Providers
Our healthcare providers each have years of experience in pediatric care and are committed to communicating and working with you to give your child the best possible treatment. Everyone in our office understands how to use the latest technology while offering the best customer service to both child and parent. That means we communicate every step from diagnosis to treatment, make insurance transactions as easy as possible, and are dedicated to your child’s overall wellness.
Our Providers
Robyn Hayes has worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner for over 15 years, examining, diagnosing and treating children from newborn to 19 years of age for both chronic and acute illnesses.
From Robyn:
My goal within this practice is to be a patient and caring provider to both children and their families. I aim to bring the best medical experience to the practice for the patients while decreasing common frustrations for the parents; all while providing access to mental health care within the regular primary care office. Identifying and addressing mental health needs earlier in life will benefit not only the patient but the family unit as a whole, resulting in happier, healthier children and families.
I am one of those people that children gravitate toward and I am not shy about engaging them. I can often brighten a child’s day by just talking to them, making funny faces, or asking about themselves.
As much as I understand the importance of the family in treating patients, I believe that treating the child is the most important aspect of my job. When meeting with my patients, I ask age-appropriate questions about the reason for the visit or have them explain their symptoms (and confirm details with the parents). I will also speak to the child regarding aspects of their treatment plan, as I feel that this will make the plan most successful. If a medicine is going to taste yucky or something will hurt, I am honest with them so they know what to expect, and I give tips for getting through the difficult part. I am also able to discuss sensitive topics with adolescents/teens, including (but not limited to) weight management, bullying, gender identity and sexual orientation.
Dr. JoséAlberto (J.A.) Betances graduated from Amherst College with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and earned his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in his hometown of the Bronx, N.Y. He spent his residency in social pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
From JoséAlberto (J.A.):
I’ve always thought behavioral health should be incorporated into the pediatric health model. So, I was very interested in joining this practice, which is founded on that concept. As a pediatrician, I come across a lot of things that I have experience with, and it’s very helpful to have a staff that can handle the other things that come up, like mental health. It used to be a taboo, not discussed even with your doctor, but not only will be make mental health questions part of every examination, we’ll have someone right here to bring in and provide support. In practices in a lot of smaller communities you don’t have that luxury. HD is doing well by making mental health a foundation of the practice. It’s really living up to what we aspire to — to be a medical home for families.
I also like the diversity of the patients in this community. I grew up in the Bronx and my family came from the Dominican Republic. My wife is also first-generation American and her family is from Cape Verde. I grew up around very diverse people and was attracted to that.
Insurances accepted