Elizabeth Pickvance, M.D. |
PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
Pediatric specialist Dr. Elizabeth Pickvance talks about tinkering, adoption, practicing abroad and a new service for special needs children.
What attracted you to pediatric orthopedics as a specialty?
Why did you decide to adopt two children internationally?
I’ve always been mechanically inclined— taking apart clocks and bikes and putting them back together, so orthopedics seemed to be the logical choice. I chose pediatric orthopedics because of my love for children. Now, as part of The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis, I can build long-term
I adopted my oldest son from Ukraine when he was seven. When we decided to adopt again, I wanted to adopt a girl ethnically similar to my son. But you really don’t choose them as much as they choose you. I went to Kazakhstan, saw this child, our eyes locked, we both smiled and that was it. We adopted a Kazakh boy and I couldn’t ask for two boys to love each other more. They were meant to be brothers.
relationships with patients and families.
What impact has your international experience had on how you practice medicine? After medical school and residency in orthopedic surgery in the states, I returned to England (I was born there, moved here in grade school) for a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at Oxford University. That led to an invitation to spend a year training in Australia. Practicing abroad showed me that, although there are different ways to provide care, it all comes down to the patient/ doctor interaction. That’s my reason for doing what I do.
What can you tell us about your new clinic within a clinic? My younger son has mild cerebral palsy so I’m especially sensitive to special needs patients. We created the Special Needs Clinic within our clinic because it’s hard for these families to transport their children and wheelchairs, braces, etc., to multiple locations for treatment. Here, the doctors, physical therapists and equipment suppliers get together to observe the patient and discuss issues, which provides a more unified approach to comprehensive care.
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