Carol C. Hamilton, Psy. D, Dr Carol Hamilton

CHILD HEALTH ASSOCIATE/PEDIATRIC PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

     A measles epidemic killed several children in our small village motivating me to seek a career as a physician assistant in Pediatrics. In 1979 I completed the three-year Child Health Associate Program at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine in Denver, Colorado. I studied with visionary physicians such as Henry Silver, M.D., Richard Krugman, M.D., Bart Schmitt, M.D., and Marianne (Dr. Mom) Neiifert, M.D. who were pioneers in what was then called Psychosocial Pediatrics. This was an approach to medical care based on the old family doctor concept basically that looked at medical care from a preventive and holistic perspective. The child was seen in the context of the whole child in the family within the community. I was also privileged to be taught by the early pioneers who brought the subject of the physical and sexual abuse of children to the attention of child health professionals. I worked one summer in Migrant Health Care and came to appreciate the healthcare needs of the children of migrant workers. I obtained a B.S. in Medical Science and M.S. in Child Health from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. I became licensed to practice medicine as a Child Health Associate and Pediatric Physician Assistant.