Chief of inpatient general pediatrics at New York Methodist hospital, on the art and science of caring for children

by megan schade • photos by amessé photography

“I don’t think it was ever a question— I was always going to be a pediatrician,” said Ilya Bialik, M.D., chief of inpatient general pediatrics at New York Methodist Hospital. “All through my medical training in Russia, it was pediatrics…always working with kids. It was never my dream to study and then open my own private practice. I wanted to work in a hospital. I wanted to help sick children—and for the last 25 years, I have been able to do just that.”

Although he does now see some patients in the office of NYM’s Faculty Practice, Dr. Bialik spends nearly all his time in the Hospital’s inpatient pediatric unit.

“I love the fast pace of the unit,” he said. “We have 15 patient beds, all but two in private rooms, and each room has a place for the parents to stay and sleep so they are able to be with their child 24 hours a day. We care for patients up to the age of 21. Each room holds a different case, a different child and family, and I love the ever-changing dynamic. Most of our patients are basically healthy; they just need a little clinical “push” to get them back on their feet. But there are also more complicated cases that require longer stays or need intensive care, and we are able to build a different relationship with those families.”

“Working at a hospital of the quality and size of New York Methodist means that whatever service a child on the pediatric unit needs, we have it, and a specialist can be called to his or her bedside,” continued Dr. Bialik. “We have a tremendous team representing all of the pediatric subspecialties. NYM is also home to a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a busy newborn nursery, a pediatric intensive care unit and a pediatric emergency room.

“Nurses are also a strong and integral part of any unit,” offered the doctor emphatically, “and that is certainly the case with pediatrics. The nurses working on the pediatric unit are specially trained to work with children, and they round with the physicians in the morning so that nurses are fully versed in every aspect of a patient’s treatment.”

But providing care, he said, is more than just providing treatment, and “our nursing staff truly goes the extra mile to ensure that each patient is as comfortable as possible.”

NYM is a teaching hospital, and Dr. Bialik is also responsible for teaching and mentoring the next generation of pediatricians.

“During their time at NYM, our pediatric resident physicians are able to spend time working with our pediatric experts and concentrating on a single pediatric specialty area,” Dr. Bialik explained.
“They also rotate through all pediatric practice areas: ambulatory care, general pediatrics, newborn nursery, neonatal and pediatric intensive care.”

Each morning, Dr. Bialik leads the rounds on the pediatric floor. Although he is the chief, doctors and nurses discuss the issues in each case, including diagnosis, tests, treatment, discharge instructions, home needs, and any other issues that arise.

“Dr. Bialik is a wonderful physician and an invaluable member of the pediatrics team,” said Pramod Narula, M.D., chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and chief of pediatric pulmonology. “As a teacher, he is outstanding. The residents are fortunate to be introduced to the complexities of pediatric practice through his wisdom and experience.”

Residents aren’t the only ones learning lessons on the floor. The pediatric unit has a teacher and a fully functioning classroom recognized by the NYC Department of Education.

“A stay in the hospital is disruptive enough; a child shouldn’t be compromised further by falling behind in coursework just because he or she is trying to heal,” Dr. Bialik said, adding that he is also pleased that NYM also offers a Child Life Program to provide emotional and psychosocial support that helps patients and their families cope with hospitalization. The program can provide developmentally appropriate preparation for tests and procedures, and therapeutic play and self-expression activities.

“My goal every day is to get our patients back on their feet and out in the world where they belong,” Dr. Bialik said. “I am lucky to have such talented colleagues who join me in this endeavor. Helping a sick child feel better and heal is amazingly gratifying. There is nothing quite like it.”

New York Methodist Hospital
506 Sixth Street / 718.780.3000
nym.org