Pediatric Excellence for Healthy, Happy Children
Clinical excellence and compassionate care make for a winning combination when it comes to your child's health. You’ll find that at Catholic Health, home to one-of-a-kind inpatient and outpatient pediatric programs. With locations across Long Island, you can be confident your child is getting the highest level of care close to home.
Our Team & Approach
Our board-certified pediatric physicians are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat infants, children and adolescents whose medical, physical and emotional health care needs differ from adults and require specialized care. They are experts in fields including cardiology, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, neurology, orthopedics and physical therapy and rehabilitation.
With access to specialists across the Catholic Health system, our multidisciplinary approach ensures your child receives comprehensive care to help them heal, thrive and lead healthy and full lives.

Pediatric Services at Catholic Health
- Dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department—the only one of its kind in the area
- Only verified Level II Trauma Center for children on the south shore of Long Island
- Level III NICU—the highest level NICU on the south shore of Suffolk County
- Only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) on the south shore of Long Island
- Child Life Program—helps children cope with the stress of an accident, illness or hospitalization
- BREATHE Program—education and follow-up care for children with asthma to reduce the number of re-admissions to the hospital
- Level III NICU
- Family Care Center
- General Pediatrics
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Hematology
- Level II NICU
- Only hospital on Long Island accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient medical rehabilitation for adults and children.
- Only Pediatric Brain Injury Unit on Long Island and the only Pediatric Brain Injury Specialty Program in New York State accredited by CARF.
- Muscular Dystrophy Care Center—only center on Long Island for both adults and children.
- The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center of Long Island—an inpatient epilepsy unit dedicated entirely to diagnosis and treatment of seizures.
- Comprehensive sports medicine program—includes Concussion Management Program for student athletes.
- Long Island's most awarded heart program. Experts in minimally invasive cardiac procedures for children.
- Robust orthopedics program offers the latest advances in surgical options for student athletes.
- Free cardiac screenings for student athletes, grades 9-12.
- Level II NICU
Intensive Care Services
Catholic Health's neonatal intensive care units (NICU), in Nassau and Suffolk counties, are staffed by neonatologists, neonatal nurses and pediatric specialists who provide around-the-clock care for premature or critically ill newborns.
Level III NICUs offer 24/7 coverage by neonatologists and are supported by pediatric specialists.
- Good Samaritan Hospital (West Islip, NY) and Mercy Hospital (Rockville Centre, NY) are Level III NICUs
- St. Catherine of Siena Hospital (Smithtown, NY) and St. Charles Hospital (Port Jefferson, NY) are Level II NICUs

Post-NICU Care
The neonatal follow-up program at Good Samaritan Hospital gives expert care to help infants and their families after discharge from the NICU. Neonatologists, in collaboration with pediatric sub-specialists, assess medical, developmental and nutritional needs of preterm and high-risk infants.
Infants with complex conditions are followed in the program. Referrals are given for special services, such as home-care nursing, early intervention program and subspecialty consultation.
Conditions include:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia requiring supplemental oxygen
- Bronchodilator/diuretic therapy
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention
The Pediatric Inpatient Unit (PICU) at Good Samaritan Hospital is designed to meet the specific needs of children and their families. The nursing staff is consistently recognized for their pursuit of excellence by the Pediatric Certification Board. From nursing to pediatric hospitalists, the unit is staffed around-the-clock by experts in pediatric medicine.
Our pediatric hospitals work closely with your child’s physician for admission to the hospital and follow-up care. Our pediatricians visit the hospital at any time. A pediatric hospitalist is always available to meet the immediate health care needs of all patients on the unit, which offers access to child life specialists, a fully staffed and equipped interactive children’s playroom, and an outdoor therapeutic garden.

