DEFINITION
What is Pediatric and Adolescent Integrative Medicine?
Children and teenagers are not just small adults — their bodies, minds, and nervous systems are in constant development, which means their health challenges often require a different kind of attention. Integrative medicine for kids and teens brings together the best of conventional pediatric medicine and evidence-based holistic approaches to get a fuller, more complete picture of what's going on.
Rather than focusing only on symptoms, pediatric integrative medicine digs into root causes — asking why a child's gut is chronically inflamed, why anxiety isn't responding to standard treatment, or why pain keeps coming back after every other approach has been tried. This deeper investigation, combined with personalized care plans, is what sets integrative medicine apart.
At GWCIM, our pediatric services draw on tools like functional medicine testing, nutritional guidance, mind-body techniques, naturopathic medicine, Chinese medicine, and integrative mental health — all coordinated around your child's unique needs and delivered by a team that truly listens.
Conditions We Treat with Pediatric Integrative Medicine
- Chronic gastrointestinal issues (IBS, IBD, indigestion, chronic digestive disorders)
- Unexplained chronic pain that hasn't responded to standard treatment
- Headache disorders and migraines
- Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions (asthma, allergies, eczema)
- Food sensitivities and gut-immune system dysfunction
- Long COVID in children and teens
- Anxiety, depression, and ADHD (root cause investigation)
- POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
- Sleep disorders
- Cancer support (nutritional, pain management, emotional wellness)
About our Providers
Our team is led by Dr. Robert Pendergrast, MD, MPH, FAAP, a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia and a nationally recognized expert in integrative pediatric medicine with over 40 years of clinical experience. He is joined by a multidisciplinary team of naturopathic doctors, an integrative psychiatrist, a Chinese medicine specialist, and other practitioners.
INDICATIONS
What conditions does it help with?
ADVANTAGE
Why Integrative Medicine for Kids and Teens at GWCIM?
GWCIM's team specializes in the cases that have fallen through the cracks — children with complex, chronic, or puzzling conditions whose families are still searching for answers. Our providers are trained in both conventional and integrative medicine, which means they can "connect the dots" across body systems in ways that more narrowly focused care often can't. Whether your child's primary doctor has hit a wall or you're simply looking for a more comprehensive approach, GWCIM offers the depth and breadth to find a clearer path forward.
It's also important to be clear about what we are and what we aren't: GWCIM is not a primary pediatric care practice. We do not provide routine checkups, vaccinations, urgent care, or same-day sick visits. We offer in-depth specialist consultations that take time, ask hard questions, and produce a real plan. We work collaboratively with your child's primary pediatric physician, not in place of them.
APPROACH
Our Approach
Every child who comes to GWCIM starts with listening. Before recommendations are made or tests are ordered, our providers invest serious time getting to know your child and your family — their history, their environment, their habits, and what's already been tried. A detailed intake form submitted before the first visit helps us make the most of that time together.
From there, we build a personalized care plan that may draw on functional and genetic testing, nutritional guidance, mind-body practices, naturopathic or Chinese medicine, integrative mental health support, or other tools depending on what your child needs. We don't apply a formula — every plan is specific to the child in front of us. Follow-up visits are built into the process from the start, so nothing is left hanging.
Our team coordinates closely with outside providers when needed. If a case exceeds our expertise or capacity, we'll tell you clearly and refer you to someone better positioned to help. The goal is always to make sure your child is getting the right care — wherever that comes from.
Root Cause Focus:
We don't stop at "what" — we go for "why." Symptoms are signals; our job is to understand what they're pointing to.
Whole-Child Care:
Physical health, mental health, nutrition, environment, and family context are all part of the picture.
Collaborative, Not Replacement:
We work alongside your child's primary doctor, with parents' permission. Clear communication and coordination are built into how we work.
Evidence-Informed:
Every recommendation we make is grounded in research. We use integrative tools because the evidence supports them — not as an alternative to science, but as an extension of it.
Family-Centered:
Parents and caregivers are essential partners in a child's healing. We make sure families feel heard, informed, and supported throughout the process.
Care Options
Consultations
We offer in-person and telemedicine consultations with Medical and Naturopathic Physicians. The initial consultation may have to be in-person.
Treatments
We offer various treatments: Acupuncture, herbal Medicine, Reiki, Somatic Experiencing, and more.
Medical Cannabis Consultations
Medical Cannabis can be a great resource for certain pediatric conditions. Our doctors are skilled in addressing this specific age group.
EXPERTISE
Recommended Providers
Robert Pendergast, MD, MPH, FAAP
Pediatric Integrative & Mind-Body Medicine Physician
Dr. Abraham Benavides, MD
Medical Cannabis Consultant
Mikhail Kogan, MD, ABIOM, RCST
Integrative and Functional Medicine Physician | ReCODE Program | Chief Medical Officer
Misty Embrey, MD
Integrative Psychiatrist
Ashley Drapeau, PA-C, L.Ac., MPAS, MAC
Medical Director | Functional Medicine | Long-Covid Program Director
Paymon Sadrolsadot, ND, PhD
Naturopathic Psycisian, Integrative Medicine Physician
Marianna Ledenac, BS, ND
Naturopathic Physician
Angela Gabriel, MSOM, LAc, SEP
Chinese Medicine Doctor, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Jonah Yakel, D.C.
Functional Health Practitioner
LEARN MORE
What to expect as a patient
Here's what to expect when you bring your child to see us: Before the first visit, we'll ask you to fill out a simple form about your child's health history. This helps us get to know them better. At the first appointment, we'll spend time listening to both you and your child to understand what's going on. Then, we'll create a plan together that might include simple tests, healthy habits, and ways to help your child feel better in both body and mind. We'll also keep in touch with your child's regular doctor to make sure everyone is on the same page. Dr. Pendergrast sees patients online, but other team members offer both online and in-person visits at our office in downtown D.C.
Q&A
Q&A
No — and this is important. GWCIM provides specialist consultations, not primary pediatric care. We don't offer routine checkups, vaccinations, or urgent care. We work alongside your child's existing pediatrician and are committed to coordinating with them throughout the process.
We most often see children and teenagers with chronic, complex, or hard-to-explain conditions — cases where standard approaches haven't provided a full answer. We also see families who want a more comprehensive look at their child's health, even when things seem manageable but not fully resolved. We are not able to see infants at this time.
A good starting point is our New Patient Inquiry Form. Our team reviews every submission and will let you know whether we think we can help — and if not, we'll try to point you in the right direction.
The first visit is intentionally longer than a typical medical appointment. You'll have plenty of time to share your child's full history, ask questions, and talk through what you've already tried. From there, we'll discuss next steps — which may include functional or genetic testing, lifestyle adjustments, or referrals to specific GWCIM specialists, or our partners and trusted specialists.
Yes. Dr. Pendergrast offers telemedicine-only visits and can see patients in multiple states. Other providers on the team offer telemedicine or in-person visits depending on their specialty. Our downtown D.C. office is available for in-person care with select providers.
We use integrative medicine, which means both - thoughtfully combined. We don't abandon conventional approaches; we build on them. Every recommendation is evidence-informed and calibrated to your child's specific needs and what's already been tried.
Depending on the child's needs, care might include nutritional and dietary guidance, functional and genetic testing, clinical hypnosis, mind-body techniques, naturopathic and herbal medicine, Chinese medicine (acupuncture, botanicals, bodywork), IV nutrient therapy, integrative psychiatry and psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, mindfulness, yoga, and environmental medicine assessment (including mold/biotoxin investigation).