Seeking a Great Family Practitioner!

This is actually in response to Monica's reply.
Monica, There may in fact be mom's "judging" other mom's but there may also be others who speak from first hand knowledge. I do not know what vaccinations are being avoided here but as a child I had measles, german measles and mumps. I would not wish them on anyone, child or adult. I believe that most people who have had these diseases may feel the same way. By the time my younger siblings were born, there were vaccinations for all three. There is a reason you can die from these diseases. I've seen polio and whooping cough and I wouldn't wish them on anyone either. I support all parents making decisions for their children and I wish jahjahsmom luck in finding a good pediatrician.

I have a ped/family pract. in Davis Square in Somerville. (Davis Square Family Practice) Dr. Bershel has been open to my vaccination schedule for my 18 month old since Day #1. Her PA Marie is also great and I see her as my primary care. We have chosen to vaccinate C over time and to spread out her vaccinations and we have also declined certain ones that we felt were not necessary, such as the hep B and etc.
I will tell you in advance that I searched my area pretty intensely for a doctor I could work with that understood that we, as parents, were in the driver's seat of our child's health and was pleased to find her.
I will also tell you that Dr. Bershel has practiced peds and family practice for nearly 20 years in Davis Square and is affiliated with Harvard. She came to us the day after C was born (the day after thanksgiving-a holiday) and she gives all her patients her direct cell phone number in case you need her. She also personally calls after she sees your child to check in and see how they are feeling or to give you the test results you are waiting for. She reminds me of an old school doctor in this way (my grandfather was an OBGYN and this is how he practiced with personal care.

Good Luck! Don't have an answer for you. A Naturopathic doctor might.
S.

I respect that you are making choices that you feel are best for your family. This will be a tough one:) I think that such a health care practitioner will be difficult to find...although you would view it as respecting your choice, an ethical provider would have great difficulty in caring for a patient while knowing he/she could not provide care that they believe is important and would protect a child. They also would have to consider all their other patients and may feel an non immunized child coming into the office would pose a risk to the other children and newborns they come into contact with in the office.

Something that you will need to plan for down the road when your child is school age: state laws prohibit non immunized children from attending school due to the public health risks that this poses. You might need to also look into home schooling for your child as a result.

Sorry, I do not know of any such providers. I hope that you find one that is a good fit for you.

I'm sorry that I don't have an answer for you but I had to laugh out loud at your introduction! It's amazing to me how judgemental other moms are at everyone elses choices as a mom! I'll ask some of my friends and see if they know of any great pedi's who allow you to make your own choices in the area.

Just heard from a friend who has made the same decision as you. She did mention that now that her son is school age in order for him to attend he needs to be immunized but they are doing it gradually. She also told me to have you google "D.A.N. Doctors" to find someone. There is one Doctor that she liked in West Boylston (too far away for her to really choose this doctor) though.