Additional Inpatient and Outpatient Services
Catholic Health's board-certified hematologists diagnose and treat children whose pediatrician has detected abnormality of the blood cells, including:
- Anemia
- Iron deficiency
- Low white cell count
- Platelet disorders
- Sickle cell anemia
- Thalassemia
Catholic Health's board-certified pediatric radiologists are experts in diagnostic imaging of infants, children and adolescents. Our radiologists see children as unique with their own set of disease processes, not simply small adults. Careful consideration is given before imaging infants and children, including the use of ionizing radiation.
Imaging techniques used to diagnose pediatric illnesses include:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Fluroscopy—X-rays to obtain images of organs in real-time
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Nuclear medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
Catholic Health's board-certified pediatric infectious disease specialists evaluate, manage and help prevent:
- Fever
- Rashes
- Viral and bacterial infections
They also diagnose and treat recurrent or chronic infections, including:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Mononucleosis
Additional services include:
- Infections common to Long Island, such as Lyme disease, are diagnosed and managed by our infectious disease specialists.
- Since infections are very common in children, a pediatrician may treat many illnesses in collaboration with an infectious disease specialist. Others, such as tuberculosis, generally require treatment by a specialist.
- Families may also seek advice about the prevention of infections while traveling abroad or attending schools.
Catholic Health's Pediatric Palliative Care Program uses a team approach to offer comprehensive care for children who are diagnosed with a complex long-term, potentially life-limiting illness.
Our team consists of specially trained nurses, social workers and therapists who collaborate with the child's physician to maintain the highest quality of life and comfort.
Parents are offered support as they are often confronted with difficult decisions regarding their child’s care. Emphasis is placed on incorporating the entire family into the child’s care plan in an effort to strengthen bonds, provide support and maintain open communication within the family unit.
Catholic Health's board-certified pediatric nephrologists diagnose and treat children who may have kidney problems, including:
- Blood in the urine (Hematuria)
- Protein in urine (Proteinuria)
- Nephrotic syndrome (swelling of face or legs, proteinuria and low blood proteins)
- Inflammation of the kidney (including lupus)
- Enlargement of the kidney (hydronephrosis)
- Hypertension
Pediatric nephrologists use blood tests, radiological tests and urine tests to help diagnose kidney disease.
Good Samaritan Hospital's Pediatric Surgery Program
Provides comprehensive surgical care for infants, children and adolescents. A full range of pediatric surgical services include:
- Complex multiple system malformations
- Gastroenterology
- General pediatric surgery
- Neonatal
- Thoracic
- Urology
Minimally invasive techniques, used whenever possible to offer successful results for both routine procedures and more complex conditions, include:
- Laparoscopy
- Robotic-assisted surgery
- Single incision laparoscopic surgery
- Thoracoscopy
Adolescent Weight Loss Surgical Services
Surgical options are offered at St. Charles Hospital (Port Jefferson, NY) and nonsurgical options are offered at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center® (Roslyn, NY). Learn more about bariatric surgery.
Explore Pediatric Services

Helpful Information

How to Prepare for Flu Season
Now is the time to make a plan for getting your flu vaccine.

All in the Family: Welcoming a New Arrival and Celebrating a Family Tradition
Thirty-one years ago, Kristen Deluca of West Islip, was born at Good Samaritan University Hospital.

Sun Safety for Your Baby
A baby’s skin is more delicate and thinner than an adult’s and burns and irritates more easily.

Safe Sleep for Your Baby
Parents can take many steps to reduce their baby's risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death.

Reading to Your Baby
Reading regularly with young children, including babies, has been shown to exert a positive effect on their developing brain.

Why Do Babies Spit Up?
Spitting up resolves in most babies by 9 to 12 months of age.
Pediatrics Leadership

Catherine Caronia, MD, FAAP, FCCP
Chief Academic Officer, Catholic Health
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
Chairperson, Department of Pediatrics at Good Samaritan Hospital

Howard Balbi, MD
Good Samaritan Hospital Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Associate Chairman of Pediatrics

Kathleen Fenton
Child Life Director,Good Samaritan Hospital
Pediatric Locations

Good Samaritan University Hospital
West Islip, NY Hospital

Mercy Hospital
Rockville Centre, NY Hospital

St. Catherine of Siena Hospital
Smithtown, NY Hospital

St. Charles Hospital
Port Jefferson, NY Hospital

St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center®
Roslyn, NY Hospital Heart Center