connects with others. While helping peers,
adults, and other people, your teen can gain new skills and new ways of looking
at things. He or she can also develop and express personal values and explore
career options. Your teen can benefit most by thinking back on the service
experience and figuring out what he or she learned from it.
- Help
your child build a strong sense of self-worth to help him or her act
responsibly, cooperate well with others, and have the confidence to try new
things. For more information, see:
- Growth and development: Helping your child build self-esteem.
Promote your teen's
mental (cognitive) development by doing the
following:
-
Encourage mature ways of thinking.
Involve your teen in setting household rules and schedules. Talk about current
issues together, whether it be school projects or world affairs. Listen to your
teen's opinions and thoughts. Brainstorm different ways to solve problems, and
discuss their possible outcomes. Stress that these years provide many
opportunities to reinvent and improve themselves.
-
Offer to help your teen set work and school priorities. Make sure your teen
understands the need to schedule enough rest, carve out study time, eat
nourishing foods, and get regular physical activity.
- Be
goal-oriented instead of style-oriented. Your teen may not complete a task the
way you would—this is okay. What is important is that the task gets done. Let
your teen decide how to complete work, and always assume that he or she wants
to do a good job.
- Continue to enjoy music, art, reading, and creative writing with
your teen. For example, encourage your teen to listen to a variety of music,
play a musical instrument, draw, or write a story. These types of activities
can help teens learn to think and express themselves in new ways. Teens may
discover a new or stronger interest, which may help their self-esteem. Remind
your teen that he or she doesn't need to be an expert. Simply learning about
and experimenting with art can help your teen think in more abstract ways and
pull different concepts together.
Promote your teen's
sensory and motor development by doing the
following:
- Encourage daily exercise. Vigorous
exercise, such as running, biking, or playing soccer or basketball, helps your
teen to stay lean and to have a healthy heart.1
Vigorous exercise also helps your teen feel good. If your child is not used to
exercise, be careful about expecting too much too soon. Overdoing it at first
can make your teen feel tired or discouraged or can even cause injury. Help
your teen to build up an exercise routine slowly. For example, plan a short
daily walk to start. This approach can help your teen gain confidence and make
him or her more likely to keep exercising. For more information on exercise,
see the topics:
Violence and teens
-
Prevent teen violence by being a good
role model. For example, talk calmly during a disagreement with someone else.
Help your teen come up with ways to defuse potentially violent situations, such
as making a joke or acknowledging another person's point of view. Praise him or
her for avoiding a confrontation. You might say, "I'm proud of you for staying
calm." Closely supervise the Web sites and computer games that your child uses.
For more information on teen violence, see the topic
Bullying or
Anger, Hostility, and Violent Behavior.
- Reduce the risk of teen suicide and
recognize the warning signs. If your teen shows signs
of
depression, such as withdrawing from others and being
sad much of the time, try to get him or her to talk about it. Call your doctor
if your teen ever mentions suicide or if you are concerned for his or her
safety.
When to Call a Doctor
Call a doctor if your teen has
health problems or issues that may need treatment, including:
- A significant delay in physical or sexual
development—for example, if sexual development has not begun by age
15.
- Becoming sexually active. Teens who are sexually active need to
be educated about
birth control and
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Also, girls will
usually have a
Pap test.
- Being
overweight. A doctor can help guide weight loss and
proper nutrition.
- Severe
acne that may be helped by medicine. For more
information, see the topic
Acne Vulgaris.
- Problems with attention or
learning.
Call a doctor or a mental health professional if your teen
develops behavioral problems or signs of mental health problems. These may
include:
- Expressing a lack of self-worth or talking
about suicide.
- Acting physically aggressive.
- Regularly
experiencing severe mood swings, such as being happy and excited one minute and
sad and depressed the next.
- A significant change in appetite or
weight. These may signal an
eating disorder.
- Dropping out of school or
failing classes.
- Having serious relationship problems with friends
and family that affect home or school life.
- Showing a lack of
interest in normal activities and withdrawing from other
people.
- Seeking and having sex with multiple partners.
For more information, see the topics
Depression in Children and Teens,
Anorexia Nervosa,
Binge Eating Disorder, or
Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Routine Checkups
Your teen needs routine yearly
checkups. These checkups are important for detecting problems and for making
sure your teen is growing and developing normally. The doctor will do a
physical exam and ask questions about your teen's
social, academic, relationship, and mental health status. Your teen's
immunization record will be reviewed, and needed immunizations should be given
at this time. For more information on immunizations, see the topic
Immunizations or the
childhood immunization schedule.
Beginning in adolescence, most doctors like to spend some time alone with
your child during the visit. Although many state laws are vague about teens'
rights to medical confidentiality, most doctors will clarify expectations.
Ideally, you will all agree that anything your teen discusses privately with
the doctor will remain confidential, with few exceptions. This gives your teen
an opportunity talk to the doctor about any issue he or she may not feel
comfortable sharing with you.
Teens also need to have regular
dental checkups and need to be encouraged to brush and floss regularly. For
more information about dental checkups, see the topic
Basic Dental Care.
