Laura Steelman, MD

Before becoming a physician, I worked in developmental psychology, supporting children long before I entered medicine. That experience shaped how I approach care today. Pediatric care should focus on the whole child. We don’t just look at growth, vision, and hearing. We also pay attention to mental health, self-esteem, and how children are doing socially and emotionally.

For older children especially, that can mean addressing anxiety, depression, or peer pressure early. We use questionnaires before visits so both parents and children can share concerns, and then we make time to talk about those topics together.