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Dr. McCarthy is also a bit of a throwback to physicians of another era, as she makes house calls. “My goal is to be there for the development of these children,” she says. She has cared for 15,000 infants, both pre- and full term, in the course of her career. Her patients range from infant to high school age, and approximately 25 percent of them are healthy. “Many are the siblings of my special needs patients,” she says.
Care Intensive Pediatrics offers state-of-the-art equipment for infants needing critical care. “I have invested in digital scales, which are very accurate in checking the weight of infants who are low birth weight,” she says. “I also have a top-of-the-line hearing and vision screening machine to monitor preemies who have hearing or vision deficits.”
Dr. McCarthy knows that amid all of her professional responsibilities, being a mother is a delicate juggling act. “My daughters know that my medical practice is a high priority,” she says. “I try to include the girls in what I am doing. It’s key to decide what’s important on a day-to-day basis and schedule in advance events such as attending their school plays.”
A daytime nanny brings the girls two and from school. “I can’t be as involved in their school life as other moms,” she admits, “but there is an upside to having my own practice. It affords me the flexibility to be with them. Nights and weekends my husband and I are with them together. Also, I do homework with them, and have come to their school to ‘show and tell’ their class what I do.”
Dr. McCarthy believes that she is a good role model for Erin and Lauren, as she has demonstrated the balance between being a mother and having a career. She also says that being a mother has helped her be a better pediatrician: “Being a mom has given me that much more empathy to offer to these infants in need and their families.”
Care Intensive Pediatrics is located at 244 East 32nd Street. For more information, 212-726-0005 or www.careintensivepediatrics.com.
