Joseph Puccio, MD, chief

The Division of Adolescent Medicine is the Pediatrics Department’s newest division headed by Dr. Joseph Puccio, who was trained in Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles in California.   Dr. Puccio has a strong interest in caring for teens at highest risk. His research has explored ways to provide care to teens using modern technology. Dr. Puccio’s research The Use of Cell phone Reminder Calls for Assisting HIV-Infected Adolescents is expected to be published in June 2006 in AIDS PATIENT CARE & STDs.

The Division provides primary care for adolescents ages 12 through 21.   The mission of the division is to provide services to reduce or prevent high risk behaviors. Adolescent Medicine primary care includes a comprehensive psychosocial component to screen for high risk behaviors and educate teens in order to prevent future high risk behaviors. Additional services offered include gynecological care, female and male family planning services, substance abuse screening, sexually transmitted disease screening and treatment including oral HIV testing, screening and treatment for various mental health issues like ADHD, ADD, depression, and anxiety and medical care for patients with eating disorders including obesity.

Adolescent Medicine and the Cody Center for Autism provide comprehensive sexual education and related medical care for any teen with developmental delay. Services also include individual counseling and group counseling exploring appropriate and inappropriate sexual behaviors.

In the near future, Adolescent Medicine will be accepting patients enrolled in the Family Planning Benefit Program sponsored by NYS. This program will cover males and females for sexually transmitted infections screening and treatment, gynecological care and family planning services.

Currently Dr. Puccio is investigating educating males about responsible sexual healthcare including testicular examinations.   If you know of any males ages 12 through 24 that may be interested in this study please contact Dr. Puccio at 631.444.2730

Adolescent Medicine Services are offered at 33 Research Way in Setauket and at 2701 Sunrise Highway in Islip Terrace.

You can contact Dr. Puccio at 631.444.2730 for any additional information about the services offered through the Division of Adolescent Medicine.