Deborah Rotenstein, M.D.
Pediatric Alliance — Endocrinology (12 years)
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
Education: Flushing High School/ University of Rochester (B.A. — double major Biology and Psychology)/University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (M.D.)
Training: Pediatrics Residency — Emory University; Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship — Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Professional Interests: Making kids grow and develop.
Funniest Thing A Patient Has Said To Me: “I am worried about my precious puberty.”
What Parents Can Do To Improve Their Child’s Health: Listen to their children’s concerns and give them advice on lifestyle via leading by example.
Favorite Patient Age: Ages 4 and 16.
Personal Hobbies: Painting, music, reading, theatre.
What I Love About Pediatrics: I love watching kids grow.
Always In The ‘Fridge: Halava (marble or chocolate!).
Best Advice Given To Me: Treat others as you would like others to treat you.
My Inspiration/My Heroes: Theodore Roosevelt, who believed that if you did not read a book a day, it was a day wasted!
Dogs or Cats? My Irish Setter, Red, was sweet but only did what he wanted to do!
Favorite Vacation Spot: Jerusalem.
Now Playing On My iPod: Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov); Pictures at the Exhibition (Mussorgsky).
My Patients Have Taught Me: How to be brave.
On My Bucket List: Hiking in the National Parks.
Something You May Not Know About Me: I have written 3 children’s books on Endocrine issues in pediatrics: Grady Bear; Greg and Gulliver; and Someday When I am Bigger.
Favorite Author: Daniel Silva
School Memories: I never cut a class in high school. On our last day of high school my best friend and I decided to cut chorus. We were outside when we saw the chorus file out. There was a substitute teacher, class was canceled, and so we never did get to truly cut that class!
Favorite Food: Chocolate – I think it is a vitamin!
Funniest On-call Page: A mom called in a panic to ask if growth hormone treatment would make her son streak across the football field!
In My Spare Time: I garden and travel.
Favorite Movie: “The Sting.”
Advice For First-Time Mom: Trust your instincts.
I’d Love To Talk To: My grandmother — I never met her. Her husband (my grandfather) died when my mom was 9 months old. My grandmother raised 4 kids as a single mom in Poland. She was smart with not much education but did not make it through the Holocaust. I heard a lot about her and she must have been an incredibly strong person to do what she did.
Favorite Season: Spring – everything begins again!