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
Measles in Children
The rise in measles cases recently has many people, parents included, very concerned, and with good reason. Measles is a viral illness that can be very dangerous especially for infants, children under age 5 years, pregnant women, and those with immune system problems.
Preventing Hearing Loss in Kids
Excellent hearing is crucial to a child’s health and development. Poor hearing, even if mild, can cause problems in communication, learning, speech, and social skills. There are multiple reasons a child may develop hearing loss, including chronic ear infections, trauma, certain medications, and vaccine-preventable serious brain infections like meningitis. In 2023 the American Academy of…
Indoor Activities with Your Child
It is great for everyone to get outside daily but sometimes we are stuck inside, often due to stormy weather or extreme cold temperatures. It may be easy to default to ‘screens’ like video games, iPads, and scrolling on smartphones, but there are lots of things your child can do that involve creativity, brainpower, and…
Mealtime without Screens
Mealtime should be a time to connect with our kids and enjoy healthy food in a stress-free environment. This idealized version is not always the case, and for many reasons, kids may end up eating in front of the TV, laptop, iPad, or smartphone. There are multiple problems with this—for both adults and kids.
Returning to School After an Illness
As kids head back to school and are together in classrooms again, parents know their child may pick up some illnesses. There are times when it is appropriate to keep sick children home, both for their own recovery as well as protecting fellow students and school staff.
How to Help Your Child Make Friends
As kids head back to school, it is easy to focus on the academics, but the social side of school, including friendships, is very important to a child’s development and overall success.