Park Pediatrics Fall 2026 Newsletter
Your child's health is our top priority!
1. Park Pediatrics Is Coming to Frederick!
We have big news to share with our Park Pediatrics family: this October, we are opening our fourth Maryland location in Frederick, Maryland!
For more than twenty-five years, our practice has grown alongside the families we serve, from our first office in Takoma Park. Opening in Frederick means bringing the same high quality of health care to a community that needs more pediatric access.
Dr. Lavanya Sithanandam will personally see patients at the Frederick office every Monday starting Oct. 19th. Also, Dr. Christine Whitman — a board-certified pediatrician practicing for over 20 years, and previously at our Takoma Park location 15 years ago — will be returning to our Frederick location in December! We are so excited to welcome her back to Park Pediatrics. Please see below to find out more about her and our other recently hired providers.
Park Pediatrics Frederick location:
75 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite D, Frederick, MD 21702
(240) 801-4904 | parkpediatricsmd.com/frederick-md/
Now scheduling October appointments. New patients and newborns welcome. Se habla Español.
Join us for our Open House on Thursday, Oct. 15th at 4:30pm.
Know a family in Frederick?
Our very best introductions have always come from you. If you have friends, coworkers, or family in the Frederick area looking for a pediatrician, we would be honored to care for their children. Share our number or simply forward this newsletter.
2. The Fall Three: Flu, COVID and RSV Vaccines
FLU:
Influenza tends to arrive suddenly with fever, body aches, and fatigue. The flu vaccine is recommended every year for all children 6 months and older, and getting it early in the season — ideally September or October — gives the best protection before flu begins circulating widely. The vaccine can reduce the need to see a doctor or go to urgent care/hospital by 50%. We currently have flu vaccine in stock for commercial insurance. Flu vaccine for Medicaid patients should be coming soon as well. You can walk in, schedule an appointment, or come to our Saturday flu vaccine clinics. Flu vaccine available to parents for $35.
COVID:
COVID cases are on the rise this fall and winter, and more serious infection can arise in younger children and children with pre-existing illnesses. The updated COVID vaccine should be coming soon — stay tuned for availability at our offices.
RSV:
RSV is usually a mild cold in older kids but can be serious for babies, especially in their first RSV season. Protection is now available against RSV — if you have a baby 0–8 months of age, we will be starting to give the RSV antibody vaccination starting Oct. 1st for all eligible babies.
3. Back to School Checklist: Physicals, Sleep and First Week Nerves
Forms and Physicals
Need a sports physical or school health form? Schedule a well visit now if your child is due, and request forms through the patient portal, your office front desk or via doctible text message. Maryland schools also require updated immunization records, and we are happy to print or send them.
Reset the Sleep Schedule
Summer bedtimes have a way of drifting. Start moving bedtime earlier by 15 minutes every few nights the week before school starts, keep screens out of the last hour before bed, and aim for consistency on weekends too. School-age kids generally need 9 to 12 hours, teens 8 to 10. After school napping can delay bedtimes so are best avoided.
First Week Nerves
Some back-to-school jitters are completely normal: new teachers, new classrooms, new friends. Listen, name the feeling, and keep drop-offs short and confident. If worry starts interfering with sleep, eating, or attendance for more than a couple of weeks, bring it up at a visit. Supporting kids' mental health is part of what we do, and asking early is always the right call.
Back to School with The Berenstain Bears is a great book to read with your little ones during this time!
4. Meet Our Newest Team Members
We're growing! Please join us in welcoming three wonderful additions to the Park Pediatrics family:
Vanessa Zavala P.A.-C.
Vanessa grew up in Frederick, MD. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology & Physiology from the University of Maryland, College Park, before completing her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). Now back in Maryland, Vanessa is excited to care for the community she calls home. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors, practicing yoga, and exploring new coffee shops. She is fluent in Spanish.
Alexandra Villanueva, FNP
Alexandra grew up in Texas and has called the DMV home for the past four years. She earned her nursing degree from Baylor University and her Family Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. With extensive pediatric emergency care experience, she is excited to bring her passion for children’s health to Park Pediatrics. Outside of work, she enjoys trying new restaurants, walking her two dogs, and spending time with family and friends.
Christine Whitman M.D.
Christine was born in Korea and grew up in New Jersey and California. She earned her undergraduate degree from UCLA and medical degree from Albany Medical College before completing her pediatric residency at Inova Children’s. A former Park Pediatrics provider, she returns after serving as an assistant professor of pediatric medicine at WVU. Outside of work, Christine enjoys spending time with her husband and four daughters and watching K-dramas. She is fluent in Korean.
Please join us in giving Vanessa, Alexandra, and Christine a warm Park Pediatrics welcome!
5. A Milestone Worth Celebrating: 25,000 Books
Since 2004, every Park Pediatrics well visit from birth to age 5 has ended the same way: with a book to take home, through our partnership with Reach Out and Read. This year we passed a milestone that makes us especially proud. More than 25,000 books have now been placed in our patients' hands, including 9,000 this year alone.
Reading together in the early years is one of the most powerful things a family can do for a child's development, and our Frederick office will continue the tradition from day one. Every child. Every visit. A book to keep.
6. Nisha's Recipe Corner
“With Halloween right around the corner, I wanted to share a recipe that's both festive and secretly packed with veggies — kids will love helping carve the 'jack-o'-lantern' faces before dinner!” — Nisha
Spooky Stuffed Peppers
Ready in 20 minutes | Serves 4
Ingredients
- 4 bell peppers (any color works, but red, orange, and yellow get you in the fall spirit!)
- 1 lb ground meat (turkey, beef, or Italian sausage all work well)
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 15 oz can of tomato sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella)
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as avocado oil
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease an 8x8 pan.
- Cut the tops off the bell peppers. Boil peppers in a large pot for about 3 minutes. (For jack-o'-lantern faces, carve the shapes into the peppers before boiling.)
- Heat oil in a large skillet and cook the meat until no pink remains. Drain excess fat, then sauté the garlic for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the cooked rice, tomato sauce, and seasonings, and mix well. Fill each pepper and top with cheese.
- Cover and bake for 25 minutes, or until bubbling. Let cool slightly before serving!
Tip from Nisha: For a vegetarian version, substitute black beans and corn for the meat! It's a fun, healthy meal to make with the kids — and a sneaky way to get some extra veggies onto the dinner table.
7. Quick Reminders
- Walk-in sick visits available daily. Check your location's hours at parkpediatricsmd.com.
- Patient portal: request forms, message us, and view records anytime.
- Follow along: instagram.com/parkpediatrics, facebook.com/takomapeds, and youtube.com/@ParkPediatrics for the Frederick countdown, staff spotlights, and health tips.
- Had a great visit? A quick Google review helps other families find us. Scan the QR code at the front desk.
Sincerely,
Park Pediatrics
Frederick MD
Gaithersburg MD
Greenbelt MD
Takoma Park MD
