Elise J. Herman, MD
retired Pediatrician, community health advocate and contributing blogger
Dr. Herman is passionate about community health outreach, school programs, and child/family health and wellness. Her posts reflect pediatric topics like childhood development, family dynamics, and nutrition. She has more than 31 years of experience as a pediatrician in Ellensburg, Washington, the last 3 with KVH Pediatrics. In 2022 Dr. Herman mostly retired from practice and continues to contribute blog posts and remain a visible advocate for kids in the community.
Dr. Elise J. Herman attending medical school at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and completed her residency at Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver Colorado.
Elise Herman, MD, joined other pediatric health care leaders for a panel discussion on “Insights from pediatric health care leaders on COVID-19 vaccines for children” hosted by the American Hospital Association (AHA), American Academy of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital Association.
Philosophy of Practice
I feel fortunate to partner with parents as they raise their children! I am passionate about the building blocks of good health – good nutrition, lots of exercise, adequate sleep, etc. Pediatrics is a fascinating field because we are lucky to be able to watch kids grow up!
Blog Posts by Dr. Elise J. Herman

Parenting Your Teenager
As kids get older, the joys and challenges of parenting change. Teenagers can be wonderful people—enthusiastic, very involved with friends, and with passionate opinions and feelings. However, they can also be impulsive, take risks and feel invulnerable, creating a setup for poor decisions.

Gun Safety and Your Child
Parents want to keep their children safe, and an increasingly important part of this relates to gun safety. The leading cause of death in the US for kids (those 18 years old and under) is now firearm-related injuries.

How to Talk with Your Teen
We all want to feel connected to our kids, but as they become teenagers, it may seem harder to engage them in conversation. Between their appropriate need to become more independent, their frequent use of their phones and social media, and all of life’s distractions, how can you create opportunities to have an honest conversation…

Respiratory Virus Season and Children
As cooler weather approaches, the “sick” season does, too. For kids, this usually means respiratory illnesses, ranging from cold to croup or pneumonia.

Curiosity in Children
There are characteristics we hope to see in our kids such as kindness, intelligence, and perseverance. We may not put ‘curiosity’ high on this list, but in fact it is crucial to a child’s success in learning and school—and maybe, even in life.

Parent Advice / Back to School
As summer winds down, parents and children are well aware of the approach of the new school year. Some kids are very excited about learning and seeing their teachers and friends again, while others have more reservations.