Pediatric Psychologists and Child Psychiatrists: Birds of a Different Feather

Abstract

Pierog and Hill's letter1 underscores the value of involving a pediatric psychologist in a pediatric residency program. Although I agree with their cònclusions, I feel that their apparent emphasis on substituting a pediatric psychologist for a child psychiatrist may leave the wrong general impression. I would therefore like to suggest why pediatric psychologists, on their own merit, should be involved in pediatric residency programs. As these authors state, in addition to physical ailments, a pediatric practice typically includes behavioral, social, and developmental problems.