Other Places To Get Help
Online Resources
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Adolescent Health Online Home Page
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| American Medical Association |
| Web Address: |
www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1947.html |
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This Web site, sponsored by the American Medical
Association (AMA), provides parents and teens with useful information about
issues such as injury prevention, nutrition, teen violence, physical fitness,
and tobacco use. The Web site also has links to many other resources.
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Clubdrugs.gov
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| National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National
Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Web Address: |
www.clubdrugs.gov |
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This Web site provides information for the public on
drugs commonly called club drugs. It contains information about how these drugs
affect the brain.
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Planned Parenthood Web site for teens
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| Planned Parenthood |
| Web Address: |
http://Teenwire.com/index.asp |
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Planned Parenthood has created this Web site to help teens get
information and news about teen sexuality, sexual health, and
relationships.
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Organizations
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American Social Health Association: Teen Sexual
Health
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| P.O. Box 13827 |
| Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 |
| Phone: |
1-800-227-8922 STI hotline
(919) 361-8400 |
| Fax: |
(919) 361-8425 |
| Web Address: |
www.ashastd.org/teens/teens_overview.cfm |
| |
|
This American Social Health Association Web site
provides a safe, educational, and fun place for teens to learn about their
sexual health and about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The Web site
aims to help start conversations between parents and teens about sexual health.
If you have questions or concerns about STIs, you can call the STI
hotline.
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Healthy Teen Network
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| 1501 Saint Paul Street |
| Suite 124 |
| Baltimore, MD 21202 |
| Phone: |
(410) 685-0410 |
| Fax: |
(410) 685-0481 |
| Web Address: |
www.healthyteennetwork.org |
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The Healthy Teen Network focuses on issues of teen
sexuality, pregnancy, and parenting. The Network has health and well-being
materials for teens and young families. It provides and shares resources,
advocacy materials, and technical assistance with other organizations and works
on public policy initiatives.
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National Center for Learning
Disabilities
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| 381 Park Avenue South |
| Suite 1401 |
| New York, NY 10016 |
| Phone: |
1-888-575-7373
(212) 545-7510 |
| Fax: |
(212) 545-9665 |
| Web Address: |
www.ncld.org |
| |
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The National Center for Learning Disabilities provides
up-to-date information about learning disabilities in adults, teens, and
children. From the Web site you can access free newsletters and online talks
from parents and experts in the field. Parents and professionals can find
information on building skills, recognizing warning signs, and responding to
young children's needs.
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National Criminal Justice Reference Service: Internet
Safety
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| P.O. Box 6000 |
| Rockville, MD 20849 |
| Phone: |
1-800-851-3420
(301) 519-5500 |
| Fax: |
(301) 519-5212 |
| TDD: |
1-877-712-9279 toll-free |
| Web Address: |
www.ncjrs.gov/internetsafety |
| |
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This Web site provides a variety of resources about
protecting yourself and your family from Internet crimes. There is information
about Internet safety for children, identity theft, general Internet safety,
and Internet privacy.
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National Families in Action
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| 2957 Clairmont Road Northeast |
| Suite 150 |
| Atlanta, Georgia 30329 |
| Phone: |
(404) 248-9676 |
| Fax: |
(404) 248-1312 |
| E-mail: |
nfia@nationalfamilies.org |
| Web Address: |
www.nationalfamilies.org |
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National Families in Action was founded in 1977 in the
United States. Its mission is to help families and communities prevent drug use
among children by promoting policies based on science.
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References
Citations
-
Gutin B, et al. (2005). Relations of moderate and
vigorous physical activity to fitness and fatness in adolescents.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(4):
746–750.
Other Works Consulted
- Bashe P (2003). American Academy of Pediatrics: Caring for Your Teenager. New York: Bantam.
-
American Cancer Society (2007). Child and teen tobacco use. Available online: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2X_Child_and_Teen_Tobacco_Use.asp.
- Dalton R (2007). Sexual behavior. In RM Kliegman et
al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed., pp.
65–70. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
- DiClemente RJ, et al. (2001). Parental monitoring:
Association with adolescents' risk behaviors. Pediatrics, 107(6): 1363–1368.
- Dixon SD, Stein MT (2006). Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, 4th ed. Philadelphia:
Mosby Elsevier.
- Friedman RA (2006). The changing face of teenage drug
abuse—The trend toward prescription drugs. New England Journal of Medicine, 354(14): 1448–1450.
- Kaul P, Stevens-Simon C (2007). Substance abuse. In WW
Hay Jr et al., eds., Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment, 18th ed., pp. 144–162. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Kuperminc GP, et al. (2001). Volunteering and
community service in adolescence. Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, 12(3): 445–457.
- Maehr J, Felice ME (2006). Fifteen to seventeen years:
Mid-adolescence—Redefining self. In SD Dixon, MT Stein, eds., Encounters With Children, 4th ed., pp. 565–598. Philadelphia:
Mosby Elsevier.
Credits
|
Author
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Debby Golonka, MPH |
|
Editor
|
Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
|
Associate Editor
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Pat Truman, MATC |
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Associate Editor
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Michele Cronen |
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Primary Medical Reviewer
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Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
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Specialist Medical Reviewer
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Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics |
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Last Updated
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April 22, 2008 |
